Marlins Top Prospects: #2 Marcell Ozuna
Signed at 17 years old out of the Dominican Republic in 2008, outfielder Marcell Ozuna is making great strides in the Marlins' organization. In 2011, Ozuna was ranked as the No. 9 prospect in the Marlins' organization, but this year he comes in at No. 2.
Batting .279 in his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2008, Ozuna wasted no time putting himself on the map the following year in the Gulf Coast League. After batting .313 with a .377 on-base percentage in 2009, he moved up to short-season in 2010, where he led the New York-Penn League with 60 RBI (a new Jamestown Jammers record), and finished at the top of the NYPL in total bases with 150. Ozuna earned the homerun title with 21, and even knocked one over the Fenway Park fences at the Home Run Derby during the All-Star Game.
For Ozuna, 2011 was a tale of two seasons, however - defined by two cold months that split in half four months of raking. Though he struggled a bit during his promotion to Low A, Ozuna found great success in the second half, putting it all together just in time to help Greensboro to another South Atlantic League title. Batting .310 with a .371 OBP and .585 slugging, he hit 22 doubles and racked up 104 total bases on the season.
With above-average speed (successfully stealing 17 of 19), range, and powerful arm Ozuna is a strong force to be reckoned with both on the bases and in the outfield. Scouts profile Ozuna as a Gold Glove-caliber right fielder with middle-of-the-order potential while comparing his swing to Vladmir Guerrero and Garry Sheffield. His next challenge will likely be his toughest: a summer in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League.