a 0.40 ERA, and struck out 150 in 79 innings, while as a batter he tied a school season record with 11 home runs, drove in 45 runs, and batted .468. He received the Iron Horse Award as the top baseball player in the PSAL and The New York Daily News Player of the Year Award. Marquis was named to the All-America Second Team by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings. Anthony McCarron of The New York Daily News touted him as "perhaps the city's best high school player since ... Manny Ramirez," and Baseball America ranked him the 39th-highest prospect in the nation. He also played basketball at Tottenville, and on the academic side was a member of the National Honor Society. He was a teammate on the baseball team with Anaheim Angels catcher Tom Gregorio. One of his classmates at Tottenville was Chicago Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. Draft The right-hander originally signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Miami, which offered him a scholarship. She relayed the message that he had been drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round, the 35th selection overall. Marquis was excited, and his team won the game and went on to win the city championship. He then opted out of his letter of intent, and signed with the Braves on July 18, 1996, for a reported $600,000 ($ today) signing bonus. Minor league career In 1996 Marquis began his pro career with the Danville Braves (Rookie Advanced) in the Appalachian League, going 1–1 with a 4.63 ERA in 7 games. He had 24 strikeouts and gave up seven walks in 23 innings. The next year he tied for the South Atlantic League lead with a team-record 14 victories for the Macon Braves (which tied for the league lead), as he went 14–10 with a 4.38 ERA, tied for second in the league with 28 starts, and was named the Braves' fifth-rated prospect by Baseball America. "He's like a man on a mission to get to the big leagues," said Mark Ross, the Macon pitching coach. "He's doing great." In 1998, he began the season as youngest pitcher in the Carolina League, but won only two of 22 starts for Class A Danville 97s, as he went 2–12 and struck out 135 (8th in the league) in 114.2 innings, while walking only 41. Marquis began the