Youngest Marlins international signing Kevin Defrank already 'more advanced' than other pitchers

Andrew Salas is the top prospect in this year's Miami Marlins international signing class and understandably commanded the largest bonus, but there's some depth to this class as well. The second-largest bonus went to right-handed pitcher Kevin Defrank, who the organization believes has the potential to develop into a great MLB pitcher.

Signing for $560k out of the Dominican Republic, Defrank enters pro ball listed at 6'5", 202 pounds. He just turned 16 years old on August 11, which makes him the youngest member of the 2025 Marlins IFA class. MLB Pipeline ranked him 40th among all international amateurs who were eligible to sign.

Defrank's arsenal consists of a fastball, sweeper and changeup. His fastball has already reached 95 mph and he has the physical projection to increase his velocity significantly down the road.

"We're very excited about Kevin Defrank," said Marlins director of international scouting David Hernandez Beayne. "He's one of the most advanced pitchers I've ever seen in my short career of doing international baseball. We're equally as excited with understanding how good our development system is with pitchers, especially Dominican pitchers, and how he's going to further develop an already advanced skill set to begin with."

Defrank's changeup is "unusually advanced for his age thanks to its sink and fade," said Baseball America in their signing day report. Pipeline is similarly impressed, considering it a 60-grade pitch (out of 80). The development of his sweeper and possible addition of a fourth pitch will go a long toward determining whether he ultimately sticks as a starter, but his fastball/changeup combo will serve him well in any role.

"He's got a really good foundation to begin with," said Hernandez Beayne. "He's been involved in our process, coaches are fully aware of what he brings to the table. I'm equally as excited to begin working with him and getting that process going. I think because he is so advanced in certain areas, he should put himself in a really good position for his talent to show up on the field."

In all likelihood, Defrank will begin his minor league career in the Dominican Summer League, but he could come stateside as soon as 2026 and consistently face older competition from there.

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