Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CHC | LHP | 4 | 55 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | SL | CH | Cmd/Cnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 60 | 70 | 55 | 50 | 40/40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Matt Thompson
Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2015 IFA
RuleV: On 40 man
Physical Description: Tall, long-limbed. Heavier than listed 185. Probably more like 225. Body will require maintenance and is a little soft.
Delivery & Mechanics: Low 3/4 delivery, very loose with big leg kick. Almost unbelievable how easy the ball comes out of his hand at 100. I think tightening up the delivery and body will lead to better command.
Fastball: Monster pitch. Touched 99 out of the bullpen for Cubs late in season, has hit 101 in game. Averaged 95 as a starter in the minors in 2019. Works pitch up in the zone and is aggressive with it. The only thing keeping it from an 80 is the command. It's improved but there are still some aspects of a thrower here. Grade: 70
Slider: Marquez will snap his slider off at the back foot of right-handers and look to spot it on the corner against lefties. It can look like a cutter at times due to late, modest break but when he's tunneling with the big heater it adds another layer of deception. He's learning how to sequence and set up hitters, and the pitch sits in the low 80s. The pitch lacks the consistency to be plus, but he's shown significant growth and it wouldn't shock me to see it become a plus offering. Grade: 55
Changeup: The changeup has a lot of similar characteristics as the fastball. Comes in at the same arm speed and plane, just in the low 90s. There's modest fade but it disguises itself as the heater, and can be effective. He uses this pitch against right-handed batters. There's potentially more with this pitch also. Grade: 50
Control and Command: Marquez's command improved as the 2019 season progressed. He was prone to the blow up early in the season but didn't walk more than three batters in a game from July on. The Cubs have altered his arm swing as he's moved up the later, but it appears he's gone back to the looser version, but has seen better results. He throws enough strikes to be a starter long term, now it's just the quality of strikes. Control: 40 | Command: 40
Overall: I believe Marquez is a starter long term and his late season move to the bullpen was only due to organizational need more than anything else. He reminds me a lot of Francisco Liriano. The fastball, slider, changeup profile from a big lefty with a loose delivery and loose command. Marquez is what the Cubs have been searching for. A high upside homegrown starter. He's likely a number four starter for most of his career due to command, but he will post a few prime seasons where he's better than that.
OFP: 55
Role: 60 - #3 SP/High Leverage
Risk: High
