Hector Rodriguez

We are less than two months away from the 2026 MLB Draft. Fish On First has already published profiles for many of the prospects worth considering for the Miami Marlins in the first round, as well as an updated draft big board. It's time to dive even deeper with a three-round mock draft. The Marlins will make four selections within the first three rounds—14th, 52nd, 71st, and 87th. Their overall bonus pool is the largest in franchise history at $11,960,100. Here is the 2026 Fish on First MLB Mock Draft 1.0. First Round (14th overall)—AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia Slot value: $5,444,900 With the 14th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder AJ Gracia. The Marlins have one of the most complete hitters in this draft class with the selection of the Virginia outfielder. AJ Gracia is the 6’3”, 195-pound outfielder out of the University of Virginia. On MLB Pipeline, Gracia is the eleventh-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On Baseball America, Gracia is the fifteenth-ranked prospect in this draft class. At the plate, Gracia is an excellent bat-to-ball hitter who rarely chases pitches out of the zone and can drive the ball to all fields. He has consistently hit at a high level throughout his collegiate career. However, Gracia is pretty limited defensively as he projects as a left fielder at the next level. During the 2026 season, Gracia has played and started in 53 games. Gracia is slashing .3338/.478/.616 with 67 hits, thirteen doubles, fourteen home runs, 42 RBIs, 45 walks, and a 1.095 OPS. Second Round (52nd overall)—Joseph Contreras, RHP, Blessed Trinity HS (GA) Slot value: $1,892,500 With the 52nd pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed Joseph Contreras. The Marlins use their second round pick to draft their first high school prospect with the selection of Contreras. Contreras is the son of former MLB veteran right-handed pitcher José Contreras. He also pitched for Team Brazil in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He even jammed Aaron Judge with a mid-90s fastball to induce a broken-bat double play. On the mound, Contreras has a four-pitch mix including his fastball, slider, forkball, and changeup. His fastball sits in the mid-90s but was clocked at 99 mph this past spring. He has a good low-80s slider, but his best secondary pitch is his forkball. Just like his dad, Contreras generates a lot of ground balls and whiffs with his forkball. On MLB Pipeline, Contreras is the 54th-ranked draft prospect. On Baseball America, Contreras is the 55th-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft Class. Contreras is signed to play college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Competitive Balance Round B (71st overall)— Dee Kennedy, SS, Kansas State Slot value: $1,192,600 With the 71st pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select shortstop Dee Kennedy. With their extra pick, the Marlins grab one of the biggest risers on draft boards since the beginning of the season. Kansas State shortstop Dee Kennedy had a major breakout season for the Wildcats this season. He has been one of the most improved players in the country, especially after he had LASIK surgery. In his junior season, Kennedy played and started in 57 games. He’s slashing .357/.461/.733 with 79 hits, seventeen doubles, three triples, 20 home runs, 69 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, and a 1.194 OPS. Kennedy is a very well-rounded prospect who can hit and also plays strong defense after a premier position. While he doesn’t have one tool that really stands out, he’s a very solid prospect who could make an immediate impact in Miami’s farm system. Third Round (87th overall)—Daniel Cuvet, 3B, Miami Slot value: $929,700 With the 87th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman Daniel Cuvet. The Marlins grab a hometown kid and one of the most productive hitters in college baseball since he arrived on campus. Daniel Cuvet is the best hitter for the Miami Hurricanes and is a former First-Team All-American. He’s a very sound hitter who has lots of power to all fields but doesn’t run well and likely projects at first base at the next level. During the 2026 season, Cuvet has only played and started in 41 games due to an injury. Cuvet is slashing .305/.437/.649 with 46 hits, fourteen doubles, twelve home runs, 45 RBIs, 33 walks, and a 1.086 OPS. On Baseball America, Cuvet is the 88th-ranked draft prospect. On MLB Pipeline, Cuvet is the 105th-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft Class. Cuvet’s bat is legit and could come up through the minor leagues quickly if he can continue to consistently hit like he has with the Hurricanes. View full article

Leading up to the 2026 MLB Draft, Fish On First brings you a series of scouting reports on top prospects in this draft class who could realistically wind up in Miami. Overview Position: OF Height: 5’9″ Weight: 185 pounds School: Georgia Tech Drew Burress is a 5’9”, 185-pound outfielder who plays for Georgia Tech University. Burress has been an excellent hitter since he arrived on campus at Georgia Tech. He’s one of the best overall players in the country and should be an early pick in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft. Coming out of high school, Burress was an elite-level prospect from Houston County High School in Perry, Georgia. On Perfect Game, Burress was the eighteenth-ranked prospect and the fourth-ranked outfielder in the Class of 2023. He was also the second-ranked prospect and the #1 outfielder out of the Peach State. Burress went undrafted and honored his commitment to Georgia Tech. During his freshman season, Burress made a major impact and was already proving himself to be one of the best players in college baseball. Burress played and started in all 58 games. He slashed .381/.512/.821 with 83 hits, fifteen doubles, 25 home runs, 67 RBIs, 58 walks, and a 1.333 OPS. Burress was named the Freshman of the Year, Freshman All-American, and Second