Marlins Ink Top Two Picks in Bleday and Misner

The Miami Marlins have agreed to terms with their top two draft picks from this year’s draft, JJ Bleday and Kamerson Misner. It was first reported by Jon Heyman (via@JonHeyman) on Wednesday, that Bleday and the Marlins have come to an agreement and a deal was in place. Earlier today, Bleday passed his physical and now the deal is official and he can begin is professional career.

JJ Bleday and Marlins have a deal. No. 4 overall pick. Vandy OF.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 11, 2019

Bleday is the fourth overall pick and he will be receiving a signing bonus of $6,670,000. That’s $3,000 above the pick value. Misner is the Marlins’ competitive balance round pick (35th overall) and will be receiving a bonus of $2,115,000, about $19,000 above the pick value (via @jimcallis). Signing these two picks is huge for the organization, could shape up to be the most talented draft in franchise history.

Supplemental 1st-rder Kameron Misner signs with @Marlins for $2.115 million (pick 35 value = $2,095,800). Missouri OF, best all-around tools among college players in this @MLBDraft.

— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 12, 2019

Let’s get to know our new members of the Marlins family!

JJ Bleday

Marlins first round pick @BledayJay on winning the College World Series and getting drafted No. 4 overall around the same time. @5ReasonsSports @CincoRazonesPod pic.twitter.com/FT0i0ADCiR

— Tony Capobianco (@TonyCapobianco) July 12, 2019

Previously drafted by the Padres in 2016 out of high school, he decided not to sign and attend Vanderbilt instead. Bleday attended Vanderbilt University for three years before being selected by the Marlins his junior year with the fourth overall pick in the draft.

In 51 games as a freshman for Vanderbilt, Bleday hit for a .251 average with two home runs and 22 RBIs. A rather disappointing season but still room to grow.

He decided to play summer ball in the New England Collegiate Baseball League where he batted for a .232 average with two home runs in 69 at bats. The summer league definitely helped him because in his sophomore season, there was a rise in his numbers.

Sidelined for 22 games with an oblique injury, Bleday appeared in 39 games producing a .368 average with four home runs and 15 RBIs. A very nice increase in average and a slight increase in homers.

His junior year is where things really took off. He played 36 games in the Cape Cod Baseball League before his junior collegiate season, and hit .311 with five home runs and 15 RBIs. He was named the “Top Professional Prospect” because of his performance.

His junior year was an amazing showcase of his talent and hard work to be the player he knows he can be. He accumulated a .347 average with 27 home runs (Led the nation), and 72 RBIs while leading Vanderbilt to winning the D-1 National Title in 71 games.

Bleday was named the Southeastern Conference Baseball Player of the Year after his junior season. Player of the Year and a National Title, not too bad of year for the Marlins fourth overall pick.

Now onto our other signee in Kameron Misner.

Kameron Misner

Marlins first round draft pick @BledayJay on Kameron Misner. @CincoRazonesPod @5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/MQ3B6ctVHS

— Tony Capobianco (@TonyCapobianco) July 12, 2019

Perviously drafted out of high school in 2016 by the Kansas City Royals, he decided not to sign and attend the University of Missouri instead. He attended Missouri until the end of his junior year as he is the 35th overall pick in the draft by the Marlins.

Named Freshman All-American by D1Baseball his freshman year at Missouri, after batting .282 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs in 58 games. A very good start to his college career.

The summer after his freshman year, he played in the New England Collegiate Baseball League where he accumulated a .378 average with eight home runs, 25 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 135 at bats.

His sophomore season is where things began to take off. In 34 games before a foot injury sidelined him for the final 22 games of the season, Misner hit for a .360 average with four home runs and 25 RBIs.

In 56 games during the 2019 collegiate season, Misner hit for a .286 average with ten home runs, 32 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. Very nice season for the Marlins 35th overall pick and a very successful draft for the Marlins.