The Marlins have signed utilityman Garrett Hampson to a minor league deal, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports (Twitter link).
Hampson was a third-round pick for the Rockies in the 2016 draft, and he had spent his entire pro career with Colorado before being non-tendered last month. The 28-year-old was projected to earn $2.1MM in his second trip through the arbitration process, but the Rockies opted to part ways after Hampson hit only .211/.287/.307 over 226 plate appearances in 2022.
Both Baseball Prospectus and Baseball America included Hampson near the end of their top-100 prospect lists prior to the 2019 season, owing to Hampson’s high batting average, OBP, and stolen bases totals during his way up the Rockies’ minor league ladder. Unfortunately for Hampson, he couldn’t translate that potential into any production at the MLB level. While he has swiped 52 bases in 65 tries, Hampson hit only .235/.296/.370 over 1279 career PA in the majors.
This lack of hitting kept Hampson from firmly establishing himself with Colorado, though the Rox gave him opportunities as more or less an everyday player in 2020-21. Most of Hampson’s playing time came as a center fielder or second baseman, but he also has quite a bit of shortstop experience and a handful of games as a left fielder and third baseman.
There is a bit of a “jack of all trades, master of none” aspect to Hampson’s versatility, as while he can play several positions, defensive metrics are mixed at best on his glovework anywhere on the field. Smaller sample sizes are also a factor, though for his two primary positions, Hampson is graded as a slightly below-average but passable second baseman, and the Outs Above Average metric like his work (+8) as a center fielder, while UZR/150 (-1/2) and Defensive Runs Saved (-7) are less impressed.
Miami has long been looking for center field help, and Hampson could at least factor into a mix that includes Bryan De La Cruz, Jesus Sanchez, JJ Bleday, and utilityman Jon Berti. While a change of scenery might help Hampson at the plate, he could at least give the Marlins some additional utility depth beyond Berti, and Hampson’s speed is also a useful weapon to bring off the bench for pinch-running purposes. At the cost of just a minor league contract, there’s no risk for the Marlins in giving Hampson a Spring Training audition to see what he can offer.
D2323
Ng woke up.
tutopelotas1
The Marlins GM could really wake up by signing third baseman VIMAEL MACHIN – just DFA’d by Oakland and who is currently the hottest hitter at the competitive Roberto Clemente MLB Winter Keague in Puerto Rico.
Rsox
Machin cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA
ruff kuntry
Yep, nice to keep him around for depth.
kmk1986
Lol u r literally the only person requesting this move for machin
Mjm117
Yay.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
For a while there I was worried nothing was going to be done…Now I’m sure of it
tutopelotas1
As an utility player, Luke Williams is much better than this fellow, and Marlins let him go, Can GM Ms. Ng close any deals with good players ? … Giving women a fair chance to succeed as ML baseball executives is a wonderful idea, but do men (players) in the sport pay any attention (and respect) to them ?
Jerry Cantrell
Or could it be that it has nothing to do with the fact that she’s a woman and everything to do with the owners tight purse strings?
JoeBrady
with the fact that she’s a woman
===============================
It’s way too early to judge a GM, but Ng’s 2022 season was one to forget. Her three big moves were trading for Stallings, and signing Soler & Garcia. Those moves were offset to some degree by extending Alcantara.
But the whole equal opportunity also includes equal bashing. All 30 GMs/POBOs regularly get bashed in here.
Samuel
tutopelotas;
I don’t care abut her sex, and I doubt players or agents do either.
There’s clearly lots amiss with that franchise. While it’s not in the Tampa Bay / Oakland category, it should be. The 2 times they were in the WS the fans showed…at the end of the year. Then they disappeared again the next year. After over a decade of the owners and MLB saying a new park was what they needed to succeed, they got the park…..and after a short blip attendance stayed about the same.
Puerto Ricans love baseball. Maybe the Marlins should take a page from the Rays book and see if they could play half their home games in San Juan. The few exhibitions that have been played there sell out.
Miami is just not a baseball town (Tampa Bay as well). The snowbirds that have interest go back up north during the season. Congress was responsible for forcing MLB to expand into those 2 areas. The result is what happens just about every time Congress sticks its nose into private business.
No one really wants to have much to do with that franchise.
TheGreatBaseballMind
I think the playing of MLB games in Puerto Rico for the Marlins is a very good idea, Samuel.
mgomrjsurf
Orlando?
TheGreatBaseballMind
Hmmm. For both the Rays and the Marlins? Dominican Republic, too? Cuba would be nice. I know. I know. But yes something creative to increase attendance for those two franchises would be good.
tutopelotas1
Are you kidding me ? … Ask people in Puerto Rico, as the regular attendance at the Clemente MLB Winter League 5 parks is minimal. In the past, a two or 3 games – series on a weekend of MLB teams was successful, but not on a regular basis … Dominican Republic is different, people there fill the parks regularly.
SODOMOJO
Such a great athlete. Speed demon. Maybe he’ll be a late bloomer
mlb1225
I thought Hampson was gonna be good back in 2018, Had done well throughout the minor leagues and looked decent in his first MLB look. But he just hasn’t provided anything other than speed and versatility.
Rsox
The plus side for Hampson is unlike the myriad of corner OF’s on the Marlins roster he can actually handle CF and with his speed could be a nice 9-1 combo with Jazz Chisholm as the lineup turns over
nottinghamforest13
This must be one of the many great signings that the Kim Ng apologists told us to expect this off-season. She’s done wonders for this franchise.
vtadave
Imagine thinking Kim Ng is setting this franchise back, and not ownership.
Chemo850
Was it not her decision to hamstring this team with two of the worst contracts given out last offseason?
pohle
two mid-level free agent corner outfielders should not ever hamstring a major league baseball franchise with a star middle infielder and a heap of starting pitching talent.
Chemo850
Very few teams can just absorb 25 million/YR in garbage. She knew what the risk was when she signed those guys and was most likely very well aware there wasnt much budget beyond that. This ain’t the Yankees. I get the budget here is tight, but she has yet to make any roster move that has worked out well. And the moves she hasnt made like trading average players at peak value have been just as idiotic.
hiflew
I wish Hampy luck. I just think he is one of those players that NEEDS to play every day. And being able to stay in one place would help him too. He always played better for the Rox when he got several starts in a row because of an IL assignment for a starter. He would make a good, not great, starting 2B in the league if given the chance. But I think he is already typecast in the super-utility role that he is not really suited for.
tutopelotas1
Marlins fans expected and still expect a lot more from GM Ms. Kimberly Ng….No more promises, they (us) need action because if we become as bad as the Pirates, in the short and long term future, NO good player will ever sign and play for us.
Gwynning
Could be a very sneaky and underrated signing, nice job Fish!
Marqueef Grissom
Dude is a AAAAer
Bartolo’s 2nd family
Was in the dorm next to me in college at LB State. Super nice kid who works his tail off. Hopefully he finds success getting more consistent AB’s.
UKPhil
Good depth/lottery ticket move. Once the season starts there will be 3 roster spots to fill.
Still hoping for CF and closer trades. There is still time