Team All-American on D1 Baseball. In the 2025 season, Burress continued to produce like one of the most productive hitters in the country. Burress played and started in all 60 games. He slashed .333/.469/.693 with 76 hits, 23 doubles, nineteen home runs, 62 RBIs, ten stolen bases, 53 walks, and a 1.162 OPS. He was named a First Team All-American and First Team All-ACC. During this season, Burress has helped lead Georgia Tech’s offense to be one of the best in the country. Burress is slashing .361/.476/.651 with 87 hits, 22 doubles, three triples, fourteen home runs, 56 RBIs, ten stolen bases, 47 walks, and a 1.128 OPS. He was named First Team All-ACC. At the plate, Burress has an open stance and uses his lower half very well. Burress has a short, compact swing with natural lift and generates a lot of power from his big leg kick and impressive bat speed. Burress did have some mechanical issues with his swing and leg kick during the season, but made adjustments and has played more to his capabilities. He’s one of the most complete hitters in this draft class with an advanced approach and doesn’t chase too many pitches out of the zone. Defensively, Burress projects to stay in center field at the next level. He has above-average speed and a 60-grade arm strength. Even if he moves off of the position by the time he reaches the majors, Burress could be an excellent defensive right fielder due to his arm strength. Strengths 60-grade power Highly productive college hitter Georgia Tech for all three years Excellent bat speed Hits the ball with leverage naturally 60-grade arm strength Projected to stick in CF Weaknesses Doesn’t have much projectability left Swing tends to get a little long Will probably need to shorten his leg kick Pro Comparison: Ramon Laureano Projection: Top 10 pick Bottom Line With how productive Drew Burress has been since he stepped foot at Georgia Tech, it doesn’t seem like many teams will pass up on the opportunity to draft him. He’s a well-rounded prospect who could quickly move through the minor league system. On ESPN, Burress is the seventh-ranked prospect and the #1 collegiate outfielder in the 2026 MLB Draft. On MLB Pipeline, Burress is the eighth-ranked draft prospect. He is the tenth-ranked draft prospect on Baseball America. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the draft. Burress would be an excellent option, but he is unlikely to be on the board for them. If he does fall to the Fish, they would really have to consider taking him. More 2026 MLB draft profiles LHP Gio Rojas RHP Cameron Flukey OF Eric Booth Jr. 3B Ace Reese LHP Carson Bolemon RHP Jackson Flora INF Jacob Lombard OF AJ Gracia View full article

Leading up to the 2026 MLB Draft, Fish On First brings you a series of scouting reports on top prospects in this draft class who could realistically wind up in Miami. Overview Position: LHP Height: 6’4″ Weight: 190 pounds School: Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL) Commitment: Miami Gio Rojas is a 6’4”, 190-pound left-handed pitcher who plays at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Rojas is one of the top pitching prospects in this draft class. He’s also considered one of the top high school prospects in the class. Rojas is signed to play college baseball at the University of Miami. Rojas comes from one of the best high school baseball factories in the country. Stoneman Douglas has produced seven MLB players, including Anthony Rizzo, Jesús Luzardo, and Roman Anthony. Rojas is expected to become the first Stoneman Douglas player to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft. On the mound, Rojas possesses a three-pitch mix including his fastball, slider, and changeup. Rojas’s fastball sits 92-96 mph and tops out at 98 mph. His fastball has plus spin that normally ranges from 2,500 to 2,700 RPM. Rojas’s slider is his best secondary pitch, sitting in the low 80s with 2,600-2,800 RPM of spin and sweeper movement. He has a good feel for his low-80s changeup and it has proven to be effective against right-handed batters. During his senior season, Rojas helped Marjory Stoneman Douglas High secure their seventh consecutive state title. He posted an 11-1 record in thirteen starts with a 0.59 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, seventeen walks, and 124 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched. Strengths Plus fastball Good spin rate and feel on all of his pitches Pounds the strike zone Projectable body frame Frontline starter upside Weaknesses Needs to throw his changeup with more consistency Struggles to repeat his delivery Pro Comparison: Cole Ragans Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Gio Rojas is a blue-chip prospect with a high floor and still has room to develop into a better pitching prospect. On MLB Pipeline, Rojas is the tenth-ranked draft prospect. He’s also the fourteenth-ranked draft prospect on ESPN. On Perfect Game, Rojas is the third-ranked prospect and the top-ranked pitcher in the Class of 2026. He’s also the second-ranked prospect in the Sunshine State, only behind Jacob Lombard. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. They have had mixed results historically when taking prep pitchers in the first round. Josh Beckett (1999) became a World Series hero and Trevor Rogers (2017) peaked as an All-Star, but the likes of Jeff Allison (2003), Chad James (2009) and Tyler Kolek (2014) never even reached the big leagues. Most recently, Noble Meyer (2023) has fallen short of expectations thus far. If Miami can land the hometown kid, Rojas would be an excellent addition to their farm system. More 2026 MLB draft profiles RHP Cameron Flukey OF Eric Booth Jr. 3B Ace Reese LHP Carson Bolemon RHP Jackson Flora INF Jacob Lombard OF AJ Gracia View full article

