Miami Marlins go heavy with pitching in the Draft

from Tom Green on the Marlins’ site at MLB.com…..www.mlb.com

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After making Oklahoma State left-hander Andrew Heaney their first overall selection (No. 9 in the first round), the Miami Marlins added even more pitching depth to the farm system during Days 2 and 3 of the Draft, taking pitchers with 20 of their 40 selections during the three-day event, including 14 on Wednesday.

In the Marlins’ seventh- and eighth-round selections they chose Ryan Newell and Drew Steckenrider — a pair of righties with three years of college experience apiece.

Newell had 110 strikeouts and a 3.53 ERA as a junior at Shorter University this spring, while holding opponents to a .167 average, and his fastball touches 96 mph.

Steckenrider started just three games at Tennessee, but appeared in 27 contests this season, holding opposing batters to a .197 average. Stan Meek, Marlins’ vice president of scouting, described both pitchers as strong kids with solid arms and three quality pitches.

The team was also pleased with Illinois righty Matthew Milroy and the Marlins also feel they got a strong reliever in ninth-rounder Nicholas Wittgren, a righty from Purdue.

One pitcher was a home-grown product: St. Thomas University right-handed reliever Dane Stone, who grew up in South Florida and graduated from Miami’s Southridge High School.

To go along with the 20 pitchers, the Marlins added seven outfielders, four third basemen, three catchers and six shortstops, including LSU’s Austin Nola….

Others included third-round pick Avery Romero, an infielder with a big bat from St. Augustine, Fla.

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