Offishial news, 1/18/24: Amazon invests in local broadcasts; prospect rankings

Here's what you should know with 70 days to go until Marlins Opening Day...

• First off, we're in the midst of exciting changes to this website! If you watched the latest Fish On First LIVE episode (embedded below), you got a glimpse of the new FOF logo. Also, whether reading this on desktop and mobile, you should be seeing an email newsletter sign-up prompt—we are revamping that aspect of our coverage. That's just the tip of the iceberg. In the coming days, we'll be overhauling the site's navigation, commenting system and more.

• Past and present FOF Super Subscribers will be emailed today with additional details. I also insist that you join the Marlins Discord server where I'll be around to answer all questions related to this transition.

• Wednesday's winter ball notes: In the Dominican Republic, 3B Vidal Bruján went 1-for-4. On Miami-Dade College's North Campus, the Cuban Professional Baseball Federation's FEPCUBE team played an exhibition game against the MDC Sharks. They won, 3-2, with a lineup that included Marlins prospect Victor Mesa Jr. and ex-Marlins Jorge Soler and Yuli Gurriel (who wore a Marlins-branded batting helmet).

• Following an agreement between Diamond Sports Group and Amazon, Marlins television broadcasts will be streamed locally on Prime Video beginning this season, as explained by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. This setup only applies to five MLB teams for now, the five whose digital broadcast rights are owned by Diamond. Amazon's investment also goes a long way toward ensuring that Bally Sports Florida and the other regional sports networks under Diamond's umbrella will remain on cable for the foreseeable future.

• Elsewhere around baseball, Yariel Rodríguez (4/$32M) has an agreement in place with the Blue Jays.

• covered international free agent signings, front office hires and more. The show is now presented by Berger & Hicks! If you’ve been injured as a result of somebody else’s negligence, give them a call at (305) 670-7050.

• With 168 BBWAA ballots entered into Ryan Thibodaux’s Hall of Fame tracker, former Marlin Gary Sheffield has received 74.4% of the vote (needs 75.0% for election). I’ll continue updating his status in Offishial News as more ballots come in.

• Double-A Pensacola is holding their annual Fish Fest tonight at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Marlins IF Jacob Berry, RHP Ike Buxton and IF Jordan McCants will be in attendance and speaking to the media (including FOF staffers). Marlins director of minor league operations Hector Crespo says Berry and Buxton are likely to be on Pensacola's Opening Day roster. Both prospects finished the 2023 regular season there, then participated in the Arizona Fall League.

• High-A Beloit's Sky Carp Fest is set for Saturday, featuring 1B Torin Montgomery and RHP Jared Poland.

• Prospect-ranking season has begun. RHP Noble Meyer is No. 48 overall and No. 73 overall on newly updated top MLB prospect lists released by Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus, respectively. RHP Max Meyer is No. 89 and No. 86 on those same lists. MLB Pipeline has Noble as their 10th-ranked right-handed pitcher and Thomas White as their eighth-ranked lefty.

• Congratulations to Dane Myers and his wife, Mallory, on the birth of their son, Daegan.

Marlins Podcast Episodes