The Marlins are a veteran laden team all of a sudden, so they don’t have much need to push some prospects to the majors. Here are the top four guys that could breakthrough at some point in 2012:

Matt Dominguez: 22-year old righty swinging 3B Matt Dominguez comes into this year as the Marlins’ #4 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 17 games for the Marlins last year and he was 11 of 45 (.244 avg, .625 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers and 2 RBIs. He also played in 95 games in A+AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 89 of 358 (.249 avg, .714 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 12 homers and 58 RBIs. He has now played in 470 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 445 of 1,742 (.255 avg, .744 OPS) with 230 runs scored, 58 homers, 277 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Dominguez will only likely get to Miami if something happens to either Hanley Ramirez or Jose Reyes.

Scott Cousins: 27-year old lefty swinging outfielder Scott Cousins is best known as the player that took out catcher Buster Posey and ended his year. He comes into this season as the Marlins’ #9 prospect according to Baseball America. Cousins played in 48 games for the Marlins last year and he was 7 for 52 (.135 avg, .436 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer, 4 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Cousins has now played in 75 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 18 of 89 (.202 avg, .575 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer, 6 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Cousins also played in 7 games in A+AAA-ball last year and he was 6 of 22 (.273 avg, .657 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 0 homers and 3 RBIs. He has now played in 464 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 474 of 1,899 (.277 avg, .787 OPS) with 267 runs scored, 55 homers, 244 RBIs and 73 stolen bases. Cousins could help the Marlins off the bench at some point in 2012.

Chris Hatcher: 27-year old righty reliever Chris Hatcher comes into this season as the Marlins’ #14 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 11 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.97 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. He also pitched in 42 games (0 starts) in AA-ball last year in which he was 2-1 with 6 saves, a 1.90 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Hatcher has now pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 3-1 with a 1.85 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Hatcher has really taken to pitching after converting from catcher a year ago and he could help the Marlins out of the pen at some point in 2012.

Sandy Rosario: 26-year old righty reliever Sandy Rosario comes into the 2012 season as the Marlins’ #29 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last year and he was 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. He has now pitched in 6 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA and a 3.64 WHIP. He also pitched in 53 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 3-3 with 27 saves, a 4.14 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Rosario has now pitched in 126 games (25 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 21-12 with 30 saves, a 3.65 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He could help out the Marlins at some point in 2012 out of the bullpen.

The Marlins have lost 22-year old lefty starter Jose Alvarez for the 2012 season due to labrum surgery. Alvarez pitched in 27 games (26 starts) in A+AA-ball last year and he was 8-11 with a 4.02 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has now pitched in 129 games (87 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 41-29 with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. The Marlins weren’t expecting Alvarez to pitch for them this season, so they will likely let him rehab slowly.

24-year old righty reliever/starter Bryan Evans has been outstanding in the minors for the Marlins so far this year. He has pitched in 22 games (8 starts) in A+AA-ball so far this year and he is 7-1 with a 1.31 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He has only given up 55 hits in his first 75 2/3 innings in the minors this year as he is missing a lot of bats. Evans has now pitched in 105 games (47 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 20-23 with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Evans might be turning himself into a decent prospect for the Marlins.

In what was a shocking move, the Marlins have sent 23-year old lefty swinigng LF Logan Morrison to AAA-ball after last night’s game. Morrison has played in 95 games for the Marlins so far this year and he is 90 for 362 (.249 avg, .791 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 17 homers, 60 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Morrison played in 10 games so far in August and he is 9 for 36 (.250 avg, .786 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer, 4 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He also whacked 6 homers and he drove in 26 runs in July, so he wasn’t sent down for poor performance. Something else is at work here and I think it comes from owner Jeff Loria and his little troll David Samson. Morrison blasted ownership and some of the other players (Hanley Ramirez) on his team and I think that’s what led to his demotion. I’m not so sure the Marlins will bring back Morrison to Miami this year, and that would be a shame.

25-year old lefty swinging CF Kevin Mattison is swinging the bat well this year in the minors for the Marlins. Mattison has played in 77 games in AA-ball so far this year and he is 88 for 303 (.290 avg, .836 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 6 homers, 36 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Mattison also has 11 triples this season already but he has whiffed 80 times and that’s way too many. Mattison has now played in 355 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 340 for 1,367 (.249 avg, .707 OPS) with 222 runs scored, 28 homers, 133 RBIs and 129 stolen bases. Mattison could earn a promotion to AAA soon if he keeps playing like he is right now.