Marlins go with power, select 1B/OF Josh Naylor with 12th overall pick
Three years ago, Marlins Park couldn't contain Josh Naylor as he blasted enough balls into the stands to capture the International Power Showcase in the High School Home Run Derby.
That rare power -- sending pitches 440 feet from home plate into the upper-deck at the age of 15 -- encouraged the Miami Marlins to select Naylor with the 12th overall pick in the draft Monday night.
Miami also drafted left-hander Brett Lilek from Arizona State University in the second round (50th overall). Lilek went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 17 appearances (15 starts) as a junior this season. He is a two-time All-Pac honoree.
Naylor, a high school senior from St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, is a left-handed power bat who has played for the junior national team since he was 15.
His exposure to Double-A and Triple-A pitching, even knocking a basehit off Toronto Blue Jays righty and former Cy Young winner RA Dickey in an exhibition, helped his case. Marlins vice president of scouting Stan Meek said of any high schooler the organization has taken, Naylor had been seen the most from events as close as Lake Buena Vista, Florida to Peoria, Arizona.
"There's never a lot of power in any draft," Meek said via teleconference. "We had some college pitchers there that we looked at as well. We just felt like this guy was a unique guy in the draft because of the power. He stood out to us. We've seen him since he was 14, 15 years old. Hit against professional guys because the Canadian National Team he's on plays those clubs all the time. We've seen him hit really good pitching consistently and hit with power. To me, if you're going to get power, you've got to go get it. You don't develop a lot of it. It's there when you get it. We decided to add some power to the system."
Added Naylor of the Marlins Park experience: "That was amazing. That was my first time down there, and that was an experience of a lifetime. I was 15 years old. Just hit one, that was my goal. I had an amazing time. It all went well, thankfully."
A Texas tech signee, Naylor was named a 2014 Under Armour and Perfect Game All-American. He batted .435 with 48 runs, 12 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 51 RBI, 28 walks, 12 strikeouts and 10 stolen bases during summer ball with a wooden bat.
He has traveled to Korea, Australia, Mexico, Taiwan, Cuba, Italy, the Dominican Republic and the United States over the past four years. In an international showcase in the Dominican last month, Naylor hit .340 in 12 games, pacing his club with five home runs and 10 RBI. With the Ontario Blue Jays against Division I and II programs in the falls of 2013-14, he combined bat .449 in 56 games, collecting 23 doubles, 15 homers and 62 RBI.
All before his 18th birthday, which doesn't arrive until June 22.
Naylor, who stands 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, became the highest selection for a Canadian position player. He can also play left field with a plus arm, but Meek believes his primary position will be at first.
"There's a good athlete in that body," Meek said. "He moves around well. He runs pretty well for his size. He's got some agility. I think for us he'll probably end up at first base, but you never know. There would be a chance to use him in the corner outfield spot in left."
Though he didn't want to compare Naylor to a current major leaguer because of expectations, Meek does see Prince Fielder in him because of the bat speed and raw power.
"It's a good comparison," Naylor said. "Prince Fielder went pretty high in his draft. He's made an impact in MLB since he's been there. Being compared to him is amazing, and it's an honor."
Fittingly, the Marlins faced Naylor's hometown Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night when his name got called. Meek doesn't expect it to take long for Naylor to reach the big leagues as long as he continues to develop as expected.
"He's advanced," Meek said. "Again, like all of them, as they hit they move. Even though he's 17 -- he's not 18 until later this month -- he is young, but he's really well past his years in terms of experience. I would say he'll move as fast as his bat lets him. I don't think we will any way hold him back as he goes. If he performs I think he'll move pretty quick. I would say he's a guy we would hope would move a little quicker than the average high school guy.
"... His kind of power is power that is really unaffected by the size of (Marlins Park). He'll hit balls into the upper deck in this park. That's the kind of power you need. If you just take the average power guy he'll be affected by this park. I don't think this guy will be at all. He's the exception to the rule. We don't have many of those guys on the circuit, that's probably why we don't take many of those guys. But when we find one we try to get involved with them."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
