6 candidates to represent Marlins at 2026 Futures Game

[Ely Sussman]

There has been plenty of discourse lately about this year's potential Miami Marlins All-Stars. Don't forget that on July 12, two days prior to the Midsummer Classic, there will be another exhibition at Citizens Bank Park, featuring ballplayers who aren't household names yet, but have the talent to become ones.

A handful of Marlins minor leaguers are deserving of participating in the 2026 Futures Game, though the most likely scenario is the organization will be limited to two reps.

The Futures Game is not solely about rewarding minor league production. With all due respect to the strong statistical first halves that Carter Johnson, Emilio Barreras and Luis Palacios have had, their perceived upside as prospects is not high enough to get them into this conversation. Selections are usually young relative to their current level of competition.

Another complicating factor is that MLB orgs themselves have a say in the process. Some have ulterior motives beyond simply sending their top-rated prospects.

I'm fairly confident that the Marlins delegation will be a combination of the following names.

 

RHP Karson Milbrandt

FOF Top 30 rank: No. 9

2026 MiLB levels: Double-A/Triple-A

MLB ETA: early 2027

Milbrandt is the most qualified Futures Game rep that the Marlins have had in a long time.

His case begins with having limited opponents to nine earned runs in 12 starts for a jaw-dropping 1.31 ERA. The homegrown right-hander ranks second in the Marlins system in innings pitched (62) and strikeouts (85).

Milbrandt entered 2026 with substantial long-term reliever risk. His improvement against left-handed batters, who have gone 13-for-99 off him with 46 Ks this season, now gives him a brighter outlook. 

 

SS Aiva Arquette

FOF Top 30 rank: No. 6

2026 MiLB levels: High-A/Double-A

MLB ETA: mid-2027

Arquette, on the other hand, has the weakest statistical case among my handpicked Futures Game "finalists." He posted an 80 wRC+ through his first 21 games with Double-A Pensacola (100 represents league average).

However, he was the Marlins' top draft pick last year, makes plenty of hard contact and looks like a viable defender at shortstop.

 

OF Dillon Lewis

FOF Top 30 rank: No. 4

2026 MiLB levels: Double-A

MLB ETA: mid-2027

Lewis is a new addition to the Marlins after headlining January's Ryan Weathers trade package. He has fully met expectations thus far with a very consistent campaign in Pensacola.

The athletic right-handed hitter paces all Marlins prospects with 15 home runs while slashing .238/.318/.502 and going 14-for-16 on stolen base attempts. His speed and batted ball angles have kept him out of double plays (only 1 GIDP in 258 PA). A yellow flag: his strikeout rate has jumped from 23.5% last year to 30.6% this year.

Health permitting, Lewis will get a taste of Triple-A competition before season's end.

 

SS Starlyn Caba

FOF Top 30 rank: No. 5

2026 MiLB level: High-A

MLB ETA: early 2028

Caba had a lousy debut season in the Marlins org in 2025. Thankfully, he recalibrated during the Arizona Fall League and has sustained that high level of play with the Beloit Sky Carp.

Caba is the best fielder in this article, if not the best in Miami's system, period. We already knew that a year ago. The most exciting change has been the 20-year-old's maturation in the power department, slugging .437 after previously owning a career mark below .300. A switch-hitter, he's been dominant against right-handed arms (slashing .300/.462/.527 with 5 HR).

Caba's well-rounded game and the obvious step forward he has taken from the previous year make him the most deserving Marlins position player, in my opinion.

 

OF/1B Kemp Alderman

FOF Top 30 rank: No. 7

2026 MiLB level: Triple-A

MLB ETA: late 2026

Alderman is Miami's reigning Minor League Player of the Year, though he wasn't a 2025 Futures Game selection because his best stretches of production occurred during the second half of the season.

His 2026 campaign was interrupted by an elbow injury. He returned from the IL earlier this week.

Alderman's power to the opposite field is awe-inspiring, as is his arm strength in the corner outfield spots. He has been learning to play first base on a part-time basis, which should hasten his arrival to the majors.

Like Milbrandt, Alderman is doubtful to be eligible for another Futures Game after this one, so that element of urgency may get him the nod.

 

OF Cam Cannarella  

FOF Top 30 rank: No. 10

2026 MiLB levels: High-A/Double-A

MLB ETA: mid-2027

Cannarella has missed the most time due to injury among the serious candidates (limited to 34 games), but he's been elite at the plate while primarily patrolling center field defensively. He leads all full-season Marlins farmhands in batting average (.366) and on-base percentage (.434).

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