Double trouble: Marsee turns up the power

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Jakob Marsee quickly has made a name for himself in pro ball, going from a sixth-round pick out of Central Michigan in 2022 to a prospect whom clubs asked the Padres about in trade talks this summer.

Marsee is a well-rounded player yet not particularly known for his power. The No. 12 Padres prospect stood out with his pop Thursday night in the Arizona Fall League, however, slamming two home runs and driving in three runs to lead the Peoria Javelinas to a 10-5 victory over the Mesa Solar Sox.

Marsee led off the bottom of the first inning by driving a flat changeup from right-hander Tyler Guilfoil (Astros) off the back of the right-field bullpen wall, a shot that traveled 377 feet at 105 mph. He snuck his second homer down the line and into the same bullpen in the eighth inning, drilling a curveball from righty Chris Kachmar 366 feet at 98 mph.

“I’ve never hit two home runs in a game before. First time ever,” Marsee said. “I knew the second one was gone but the first one, I actually thought it hit the fence and was in play, so I started hustling there.”

Known more for his hitting ability and his plate discipline than his power, Marsee batted .274/.413/.428 with 16 homers and 98 walks in 129 games between High-A and Double-A in his first full pro season. He has solid speed and good instincts on the bases (46 steals in 55 attempts) and in the outfield (he spent most of the Minor League season in center).

His power outburst against Mesa aside, Marsee says he doesn’t hunt home runs. He controls the strike zone and makes consistent contact to all fields.

“I’m just trying to go up there and hit a line drive up the middle,” Marsee said. “Early in the count, I’m trying to get something I want to hit and that helps me with strike-zone discipline. Just trying to stay on the heater and react to the offspeed.”

Marsee reacted well to offspeed pitches against the Solar Sox and has been the AFL’s hottest hitter in the first four days of play. He leads or is tied for the lead in the developmental league in batting (.636), slugging (1.273), OPS (1.940), hits (seven), homers (two), extra-base hits (three), total bases (14) and steals (three).

Peoria features the deepest lineup in the Fall League, starting with four of the circuit’s 10 Top 100 Prospects. One of two undefeated teams at 3-0-1, the Javelinas are averaging 10 runs per game while the other five clubs are averaging 4.5.

“It’s a blast,” Marsee said. “Everyone’s really cool and we’re trying to learn from each other. Every game so far, we’ve put up a lot of runs and it’s been a lot of fun. Hitting’s contagious and with a lot of good hitters in the lineup, good things are going to happen.”

Peoria seized control of the game with seven runs in the bottom of the first, including three homers. Left fielder Graham Pauley (SD No. 11) crushed another Guifoil changeup for a 393-foot blast at 101 mph that carried over the bullpen wall. When Guifoil departed after eight batters, catcher Dominic Keegan (TB No. 9) greeted right-hander Zach Peek (Orioles) with an opposite-field, two-run homer that traveled 378 feet into the right-field bullpen at 100 mph.

Right fielder John Rhodes (BAL No. 20) went deep for Mesa, smashing a 91-mph fastball from righty Emmanuel Pinales (Padres) off the batter’s eye in center field, a 425-foot clout at 105 mph.