Marlins top draft pick Aiva Arquette undergoes core muscle surgery

[Ely Sussman]

The Miami Marlins have announced that their 2025 first-round draft pick and top shortstop prospect Aiva Arquette underwent core muscle surgery on Friday. Being 4-6 weeks away from resuming baseball activities, he is all but certain to open the 2026 season with a stint on the injured list.

MLB.com's Christina De Nicola explains that Arquette initially suffered a left groin injury during offseason workouts in his native Hawaii. The decision to undergo surgery was made when he continued to experience discomfort in spring training.

Unrelated to this latest injury, Arquette's collegiate career was interrupted by knee surgery and a broken hand. However, he was fully healthy during his draft year. The Marlins selected him with the seventh overall pick and paid him the largest signing bonus in franchise history.

Arquette made his professional debut last summer. In 27 games with High-A Beloit, he slashed .242/.350/.323 (103 wRC+) with one home run and seven stolen bases. He took all of his defensive reps at shortstop and played well there.

Arquette enters this season as a consensus Top 100 MLB prospect (Baseball America, MLB Pipeline and The Athletic each consider him a top-50 talent). He ranks seventh on the Fish On First Top 30.

Even with immaculate health, it was unlikely that Arquette would reach the big leagues in 2026. This further diminishes those odds. Barring setbacks during the rehab process, the 22-year-old should be returning to minor league games by the end of April.

Starlyn Caba (FOF #8) could be a beneficiary of Arquette's injury, potentially serving as Beloit's full-time shortstop early in the season.

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[Russell]

Hmm, I’m a lil sus when a young athletic guy needs “core muscle surgery.”

 

A couple of years ago the Marlins trade for an athletic speedy/toolsy guy, Dillon Head and he immediately needs hip? surgery.

 

You might disagree and these things can be completely unrelated but IMO this organization seems clueless in their evals of position players.

Have any guys they’ve drafted flashed: Watson, Bleday, Berry, PJ Morlando?

Bleday prob the “best” so far and he’s long gone from the Org.

[Russell]

I see Morlando missed the start of 2025 with ulnar nerve transposition on his non-throwing  elbow. What the heck is that? I keep my prior comment, this Org stinks at positional player evals. At some point it ain’t just bad luck.

[One Regend]

oh my god can we ever draft any prospect that can stay healthy for once

[Ely Sussman]

8 hours ago, Russell said:

I see Morlando missed the start of 2025 with ulnar nerve transposition on his non-throwing  elbow. What the heck is that? I keep my prior comment, this Org stinks at positional player evals. At some point it ain’t just bad luck.

Morlando is Exhibit A when making that case—picking him was baffling in the moment, and I have not seen or heard anything since then justifying the investment that they made in him. Good makeup doesn't come close to compensating for his deficiencies.

The Arquette pick was far more appropriate. Frustrating that he won't be a quick-to-the-majors type, but he'll be a useful player long term.

[BMK3]

I am forced to agree that there is something wrong with the training regimen for this organization.  Why are so many "kids" having so many issues with their muscles.  You can overtrain and lose the way muscles are supposed to work while looking for power. Baseball is NOT football.