Hector Rodriguez

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

MIAMI—The Miami Marlins have dropped their sixth consecutive series. The Marlins came from behind and tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, erasing what was once a 4-0 deficit. However, they couldn’t keep pace with the Toronto Blue Jays through twelve innings in what was ultimately a 7-6 loss. Right-handed pitcher Janson Junk got the start for the Marlins. He left the ballgame with right arm discomfort after throwing his 92nd pitch of the contest. Junk threw 5 ⅔ innings, allowing six hits, three runs, one walk, and three strikeouts. After the game, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough broke down Junk’s early exit: “I saw him shake his arm after the last pitch, went out there, and he mentioned some forearm discomfort. We have to get some further evaluation before we have a clear picture of what might be the issue.” “I felt something in my forearm,” Junk told the media after the game. “It was nothing painful, but the trainer came out and wanted to be cautious.” janson junk ummmmm.mp4 Left-handed pitcher Cade Gibson came in relief for Junk. After Ty France was intentionally walked, Myles Straw pinch-hit for Nathan Lukes and walked in a run, giving Toronto a 3-0 lead. Tyler Phillips would give up a solo home run to George Springer in his one inning of work. The Marlins' offense got off to a very slow start and didn’t come alive until the bottom of the seventh. The offense started to click after two one-out singles by Liam Hicks and Eric Wagaman. Troy Johnston would drive in Miami’s first run of the ballgame with an RBI single to center field. The Fish would continue to cut into their deficit with an RBI double by Javier Sanoja and a pinch-hit RBI single by Otto Lopez, who had been out of the starting lineup lately due to a stomach illness. Typically used in low-leverage situations, right-hander Tyler Zuber was the most effective Miami reliever of the game. He retired six of the seven batters he faced over the course of two scoreless innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Wagaman led off the inning with a walk and was pinch-run for by Derek Hill. The 29-year-old outfielder immediately stole second and advanced to third on a deep fly by Johnston. Sanoja would deliver in the clutch with an RBI single to CF and tie the game for the Fish, forcing it into extra innings. Ronny Henriquez pitched in the tenth and allowed one unearned run on a sac fly to right field. Calvin Faucher worked the eleventh and twelfth innings, allowing only the automatic runners on second base to score in each frame. The Marlins would keep pace with the Blue Jays in the tenth and eleventh, but couldn’t get the extra hit to win the game. Jakob Marsee doubled to left-center in the tenth and Sanoja singled through the right side in the eleventh. In the bottom of the 12th, Xavier Edwards ripped a grounder to the SS and Lopez made a baserunning mistake, hesitating too long before returning to second and getting caught trying to diving back in. Marsee lined out to center field, then Agustín Ramírez smoked a grounder directly at Bichette. He fielded it cleanly and Edwards was out at second to end the ballgame. It was an uncharacteristic 0-for-6 effort at the plate for Edwards, dropping the National League batting title contender to .293 on the season (fifth among NL qualifiers as of this writing). Worth noting, the announced attendance on Saturday was 24,943. That's the fifth-largest crowd for a game at loanDepot park this season, trailing only the games against the New York Yankees and Opening Day. What’s next? The Marlins will look to avoid the sweep in the series finale versus the Blue Jays. Right-handed pitcher Eury Pérez will be on the mound for the Marlins. Pérez was pitched well in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, posting a 5-3 record with a 3.48 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.01 WHIP, and 66 strikeouts in 64 ⅔ innings pitched. Veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman will get the start for Toronto. The two-time All-Star has an 8-9 record, 3.78 ERA, and a 1.06 WHIP (on pace to be the second-best mark of his 13-year MLB career). The first pitch for Sunday’s series finale is at 1:40 pm EST. View full article