Leading up to the 2026 MLB Draft, Fish On First brings you a series of scouting reports on top prospects in this draft class who could realistically wind up in Miami. Overview Position: RHP Height: 6’6″ Weight: 210 pounds School: Coastal Carolina Cameron Flukey is a 6’6”, 210-pound right-handed pitcher who plays for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Flukey has missed most of the 2026 season, but he’s one of the most talented arms in the 2026 MLB Draft class. He was originally the top-ranked pitching prospect, but has fallen on draft boards due to his injury. Coming out of high school, Flukey was a blue-chip prospect coming out of Egg Harbor Township High School in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. On Perfect Game, Flukey was the 128th-ranked prospect and the 39th-ranked right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2023. He was also the second-ranked prospect out of the Garden State. Flukey went undrafted and signed with Coastal Carolina University. In his freshman season, Flukey made an immediate impact for the Chanticleers. Flukey made nineteen appearances and ten starts. He posted a 3-3 record with a 5.73 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, one save, 5.27 FIP, a .242 opponent batting average, and struck out 83 batters in 55 innings pitched. During his sophomore season, Flukey had a major breakout season and was one of the best pitchers in all of college baseball. Flukey made eighteen appearances and seventeen starts. He posted a 7-2 record with a 3.28 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, one complete game shutout, a .210 opponent batting average, and 117 strikeouts in 101 ⅔ innings pitched. Flukey was named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference and was also a Third Team All-American on D1 Baseball. So far this season, Flukey has struggled with health and hasn’t pitched well, either. Flukey has missed most of the season with a rib stress fracture. He has only made four starts this season. He has a 0-2 record with a 6.39 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 5.93 FIP, and 17 strikeouts in 12 ⅔ innings pitched. While his strikeout percentage has increased and walk percentage decreased, hitters have a .406 BABIP against the talented right-hander. On the mound, Flukey possesses a four-pitch arsenal including his fastball, 12-6 curveball, slider, and changeup. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and tops out at 98 with arm-side run and holds its plane well at the top of the zone. Flukey has confidence in both of his breaking pitches. His 12-6 curveball sits in the upper-70s and has a lot of vertical drop. His slider sits in the mid-80s with a plus spin rate and usually throws it against right-handed batters as an out pitch. Against left-handed hitters, Flukey will use his changeup, which fades away from the hitter's barrels. Strengths Plus fastball Legit four-pitch arsenal Great extension Projectable body type Has continued to improve on his control Weaknesses Having a bad 2026 season Leaving pitches too much in the zone Might need to tweak mechanics to hide the ball better Pro Comparison: Logan Gilbert Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Cameron Flukey might be available later in the first round of the MLB Draft than originally projected entering the 2026 season. On Baseball America, Flukey is the seventh-ranked prospect in this draft class and the second-ranked pitching prospect. On MLB Pipeline, Flukey is the 13th-ranked draft prospect and second-ranked right-handed pitcher in the class. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Since Flukey's injury wasn’t arm-related, he could still be a great option for them if they're confident that they can fix his issues. More 2026 MLB draft profiles OF Eric Booth Jr. 3B Ace Reese LHP Carson Bolemon RHP Jackson Flora INF Jacob Lombard OF AJ Gracia View full article

Leading up to the 2026 MLB Draft, Fish On First brings you a series of scouting reports on top prospects in this draft class who could realistically wind up in Miami. Overview Position: OF Height: 6’0″ Weight: 205 pounds School: Oak Grove HS (MS) Commitment: Vanderbilt Eric Booth Jr. is a 6’0”, 205-pound outfielder who plays at Oak Grove School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Booth has been rising on the board since the beginning of his senior season. He is now viewed as arguably the best outfield prospect in this draft class. On Perfect Game, Booth is the fourth-ranked prospect and the top-ranked outfielder in the Class of 2026. He’s also the #1 overall prospect in the Magnolia State. Booth is signed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University. Booth is one of the best athletes in this draft class. He’s arguably the fastest prospect and has already started to fill out his frame. At the plate, Booth has an unorthodox batting stance and tends to swing down on the ball. While Booth is not the biggest prospect, he has plus bat speed and can already generate power with his frame. He won the Home Run Derby at the Perfect Game All-American Classic last summer. Defensively, Booth is projected to be a center fielder due to his excellent range. He has improved his arm strength from average to above-average. According to Perfect Game, Booth has been clocked running a 6.27 60-yard dash. He also has good instincts and tracks the ball well in the outfield. While Booth's tools are exciting, there’s still work to be done when it comes to his overall development. Strengths Elite speed Plus bat speed Good bat-to-ball skills Good feel for the strike zone Excellent athlete Weaknesses Needs to improve at lifting the ball Needs to improve on swing mechanics Pro Comparison: Cedric Mullins Projection: Top 10 pick Bottom Line Eric Booth Jr. is certainly has the raw talent to develop into a very productive big leaguer. Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America have Booth ranked as the sixth-ranked prospect in this draft class. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Selecting Booth would come with high risk. However, that might be a risk worth taking. More 2026 MLB draft profiles 3B Ace Reese LHP Carson Bolemon RHP Jackson Flora INF Jacob Lombard OF AJ Gracia View full article

