Marsee's hitting ability and plate discipline got him drafted in 2022's sixth round out of Central Michigan by the Padres. He led San Diego farmhands with 98 walks and a .413 on-base percentage while reaching Double-A in his first full pro season before winning MVP honors in the Arizona Fall League. Teams began asking for him in trades by mid-2023, and the Marlins acquired him in the Luis Arraez deal this May.
Marsee thrives on making opposing pitchers throw strikes. He doesn’t chase much at all, and when he does swing out of a coiled left-handed stance, it’s with intent to make contact. To wit, he missed on only five of his 56 swings against fastballs at Double-A last year. But because of that approach, his exit velocities far from pop off the analytics sheet, and he’s at his best as a hitter when he’s smacking line drives back up the middle rather than aiming for power. That puts some pressure on the walks to pile up and fuel his slash line, and such an approach may be challenged against tougher arms.
Marsee plays with a ton of energy though, and he’s always willing to test opposing defenses with his above-average speed, as shown by his 46 steals in the regular season and 16 more in the AFL. Evaluators remain divided on his defense in center. Some see his all-out approach as a plus. Some believe he’ll be closer to passable in bigger Major League parks. He could be a potential high-OBP regular with more development or a valuable left-handed fourth outfielder.
Marsee flashed signs of being a solid hitter with a great approach in his first two seasons at Central Michigan before taking off in 2022, earning All-Mid-American Conference first-team honors after slashing .345/.467/.550 with more walks (47) than strikeouts (33). A pre-Draft trip to the Northwoods League, where he batted .343 in 17 games, further aided his Draft stock. He went to the Padres in the sixth round, signing for a little below slot at $250,000. He got time with the Padres’ ACL affiliate and Single-A Lake Elsinore, helping the latter win a California League title while again walking more than he punched out.
The 6-foot left-handed slugger controls the strike zone perhaps as well as anyone in the San Diego system, though that’s been against lesser collegiate and professional competition to this point. His impact on contact might determine just how good of a hitter he’ll truly be, because while he does put bat on ball often, his power projects to be below average.
Just an average runner, Marsee was still the center fielder for Lake Elsinore down the stretch and relies on instincts and reads to get to balls quickly. Evaluators who saw him in the spring believe he’s still more likely ticketed for a corner, and his average arm strength will be tested more in right than left. That said, clubs did ask about Marsee in offseason trades after getting a closer look at him in pro ball as he’s added believers to his potential to hit (and walk) his way to The Show.