MIAMI—The Miami Marlins opened their home series versus the New York Yankees with a packed stadium and gave the fans a show they’ll never forget. In arguably the wildest game of this entire MLB season, the Marlins landed the final punch in walk-off fashion to win, 13-12. “It speaks highly of the character, the resilience, and the compete that our group has to come out on top,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said after the dramatic comeback. “That was certainly as fun and special a win as we have had all season.” The Yankees looked like they were well on their way to victory after they took a 6-0 lead thanks to a Giancarlo Stanton three-home run in the top of the fourth inning and a three-run fifth. Stanton smoked a screaming line drive for his first homer in Miami since 2017, which was his MVP season with the Marlins. After the Yankees made it 6-0, the Marlins' offense woke up. Eric Wagaman broke up Carlos Rodón’s no-hitter with a base knock to left field. Javier Sanoja would break up the shutout with a two-run opposite-field home run. The Marlins would continue to score with a pinch hit single to shallow centerfield by Liam Hicks, making it 6-4. The Yankees would respond with another three-run home run from Trent Grisham that rang off the top of the foul pole in right field. The Yankees had a comfortable 9-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh...or so they thought. The Marlins' offense had a massive bottom of the seventh against two newly acquired bullpen arms for the Yankees. Former Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jake Bird made his Yankees debut and had a bad first experience in the pinstripes. Bird was only able to record one before giving an opposite-field grand slam to All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers. Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to the bullpen and brought in another new bullpen arm, hoping to keep the game 9-8. Former Pirates relief pitcher David Bednar made his Yankees debut and also had a bad first experience. Sanoja stepped up to the plate with the bases empty and did the unthinkable, a no-doubt home run to tie the game. It was Sanoja’s first multi-homer game of his MLB career, and he entered the game with just one home run on the season. The Marlins still weren’t done yet as Jakob Marsee, who made his MLB debut, recorded his first hit with a double to center field. aumm65.mp4 Xavier Edwards also reached base on an infield single, setting up the former Yankees prospect, Agustin Ramírez, with an opportunity to give the Marlins the lead. Ramírez came through with a frozen rope to left field that scored Marsee and gave Miami a 10-9 lead. The Yankees would still not quit. Shortstop Anthony Volpe immediately blasted a no-doubt home run in the top of the eighth to tie the game 10-10. The action once again pick up in the ninth inning. With two outs in the ninth, Ben Rice came off the bench and got his offense going with a single through the right field. Rice was pinch-run for by José Caballero, who easily stole second to get into scoring position for Ryan McMahon. The former Rockies third baseman would deliver with an RBI single up the middle, giving New York an 11-10 lead. Volpe would add another insurance run with an RBI double to center field. Volpe had a monster performance for the Yankees. He went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored in the series opener. Down 12-10 in the bottom of the ninth, the Fish needed to score at least two runs to keep the game alive. Javier Sanoja would stay hot at the plate with a one-out single to LF. Sanoja went 3-for-5 with two dingers and three RBIs. It was Sanoja’s first three-hit game of the season since April 20 against the Phillies. “He loves the moment and whether it’s something he does definitely or a big at-bat, he’s a tough as anyone who I have in that clubhouse,” McCullough said about Sanoja after the game. “The energy he brings is such a luxury to have.” Marlins outfielder prospect Jakob Marsee would have another excellent at-bat in the bottom night, drawing a walk and putting the tying run on base. Marsee impressed in his first MLB game. The 24-year-old outfielder went 1-for-2 with three walks and scored three times in his debut. “The strike zone control and discipline came as advertised,” McCullough said about Marsee’s debut. “He saw the ball beautifully tonight, laid off tough pitches, worked the counts, and drove the ball into the gap.” With two runners on, the Marlins had the top of the order up with Edwards at the dish. The Broward County native clutched up with an RBI single through the right side, but then pandemonium happened. José Caballero stayed in the game to play right field and made a costly error in the bottom of the ninth. Caballero let the ball go under his glove and rolled past him. Marsee easily scored from first, and Edwards advanced to third and tied the game. With the winning run just 90 feet away, Ramírez had another chance to deliver for the Fish. The power-hitting catcher hit a dribbler that traveled one foot, according to