MIAMI — The Miami Marlins dropped their series opener to the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-5, in a ballgame that got very interesting at the end. The Phillies had a 6-1 lead in the eighth inning, but Miami scored four runs and were 180 feet away from tying the game in the bottom of the ninth. "We see with the group day in and day out, they will just continue to hang in there," Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said postgame. "We came up short, but I loved how we were able to finish that one off." The Phillies remain undefeated with Don Mattingly as their interim manager. They have a perfect 4-0 record since Donnie Baseball took over for Rob Thomson, who was fired at the beginning of this week. That includes three straight one-run wins. Right-handed pitcher Eury Pérez got the start and loss for the Marlins in the series opener. Pérez was pitching well through the game, but got into trouble in the top of the fourth. After giving up a single to Brandon Marsh and walking Bryson Stott, Pérez gave up back-to-back RBI hits to give Philadelphia the lead. Third baseman Alec Bohm tied the ballgame with an RBI single to center field and rookie outfielder Justin Crawford scored Stott with an RBI double. Overall, Pérez threw five innings, allowing four hits, two runs, two walks, and six strikeouts. The 23-year-old Dominican right-hander now has a 2-3 record on the season. "In general, I thought I had a good outing," Perez said after the loss. "My pitches were working very well, but they got aggressive, mostly on the first pitch and there was some damage." The Phillies would add to their lead in the top of the seventh with two outs. Facing newly recalled left-hander Cade Gibson, Edmundo Sosa hit a liner to center that scored Bryce Harper, making it 3-1. The final dagger would come from Stott's three-run home run to right field, breaking the game open 6-1. After laboring in his 50-pitch outing, Gibson is already headed back down to Triple-A Jacksonville. Right-handed relief pitcher Lake Bachar pitched very well in his 2 ⅓ innings of work, allowing no hits, no runs, no walks, and three strikeouts. He improves his ERA to 2.81 on the season. At the plate, the Marlins got to Zack Wheeler early. In the bottom of the first, Xavier Edwards doubled down the right field line and drove in Otto Lopez, who had hit a ground-rule double the at-bat before. They didn't have any answers for Wheeler after that, as he retired 15 of the last 16 batters he faced. In the bottom of the eighth, Miami’s offense showed some fight and made it a much closer ballgame. Lopez drove in Jakob Marsee on an RBI single that deflected off Stott’s glove and rolled into shallow left field. Liam Hicks drove in Stowers on a sacrifice fly that was torched but directly at Adolis Garcia in right field. Agustin Ramirez kept the inning alive with a two-out RBI single through the right side that scored Lopez and made the game 6-4. Connor Norby would enter the game as a pinch-hitter for Owen Caissie and delivered a double down the left field line. The Marlins had two runners in scoring position with the tying run 180 feet from home and the winning run at the plate. However, Christopher Morel watched three pitches go by and struck out without taking the bat off his shoulder. After a 1-2-3 ninth inning from Bachar, the Marlins got an early baserunner with Javier Sanoja drawing a leadoff walk on four pitches. That was followed by back-to-back strikeouts of Jakob Marsee on a 3-2 check swing and Kyle Stowers on a borderline 3-2 pitch that grazed the outside corner. Stowers and McCullough were both ejected arguing the called third strike. Lopez kept the game alive with an RBI single to RF. However, Edwards lined out to center, which ended the ballgame and prevented what would've been the biggest comeback of Miami's season. What’s next? The Marlins will look to even the series in game two of the four-game series. Right-handed pitcher Max Meyer will be on the mound for the Marlins. The former third overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft has pitched well this season. Meyer has posted a 1-0 record with a 3.30 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, a .207 opponent batting average, and a 128 ERA+. The Phillies will hand the ball to veteran right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola. The former All-Star right-hander has struggled dating back to the 2025 season, including a 1-3 record so far in 2026 with a 6.03 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 10.1 K/9, and a .286 opponent batting average. The first pitch for Saturday’s game is at 4:10 pm EST. View full article

Leading up to the 2026 MLB Draft, Fish On First brings you a series of scouting reports on top prospects in this draft class who could realistically wind up in Miami. Overview Position: 3B Height: 6’4″ Weight: 220 pounds School: Mississippi State Ace Reese is a 6’4”, 220-pound third baseman who plays for Mississippi State University. Reese is one of the best power-hitting prospects in the 2026 MLB Draft class. He’s also one of the most consistent hitters in this class and continues to show growth after every season. Reese was a mid-level prospect coming out of Canton High School in Canton, Texas. On Perfect Game, Reese was a top-500 prospect and the 208th-ranked shortstop in the Class of 2023. He was also the 95th-ranked prospect out of the Lone Star State. Reese went undrafted and signed with the University of Houston. During his freshman season, Reese made an immediate impact and started for the Houston Cougars. Reese played and started in 48 games. He slashed .278/.395/.506 with 45 hits, eight doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .901 OPS. Reese was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman team. He would later enter the Transfer Portal and sign with the Mississippi State Bulldogs. In his first season at Mississippi State, Reese had a massive breakout and was one of the top power hitters in college baseball. Reese played and started in