Marlins complete deal with 1st-round pick Meyer
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MIAMI -- When the Marlins selected University of Minnesota right-hander Max Meyer with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, club officials said the 21-year-old was close to being big league ready.
Meyer will now get his chance to show the organization what he’s got.
The Marlins agreed to terms with Meyer on Wednesday night, a source told MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis, and the right-hander was added to Miami's 60-man player pool on Thursday, when the club announced the deal.
Callis reported that Meyer agreed for $6.7 million, below the slot value of $7,221,200.
Miami selected six pitchers in this year's five-round Draft. The five other than Meyer were close to agreements within days of the Draft. The deadline to sign 2020 Draft picks is Aug. 1.
Signing Meyer never appeared to be an issue for the Marlins. The club reached an agreement with the Woodbury, Minn., native on the day he was drafted. However, Meyer still needed to complete a physical at that point.
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On Monday, Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said during a Zoom call that Meyer was expected to sign this week and that he would then be added to Miami's 60-man player pool.
Meyer is expected to begin his workouts with mostly Marlins prospects in Jupiter, Fla., on Friday. Miami's big league staff, and its projected MLB roster, will be working out at Marlins Park.
With a fastball that reaches 100 mph, Meyer could potentially debut in the Majors during the 60-game regular season. For that to happen, he will need to show he is ready to face big league hitters.
"That's the most athletic college pitcher in this Draft, with the most electric stuff, and he's just about Major League ready," Marlins director of amateur scouting DJ Svihlik said on June 10. “The pick was made almost right out of the chute this year. He was that good.”
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Despite being considered undersized at 6-foot, 185 pounds, Meyer's pure stuff overwhelmed the Marlins. He has hit 102 mph with his fastball before, and Miami believes he has the best slider in the Draft class.
Before the remainder of the college baseball season was canceled in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, Meyer made four starts for Minnesota, going 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings. In 2019, the right-hander had a 2.11 ERA in 76 2/3 innings.