Baseball Savant. However, it was deep enough to score Edwards, who was going on contact, and the Marlins pulled off the craziest walk-off win maybe in franchise history. With a packed stadium, this young Marlins team delivered and gave their fans a game they will never forget. This ball club has been on a roll for close to two months and pulled off an incredible win against a team that has World Series aspirations. This game will go down as an instant classic and one of the best games in Marlins history. The fans might have witnessed history tonight, and it should entice them to come back another day and watch this team fight day in and day out. What’s next? The Marlins are back on the diamond Saturday afternoon for the second game in their home series versus the Yankees. Right-handed pitcher Eury Pérez will be on the mound. Pérez has pitched very well in his first couple of months back from Tommy John surgery. The 22-year-old right-hander has posted a 3-3 record in nine starts. He has a 3.07 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 2.75 FIP, 143 ERA+, and 46 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched. The Yankees will also hand the ball to the youngest pitcher in their rotation. Right-handed pitcher Cam Schlittler will get the start for the Yankees. Schlittler has posted a 1-1 record with a 4.91 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts in 14 ⅔ innings pitched. The first pitch for Saturday’s game is at 4:10 pm EST. View full article

With the seventh pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins selected Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette. The Marlins added one of the top position players in this draft class. Arquette is the #2 ranked prospect on our 2025 MLB Draft Big Board. "Awesome day for the Marlins," Marlins director of amateur scouting Frankie Piliere said about their first-round selection. "We got the best position player in the draft class." Aiva Arquette is a 6'5", 220-pound shortstop out of Oregon State University. During the 2025 season, Arquette slashed .354/.461/.654 with 90 hits, 17 doubles, 19 home runs, 66 RBIs, and a 1.115 OPS. He was named Second Team All-American on D1 Baseball. At the plate, Arquette has good swing mechanics with the ability to hit the ball to all fields. The Hawaiian native had adjustments to his swing to lift the ball more often with his pop. Arquette's average air exit velocity was 96.8 mph with a max exit velocity of 112.9 mph. Defensively, Arquette projects as a third baseman with plus arm strength. "I might say he's [Arquette] one of a kind," said Piliere. "He's a different kind of player, a 6'5" right-handed-hitting shortstop. We think he has a chance to be a very special player." The slot value for the seventh pick is $7,149,900. Will continue to update with more information. View full article

The Miami Marlins have the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft. With the draft rapidly approaching, it has become clearer which prospects are likely to be off the board by the time Miami is on the clock—Ethan Holliday, Kade Anderson, Jamie Arnold and Liam Doyle are excluded from this article for that reason. Regardless of how things shake out ahead of them, they should have a chance to select one of the best high school players in the class. Let's focus on my top five realistically available players worth considering. 1. SS Eli Willits FOF draft profile With the expectation of Miami drafting a high school position player with their first pick, Eli Willits could be the best player available for the Fish. Willits would immediately become one of Miami’s top prospects and could crack the Top 100 in all of baseball. Willits is a 6’0”, 180-pound middle infielder who played at Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. Willits is also one of the youngest prospects in this draft as he’s only 17 years old. He is signed to play college baseball for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Oklahoma native is widely considered to be a blue-chip prospect in the 2025 draft class. Baseball America and ESPN have Willits as the third-ranked prospect in the draft. MLB Pipeline has Willits ranked as the #5 prospect in this draft. Willits is an excellent athlete who plays with a high motor and high baseball IQ. The switch-hitting middle infielder has a 60-grade hit tool and could add more power to his game as he matures physically. His skillset is good enough to keep at shortstop, but Willits is also capable of playing center field at the next level. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel compared Willits to Detroit Tigers Futures Game selection Kevin McGonigle. 