all 57 games. He slashed .352/.422/.718 with 80 hits, eighteen home runs, 21 home runs, 66 RBIs, a 154 wRC+, and a 1.140 OPS. Reese was named the 2025 SEC Newcomer of the Year and Second Team All-American by Baseball America and D1 Baseball. In his junior season, Reese continues to be one of the most consistent and productive hitters in the country. Reese has played and started in all 45 games this season. He’s slashing .318/.420/.682 with 55 hits, eighteen doubles, fifteen home runs, 54 RBIs, 15 BB%, 1.102 OPS, and a 144 wRC+. At the plate, Reese is a left-handed hitter with a slightly open batting stance and keeps his hands quiet. He has a bit of leg kick, but doesn’t bring it up too high, and he gets his foot down on time to hit the fastball. Reese does tend to be too aggressive and chase pitches out of the zone. Reese’s best offensive tool is his power. MLB Pipeline graded Reese’s power tool as a 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Reese has excellent bat speed and naturally hits the ball with leverage. His ground ball rate is a career-low 28.4%. His fly ball and line drive rates are also at an all-time high. Reese’s line drive is up from 14.4% to 20%. His fly ball rate is up from 43.9% to 50.7%, while his pop-up rate is at a career-low 3%, according to D1 Baseball. Defensively, Reese doesn’t provide a ton of defensive flexibility. While he has solid arm strength, his hands have a lot of work to do, and he doesn’t move very well. Reese is mostly like a left fielder or first baseman at the next level. Strengths 60-grade power Excellent bat speed Can hit both left-handed and right-handed pitchers Hits the ball with leverage naturally Consistently hits the ball in the air with authority to all fields Weaknesses Below-average speed Very limited defensively Tends to be overly aggressive Pro Comparison: Chase DeLauter Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line While Ace Reese is pretty limited defensively, his plus power and consistent lift give him an exciting offensive profile. On Baseball America, Reese is the 14th-ranked prospect and fifth-ranked infielder in the 2026 MLB Draft. On MLB Pipeline, Reese is the 28th-ranked draft prospect and 21st-ranked collegiate prospect in this draft class. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the draft. Reese is a player who could be a legit candidate for the Marlins when they are on the clock, capable of becoming their first baseman of the future if he can’t stick at third. More 2026 MLB draft profiles LHP Carson Bolemon RHP Jackson Flora INF Jacob Lombard OF AJ Gracia View full article

Overview: Position: LHP Height: 6’4" Weight: 210 pounds School: Southside Christian School (SC) Commitment: Wake Forest Carson Bolemon is a 6’4”, 210-pound left-handed pitcher who plays at Southside Christian School in Five Forks, South Carolina. Bolemon is one of the top pitching prospects in this draft class. He’s also considered one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the 2026 draft class. On Perfect Game, Bolemon is the fourth-ranked prospect and the second-ranked left-handed pitcher in the Class of 2026. He’s also the #1 overall prospect out of South Carolina. Bolemon is signed to play college baseball at Wake Forest University Coming into the 2026 MLB Draft, Bolemon might be one of the most polished high school pitching prospects we have seen in recent years. He has plus pitches and a projectable frame that he can grow into. On the mound, Bolemon possesses a four-pitch arsenal including his fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. Bolemon’s fastball sits 92-95 mph and tops out at 96 mph with excellent command. He can mix both of his breaking balls very well. Bolemon’s curveball sits 78-81 mph with excellent spin and great depth to generate swing-and-miss. His slider sits in the low-90s and works very well against left-handed batters. Bolemon also has a good feel for his mid-80s changeup, which he used mostly against right-handed hitters. While Bolemon has four plus pitches, one of his biggest strengths is his command of all four pitches. Bolemon has the potential to be selected in the top ten in the 2026 MLB Draft. On MLB Pipeline, Bolemon is the seventh-ranked prospect and the #1 prep pitching prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft. On Baseball America, Bolemon is the 19th-ranked prospect and the fifth-ranked pitching prospect in this draft class. Strengths Excellent control Plus fastball Plus breaking pitches Projectable body type Very polished for prep prospect Weaknesses Struggles to repeat his mechanics Needs to improve his command of secondary pitches Pro Comparison: Connelly Early Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Bolemon is an elite pitching prospect in this draft class and could be an option for the Marlins. While the Marlins have two excellent left-handed pitching prospects in Thomas White and Robby Snelling. The southpaw pitcher out of South Carolina might be the best prospect available when Miami is on the clock. View full article

Leading up to the 2026 MLB Draft, Fish On First brings you a series of scouting reports on top prospects in this draft class who could realistically wind up in Miami. Overview Position: RHP Height: 6’5″ Weight: 205 pounds School: UC Santa Barbara Jackson Flora is a 6’5”, 205-pound right-handed pitcher who plays for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Flora is having an unbelievably great junior season for UC Santa Barbara to emerge as the top pitching prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. Flora was a blue-chip prospect coming out of Foothill High School in Pleasanton, California. On Perfect Game, Flora was the 428th-ranked prospect and the 140th-ranked right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2023. He was also the 20th-ranked pitching prospect out of the Golden State. Flora went undrafted and signed with UC Santa Barbara. In his freshman season, Flora made an immediate impact for the Gauchos and was one of their best