Marlins MiLB Recap: Jacob Berry carries recent success into July

Throughout the course of the Minor League Baseball season, Fish On First staffers will release detailed recaps each week taking you through the previous week's developments at all levels of the Miami Marlins organization.

Low-A Jupiter

The Hammerheads had a rough couple of days at the office, dropping five of six games against the team they share Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium with, the Palm Beach Cardinals.

The main culprit for the majority of the losing was Jupiter’s offense. Hammerhead bats combined for just seven extra-base hits all week, six of them being doubles and a lone triple off the bat of Triple-A rehabber José Devers. To put into context just how subpar the offense was the entire series, just one player OPS'd over .600, that being Brett Roberts at .616 (Roberts was there on a rehab assignment as well).

It wasn’t the best of week’s on the mound either, but there was a lone standout that earned FSL Pitcher of the Week after a five-inning, no-run, seven strikeout performance from Eliazar Dishmey. Four of Dishmey's last five outings have been scoreless.

High-A Beloit

Similar to Jupiter, the Sky Carp did not see much success this past week against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, going 2-4 in their six matchups.

On the hill, Emmett Olson and Thomas White were responsible for both wins. Olson was solid, allowing three runs over 5 ⅓ innings of work, but White was dominant. FOF’s number one prospect tossed five innings of one-run ball with two walks and three punch outs.

Noble Meyer undeservedly took a loss in a game that he shoved, sitting down six Timber Rattlers in 4 ⅓ innings while allowing one run to come across.

You can catch both White and Meyer at the Futures Game this Saturday at 4:10 ET from Globe Life Field highlighting the first day of All-Star week’s festivities. The undisputed top two prospects in Miami’s system have shined in their first full season of pro-ball, with White racking up 81 strikeouts and pitching to a 3.10 ERA over 61 innings between both Jupiter and Beloit, while Meyer has struck out 61, and allowed a meager 25 hits in 50 ⅓ innings pitched.

Also similar to Jupiter, there was minor action at the plate, with the only notables being Jake DeLeo and Tony Bullard. DeLeo hit 7-for-20 (.350) with 3 RBI’s, whilst Bullard OPS’d .869 with two doubles.

Double-A Pensacola

The Blue Wahoos out-performed the Hammerheads and Sky Carp with their series split against the Montgomery Biscuits.

We’ll start with the bad for Pensacola on the hitting side. Nathan Martorella, who has been struggling since coming over from the Padres in the Luis Arráez deal, had his worst week as a Marlins farmhand yet. The lefty went hitless in seventeen at-bats, dropping his batting average as a Wahoo down to .163 and his OPS down to .429. Ely Sussman detailed last week what has gone wrong for Martorella here.

Now for the good, and perhaps most intriguing development of the past month-plus down on the farm.

Jacob Berry, Miami’s 2022 first-round pick, had an abysmal April and May to start his 2024 campaign, slashing .173/.239/.272 and .138/.169/.163 in those months, respectively. Since then, though, Berry has been one of the most consistent bats in all of the Marlins’ system. In June, Berry rebounded with a .300/.388/.500 month with nine extra-base hits (two home runs) and 14 RBI’s. Now, in the first week of July, the former LSU Tiger put together his best week yet. Against Montgomery, Berry OPS’d an astounding 1.178 with two long balls and two doubles.

While Berry’s season stats are still poor, his recent play has been just what the doctor ordered, especially with the Minnesota Twins calling up Brooks Lee, the player who was taken one pick after Berry in the 2022 draft.

Somehow out-performing Berry last week at the plate was Paul McIntosh, with an even more impressive OPS of 1.377 and one blast of his own. McIntosh has had an up-and-down 2024 and after his dominant performance against the Biscuits, his season slash line now sits at .247/.345/.390.

A few days after his 24th birthday, Luis Palacios celebrated with the only quality start for Pensacola last week, as he delivered a strong three earned-run, six inning outing, striking out three and walking one.

Triple-A Jacksonville

Taking three of five against the Charlotte Knights, the Jumbo Shrimp were the lone Marlins affiliate to win their inaugural series of July.

Evan Fitterer, Shaun Anderson and Max Meyer were all solid on the bump for Jacksonville. Fitterer and Anderson both allowed six hits and two earned runs, the only difference being Fitterer completing seven innings compared to Anderson’s six. Meyer spun his best outing since being sent back down to Triple-A, striking out six Knights over 4 ⅔ innings. The righty could be back in Miami in roughly two weeks, when his lack of service time in 2024 locks in another year of club control on the former third overall selection.

Marty Costes and Troy Johnson rivaled Berry and McIntosh when it came to mashing at the plate, as Costes OPS’d 1.143, coupled with Johnston’s seven RBI’s and two doubles, good enough for a 1.155 OPS of his own.

Up Next

• Low-A Jupiter travels to the west coast to take on the Bradenton Marauders
• High-A Beloit welcomes the Cedar Rapids Kernels to town
• Double-A Pensacola heads north to face the Rocket City Trash Pandas
• Triple-A Jacksonville visits the Gwinnett Stripers

Interested in learning more about the Miami Marlins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!