2. SS Billy Carlson FOF draft profile Another high school shortstop who’s on Miami’s radar with the seventh pick is Billy Carlson. The California native was once viewed as a two-way prospect. He's arguably the best defensive shortstop in the 2025 draft class. Billy Carlson is a 6’1”, 185-pound shortstop who played at Corona High School in Corona, California. Carlson is one of four prospects from Corona who could hear their name get called on Sunday. He is signed to play college baseball for the Tennessee Volunteers. While Carlson’s defense has Gold Glove potential, most of his development will be focused on adding strength. Carlson has a 50-grade hit tool with strong bat-to-ball skills and an advanced approach. He does swing with the intent to lift the ball, but doesn’t possess much power yet. If he’s able to gain solid weight throughout his frame, he could eventually be an average power bat at the next level. Most publications that cover the MLB Draft believe Carlson should be available when the Marlins make their first pick. He’s viewed as a Top 10 draft prospect on MLB Pipeline (#7), ESPN (#8), and Baseball America (#9). 3. SS Joseph “JoJo” Parker FOF draft profile Let’s continue the trend of high school shortstops for the Marlins with Mississippi’s very own Joseph “JoJo” Parker. The Magnolia State native also has a brother, Jacob Parker, who’s a consensus top-150 prospect in this draft class. Parker is a 6’2”, 195-pound infielder who played at Purvis High School. The Perfect Game All-American has quickly jumped up draft boards because of his bat. Parker is signed to play college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Parker has excellent offensive potential with a 60-grade hit tool and a 55-grade power tool. He can drive the ball to all fields with authority and has shown the ability to hit against high velocity and spin rates. While Parker played shortstop in high school, he projects as a second/third baseman at the next level. Parker is another prospect who should be available with the seventh pick, but has an outside chance to be taken just before Miami’s pick. He’s viewed as a top-10 draft prospect on ESPN (#7), MLB Pipeline (#9), and Baseball America (#10). 4. RHP Seth Hernandez FOF draft profile Finally, a pitcher cracks my top five, and it’s the best high school pitcher in the country, Seth Hernandez. The Gatorade National Player of the Year is one of the most polished high school pitching prospects in recent drafts. Hernandez is a 6’4”, 190-pound right-handed pitcher who played with Billy Carlson at Corona High School in California. On Perfect Game, Hernandez is the second-ranked prep prospect and #1 pitcher in the Class of 2025. Hernandez has signed to play college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Hernandez has a four-pitch mix including his fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. His two best pitches are his fastball and changeup. Hernandez’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and topped out at 100 mph last season. Hernandez’s changeup is arguably the best changeup in the draft, recording a 65% whiff rate in his senior season, according to Baseball America. Baseball America has Hernandez as the #2 prospect in the draft, only behind Ethan Holliday. MLB Pipeline has him ranked #3, and ESPN ranks him at #4. While most teams may be uncomfortable taking him early in the first round because of the historically high bust rate of prep righties, Hernandez is worth the gamble. 5. INF Kayson Cunningham FOF draft profile The final draft prospect I have on my Marlins big board is Texas high school infielder Kayson Cunningham. The Lone Star State native is one of the best pure hitters in this draft class. Cunningham is a 5’10”, 180-pound middle infielder who played at Johnson High School in San Antonio. Cunningham was named the Team USA Player of the Year last summer and was also the Prep Baseball All-American Game MVP. He is signed to play college baseball for the Texas Longhorns. I got to see Cunningham play in person at the PBR All-American Game and was impressed with his hit tool and power. It’s unlikely Cunningham is on Miami’s radar, but this is a prospect who I think could develop into an everyday big leaguer. Due to his size, most scouts believe he’ll be a second baseman at the next level. However, I am more optimistic and think he’s good enough to stick at shortstop. Cunningham has a 60-grade hit tool with a mature approach and excellent plate discipline. MLB Pipeline compared Cunningham to current Mets #1 prospect, Jett Williams. Baseball America has Cunningham as their #11 draft prospect. He’s also the 14th-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline. Unless one of the first six teams decides to cut an extreme underslot deal, he'll still be available for the Fish. View full article