pitchers. During the 2024 season, he made 23 appearances and four starts. He posted a 3-2 record with a 3.83 ERA, five saves, 1.45 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched. Flora was named to the All-Big West Honorable Mention team. During his sophomore season, Flora had a major breakout and became one of the top right-handed pitchers in the country. In thirteen appearances and eleven starts, he posted a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, a .209 opponent batting average, one complete game shutout, and 86 strikeouts in 75 innings pitched. Flora was named to the All-Big West First Team. So far this season, Flora has elevated his game again, emerging as the NCAA's best performing pitcher. In his junior season, Flora has made nine appearances and starts. He owns a 6-0 record with a 0.63 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, a .138 opponent batting average, 2.8 BB/9, 11.1 K/9, and 71 strikeouts in 57 ⅓ innings pitched. On the mound, Flora possesses a three-pitch arsenal including his fastball, sweeper, and kick changeup. Flora’s fastball is one of the best in this draft class, with velocity that sits in the upper-90s and tops out in the triple digits. His fastball has a plus spin rate and excellent arm-side movement. His plus extension also makes his fastball get on batters quicker than the velocity suggests. Flora’s sweeper is his most-used secondary pitch. His sweeper has good late movement, but he needs to be more consistent with shaping that pitch. This is the first season Flora has been using his kick-change. While it’s brand new, he already has a solid feel for the pitch and uses it very well against left-handed hitters. Strengths 70-grade fastball with plus velo and spin Strike-thrower Great extension Plus slider Promising kick-change Excellent athlete Weaknesses Inconsistent with secondary pitches Pro Comparison: Tyler Glasnow Projection: Top 10 pick Bottom Line The 2026 MLB Draft class seems to be loaded with starting pitchers at the top, and Flora is currently the best prospect of them all. He has frontline starter potential. On Baseball America, Flora is the third-ranked prospect and top-ranked pitching prospect in this draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Flora is the 14th-ranked draft prospect and second-ranked right-handed pitcher. The Marlins have the 14th overall pick in the draft. It doesn’t seem likely that Flora will be on the board when Miami’s on the clock. However, he'd be an incredible addition to their farm system. More 2026 MLB draft profiles OF AJ Gracia INF Jacob Lombard View full article

Leading up to the 2026 MLB Draft, Fish On First brings you a series of scouting reports on top prospects in this draft class who could realistically wind up in Miami. Overview Position: SS Height: 6’3″ Weight: 185 pounds School: Gulliver Prep (FL) Commitment: Miami Jacob Lombard is a 6’3”, 185-pound shortstop who plays at Gulliver Prep School in Miami, Florida. Lombard is one of the top hitting prospects in this draft class. He’s also considered one of the top high school prospects in the 2026 draft class (second-ranked overall prospect and top-ranked prospect in Florida, according to Perfect Game). Among all draft-eligible players, Lombard is ranked fourth by MLB Pipeline and eleventh by Baseball America. Lombard is signed to play college baseball at the University of Miami. Lombard comes from an excellent baseball family. His dad, George, played six seasons in MLB. He’s currently the bench coach for the Detroit Tigers. Jacob’s older brother, George Lombard Jr., was a first-round pick by the New York Yankees in the 2023 MLB Draft. According to MLB Pipeline, George Jr. entered this season as the top-ranked prospect in the Yankees organization. At the plate, Lombard has the ingredients to be a very productive hitter at the next level with excellent tools and a high baseball IQ. His plate discipline and approach are at a much higher level than most of the prep prospects in this draft class. However, he does have some swing-and-miss to his game and struggled with high velocity over the summer. Lombard has already started to fill in his frame by adding solid weight. His power has improved and that tool received a 60 grade from Pipeline. Defensively, Lombard shouldn’t have any issues sticking at shortstop. He’s an excellent athlete with soft hands and great range. His arm strength does have some room for improvement, but that should continue to come as he matures physically. Lombard is also one of the fastest runners in this draft class. According to Perfect Game, he was clocked running a 6.11 60-yard dash. Strengths Elite speed Plus power potential Advanced plate approach and discipline High baseball IQ Weaknesses Has struggled with high velocity in the past Needs to improve arm strength Pro Comparison: Jeremy Peña Projection: Top 10 pick Bottom Line While it's convenient that the Marlins happen to be Lombard's hometown team, his inclusion in this series is based on his immense talent alone. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. In recent years, they have struggled with identifying the right prep players in the middle of the first round (Kahlil Watson in 2021, Noble Meyer in 2023 and PJ Morlando in 2024). However, Lombard is a blue-chip prospect who could be an excellent addition to Miami’s farm system. More 2026 MLB draft profiles OF AJ Gracia View full article

