Miami Marlins and Jupiter Hammerheads Announce 2016 Roster
JUPITER, FL - The Jupiter Hammerheads announce the 2016 Roster and four of the top 30 Marlins prospects (per baseball America) have made the 25-man roster. Randy Ready leads the Hammerheads into the new season full of potential for a successful campaign. Brian Anderson (Arkansas, 2014, 3rd round) is the sixth overall ranked prospect in the Marlins farm system and will be an exciting returner for the 2016 season!
K.J. Woods (HS, 2013- 4th Round) makes the move from Low-A Greensboro where he hit .277 with 18 home runs, 58 RBI's, 45 walks, and 106 hits in 383 at-bats through 104 games with the Grasshoppers. A three-sport star in high school, Woods has focused his talents on the game of baseball and has top-scale raw power. Woods not only led the Grasshoppers with 18 home runs but also hit two bombs against the parent Marlins during an exhibition game last April.
Brian Anderson returns to the Jupiter Hammerheads to start 2016. Last season Anderson hit .235 in a pitcher friendly Florida State League with 8 home runs, 62 RBI's and 112 hits in 477 at-bats during the course of 132 games played. Anderson has shown the versatility to play third and second base as well as the outfield which makes him an attractive utility player within the Marlins organization.
Michael Mader (Chipola JC, 2014- 3rd round supplemental) stands in as one of the higher rated arms on the Hammerheads this season sitting at 24th in the Marlins system per Baseball America. Mader stands at 6'2 and weighs in at 195 pounds, relying on a fastball that checks in between 90-93 mph. Mader's best pitch is an overhand curveball, which improved with mechanic changes that got him away from a big leg kick and a hand-pump. He uses a changeup to keep hitters off balance, in 2015 he spent most of the season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers throwing in 27 games, all starts, with 141 innings pitched allowing 8 home runs and recording 86 strikeouts with a K per 9 of 5.5 and a record of 6-12 with an ERA of 4.73.
Jose Adames (Dominican Republic, 2010) returns to Jupiter following his 18 game stint last season where he tossed 79 innings from the right hand side. Adames works with a 94-98 mph fastball, a hard 10-to-4 curveball and a change with good fade that flashes plus. Adames earned on appearance in Spring Training out of the bullpen, he recorded the save in a two inning workout against the Yankees in the final exhibition game at Marlins Park. Adames reached 98 with his fastball in that appearance. A two inning outing where he gave up two hits, but did not surrender a run, with zero strikeouts.
The Hammerheads will lean on big arms this season. Juancito Martinez (Signed by the Marlins as a non-drafted free agent on Aug. 24, 2010) is top five in right handed relief pitchers in the Marlins farm system. Luis Castillo sits in the top ten of right handed starting pitchers inside the farm system. Hammerhead pitchers Drew Steckenrider and James Buckelew earned a call up to big league camp and a chance to show off their arsenals with the eyes of Marlins new Manager Don Mattingly watching on during Grape Fruit League play.
Chris Hoo (Round 27, 2014- MIA) and Brad Haynal (Round 18, 2014- MIA) are set to be the two vying for innings behind the plate as the two catchers on the roster. Hoo started 2015 in Double-A Jacksonville and played in just six games with the Suns before arriving in Jupiter for 92 games with your Hammerheads. Hoo struggled offensively batting just .199 with 14 RBI's in 297 at-bats. Brad Haynal will join the Hammerheads for the first time after playing in 68 games with the Batavia Muckdogs last season, he recorded 248 at-bats and hit .274 with four home runs and 34 RBI's. Vanderbilt product John Norwood (Round 12, 2011-TOR) moves up to Advance-A ball from the Grasshoppers after 120 games in Greensboro last season, he hit .233 with a slugging percentage of .392, 16 home runs, 55 RBI's, 42 base-on-balls and 19 doubles.
The 2016 home schedule begins April 9th against the St. Lucie Mets, tickets can be found on jupiterhammerheads.com. The first Great 8 Event takes place with Star Wars Night and the Hammerheads sparkling new Darth Vader jerseys that can be seen on our twitter @gohammerheads as well as our new Instagram. It is going to be an exciting year of Hammerheads baseball so be sure to get out to the Dean!