MIAMI — The Miami Marlins returned from their series against the New York Yankees to face the Cincinnati Reds back at home on Monday night. However, it seems that all of their offense missed the flight and remains back in the Bronx. The Fish struggled to put anything together against left-handed starting pitcher Brandon Williamson in their series-opening 2-0 loss. Starting pitcher Janson Junk had a very efficient outing in his second start of the 2026 season. Junk pitched 7 ⅓ innings, allowing seven hits, two runs, one walk, and three strikeouts. He improved his season ERA to 3.09. “I’m happy with what I did today,” Junk said postgame. “I feel like I did not have my best stuff, but I was able to go out there and compete and get through quick innings to get back in the dugout and give the guys a chance.” Right-handed relief pitcher Tyler Phillips took over for Junk and was able to keep a runner stranded. Phillips punched out Matt McLain and got Elly De La Cruz to ground out to Otto Lopez at shortstop. Phillips also pitched a scoreless ninth inning to keep the ballgame within reach. The Marlins offense had a putrid night. Otto Lopez was one of the few hitters who did well against Cincinnati’s pitching staff. Lopez went 2-for-4 and boosted his season batting average to .351. It was his third consecutive multi-hit game. Second-year catcher Agustín Ramírez was the only other Marlin to record a hit. Ramírez went 1-for-3 with a triple and drew a walk. His triple was about a foot or two away from being a solo home run to right field. “Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get much going offensively to back (Junk) up,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said postgame. “The ones we did square up, they just didn’t fall.” The Marlins totaled 12 hard-hit balls, according to Statcast, compared to 10 for Cincinnati. The Reds are now 4-0 on the road this season. The two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are the only other MLB team that also remains undefeated in away games. What’s next? The Marlins will look to rebound and even the series versus the Reds. On Tuesday, Miami will hand the ball to their ace pitcher, Sandy Alcantara. The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner has been stellar to kick off the 2026 season. Alcantara is coming off one of the best starts of his career, a complete-game shutout against the Chicago White Sox. It was also the second “Maddux” of his MLB career. The Reds will hand the ball to left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott. In two outings far this season, the 2025 National League All-Star southpaw pitcher has recorded a 3.09 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 1.37 WHIP, and a .674 opponent OPS. The first pitch for Tuesday’s game is at 6:40 pm EST. View full article

In less than 100 days, the Miami Marlins will be on the clock. As we have always done, Fish On First is bringing you a series of scouting reports on the top MLB Draft-eligible prospects who could realistically wind up in Miami. Overview Position: OF Height: 6’3″ Weight: 195 pounds School: Virginia A.J. Gracia is a 6’3”, 195-pound outfielder who plays for the University of Virginia. Gracia is one of the best left-handed-hitting prospects in the 2026 draft class and one of its most talented power hitters. Gracia was a blue-chip prospect coming out of the Ranney School in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. On Perfect Game, he was the 200th-ranked prospect and the 37th-ranked outfielder in the Class of 2023. He was also the fifth-ranked prospect out of the Garden State. Gracia went undrafted and signed with the Duke Blue Devils. During his freshman season, Gracia made an immediate impact for the Blue Devils and was one of the best hitters. Gracia played and started in all 60 games. He slashed .305/.440/.559 with 67 hits, fourteen doubles, fourteen home runs, 58 RBIs, 17.3 BB%, 1.000 OPS, and a 135 wRC+. Gracia was named Third Team All-ACC and a consensus Freshman All-American. In his sophomore season, Gracia continued to produce for the Blue Devils. Gracia played and started in all 60 games. He slashed .293/.449/.558 with 63 hits, ten doubles, fifteen home runs, 54 RBIs, 57 walks, 20% BB%, 1.007 OPS, and a 134 wRC+. Gracia was named Second Team All-ACC. He would also enter the Transfer Portal and signed with the Virginia Cavaliers, following his head coach, Chris Pollard. In his first season at Virginia, Gracia continues to be one of the most consistent and productive hitters in the country. He has played and started in all 30 games this season. Entering Friday, he’s slashing .352/.500/.667 with 38 hits, seven doubles, nine home runs, 28 RBIs, 18.8 BB%, 1.167 OPS, and a 164 wRC+. At the plate, Gracia is a lefty with an upright batting stance and quiet hands. He has a compact swing with very little wasted movement and swings through the ball very well. Gracia is mostly known for his power. He has excellent swing mechanics and can showcase his power to all fields. His power tool is graded a 60 by MLB Pipeline. His hit tool is graded as a 55 due to an advanced plate approach and bat-to-ball skills. Gracia has also shown improvement in hitting more line drives. According to D1 Baseball, Gracia’s line drive rate in 2026 is a personal-best 20.9%, and his ground ball rate is at an all-time low of 31.9%. On defense, Gracia is pretty limited. He does not run very well, and his arm strength is average at best. Gracia projects to be a left fielder/first baseman at the next level. According to MLB Pipeline, Gracia does have good outfield instincts and runs good routes on fly balls. On Baseball America, Gracia is the 12th-ranked prospect and third-ranked outfielder in this draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Gracia is the 15th-ranked draft prospect and fourth-ranked outfielder. Strengths 60-grade power Excellent swing decisions Advanced approach at the plate Drives the ball to all fields with authority Career 18.7 BB% and 15.4 K% Quick hands at the plate with a compact swing Tracks fly balls well in the outfield Weaknesses Below-average speed Below-average arm strength Very limited defensively Pro Comparison: Kerry Carpenter Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Gracia has one of the most complete offensive profiles in this draft class. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and should be able to grab one of the class' top prospects. Gracia is a player who could already be off the board when the Marlins pick, but he would be a tough player to pass on if he’s available. He would be an excellent selection in the middle of the first round. View full article

The 2026 MLB Draft Lottery did not go in the Miami Marlins' favor. For the second consecutive year, they were leapfrogged by multiple teams that finished ahead of them in the standings. Miami was projected to get the ninth pick in the first round. However, they fell five spots and are locked in at pick #14. Not only will have they have to wait longer to get access to amateur talent, but their overall bonus pool is smaller than it would've been otherwise, which will limit their flexibility in later rounds. The Marlins have had some success with the 14th overall pick. Drafting from the same position in 2011, they selected two-time All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year right-handed pitcher José Fernández. With the 2026 draft still seven months away, here are six prospects who could be an option for the Marlins with the 14th pick. 1. Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle HS (CA) Stanford commit Tyler Spangler looks to be the next top California high school product to be taken in the top of the first round. Spangler looks to have plus power potential, with the chance for plus-plus as he matures. He does a great job of hitting pull-side and getting backspin on the ball. He combines this power with an above-average hit tool for his age and the ability to play shortstop. The 6’3” left-handed hitter will be 18 on draft night. 2. Chris Hacopian, SS, Texas A&M One of the top hitters available in the 2026 MLB Draft is Texas A&M infielder Chris Hacopian. The 6’1”, 200-pound infielder spent his first two seasons at the University of Maryland before entering the Transfer Portal last offseason. During the 2025 season, Hacopian slashed .375/.502/.656 with 72 hits, twelve doubles, fourteen home runs, 61 RBIs, 40 walks, and a 1.158 OPS. Hacopian is the 14th-ranked draft prospect on Baseball America and the 16th-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline. At the plate, Hacopian might be the best pure hitter in the draft not named Roch Cholowsky. He has an excellent feel for the strike zone and rarely chases out of the zone. He consistently makes loud contact and possesses above-average power. Hacopian projects to play third base at the next level. 3. Brady Harris, OF, Trinity Christian HS (FL) Going back multiple years, Brady Harris has been a highly regarded piece of the 2026 draft class. With the stick, Harris has a natural swing and a presence in the batter’s box. Generating strong exit velocities and a knack for hit the ball into both gaps of the outfield defense, Harris utilizes his speed to pull off extra base hits. He has shown some holes in his swing and will need to work on his plate approach moving forward. The Florida native's stock has fallen slightly after a tough summer, but Harris continues to get first-round buzz due to his strong floor and projections. He has shown the requisite speed, instincts, and arm strength that point in the direction of sticking at center field. Brady Harris will be fun to keep track of as the MLB Draft nears. 4. A.J. Garcia, OF, Virginia Another position player who entered the Transfer Portal this offseason was outfielder A.J. Garcia. The Duke transfer is coming off a monster sophomore campaign and could be an option for the Marlins with the 14th pick. In his final season at Duke, Garcia slashed .294/.445/.558 with 63 hits, ten doubles, one triple, fifteen home runs, 54 RBIs, 57 walks, and a 1.007 OPS. After two seasons at Duke, Garcia entered the Transfer Portal and committed to Virginia. Garcia is the ninth-ranked draft prospect on Baseball America and the fifteenth-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline. At the plate, Garcia is one of the top power hitters in the 2026 draft class. His raw power is rated at a 60 grade. He has a good approach at the plate and makes great swing decisions. He broke Duke’s record for most walks in a season with 57 free passes. While he played center field last season, Garcia projects as a corner outfielder in the pros. 5. Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL) South Florida native and University of Miami committee Gio Rojas is the top high school pitcher in the 2026 draft class. Rojas is 6’4”, 190pounds and will be 19 on draft day. His fastball sits 92-95 mph and he has some deception in his delivery. Coming from a lower arm slot, his velo plays up. Rojas also has a great changeup and breaking ball, which showcases his feel for spin. It may be unlikely that Gio Rojas is available at pick 14, but some teams may be unwilling to select a high school lefty so high, something the Marlins historically have not feared. Rojas is extremely projectable and may be able to move through a system fast. His ability to throw strikes, offer three plus pitches, and dominate hitters have teams excited about him. 6. Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida Florida Gators right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson is one of the top pitchers available in the 2026 MLB Draft. Peterson was once a Top 100 draft prospect coming out of high school and could be a top-15 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. In his sophomore season, Peterson made sixteen appearances and fifteen starts for the Gators. Peterson posted an 8-4 record with a 4.28 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 96 strikeouts in 69 ⅓ innings pitched. Peterson is the fourth-ranked draft prospect on Baseball America and the thirteenth-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline. On the mound, Peterson has a four-pitch arsenal, including one of the best fastballs in the draft class. Peterson’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and has been clocked at 99 mph with good carry. His 12-6 curveball and slider are above-average pitches and can generate swing-and-miss. Peterson needs to be more consistent and improve his command. The Sunshine State native is incredibly talented, but needs to put it together heading into the 2026 season. View full article