MIAMI—Unable to capitalize on multiple opportunities, the Miami Marlins had their eight-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night. The Twins squeaked past them, 2-1, to force a rubber match. More than any other key moment, an unusual play in the bottom of the sixth inning stood out. Miami had Jesús Sánchez on second with two outs and their best run producer, Kyle Stowers, coming to the plate. The left-handed hitting outfielder ripped a liner up the middle that would have easily scored Sánchez and evened the game at two. However, the ball hit the foot of second base umpire Emil Jimenez. Because the ball was interfered with before passing any of the infielders, in accordance with MLB Rule 5.06(c)(6), Jimenez was forced to call the play dead. Stowers was awarded the single, but Sánchez was sent back to second base, taking away the tying run. Eric Wagaman would later strike out, ending the inning and keeping the score 2-1 in favor of the Twins. “It’s kind of a crappy play,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said after the game. “Stowers put a great swing on it, the ball made contact with the umpire. It’s unfortunate the way things turned out, but that’s how things go.” By the letter of the rulebook, Jimenez made the right call, and there’s nothing to argue for the Fish. Home plate umpire and crew chief James Hoye commented about the incident after the game to pool reporter Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. “I haven’t seen that kind of play in a long time—probably 15 years. The ball went right at his [Jimenez's] feet. It was one of those 'Which way do you go?' moments. He tried to get out of the way, but it hit him on the side of the foot.” Hoye was asked about McCullough’s comments after the game. “I agree,” Hoye stated. “But that’s the rule, and we have to enforce it. Big situation, for sure. But the last thing the umpire wants is to get hit by a ball coming off the bat at over 100 miles per hour. That’s the absolute last thing he wants.” It’s horrible luck for the Marlins that was likely the deciding factor in Wednesday's outcome. The Marlins still had chances to even the score later in the game, but couldn’t due to a great throw by Minnesota’s left fielder, Harrison Bader, who gunned down Connor Norby at the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Right-handed pitcher Janson Junk got the start and had one of his best outings this season. He pitched a career-high six innings. Junk allowed six hits, two runs, no walks, and a season-best seven strikeouts. It was also the first quality start of his MLB career. “The thing that has made Junk so good throughout this year is his ability to pound the strike zone and get early outs,” McCullough said about Junk’s outing. “He showed it again tonight with six strong innings of pounding the strike zone with multiple weapons.” The 29-year-old right-hander had a 78.3% first-pitch strike rate in the ballgame. Dating back to May 9, he has faced 86 consecutive batters without allowing a walk. Left-handed relief pitcher Josh Simpson replaced Junk in the top of the seventh. After walking the leadoff batter, Simpson rebounded by striking out Ryan Jeffers and getting Ty France to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. Right-hander Valente Bellozo pitched the final two innings and kept the Marlins in the ballgame. Bellozo allowed two hits, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout on 21 pitches. What’s next? The series winner will be decided on Thursday. The Marlins will hand the ball to right-handed pitcher Eury Pérez. The 22-year-old has had his ups and downs in his first few starts back from Tommy John surgery. Pérez has posted a 0-2 record with a 6.19 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and 4.02 FIP in four starts. Right-handed pitcher David Festa will get the start for the Minnesota Twins in the series finale. The Seton Hall product has made eight appearances and seven starts for the Twins this season. He has posted a 2-2 record with a 5.40 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 4.69 FIP, and 9.3 K/9 in 36 ⅔ innings pitched. The first pitch for the rubber match is at 12:10 pm EST, with national television coverage courtesy of MLB Network. View full article

Overview Position: OF/C Height: 6’2″ Weight: 201 pounds School: Auburn Ike Irish is a 6’2”, 201-pound outfielder/catcher who plays for the Auburn University Tigers. Irish has been one of the biggest risers in this draft class after a monster junior season. He a well-rounded hitter and could be an option for the Marlins with the seventh pick. Irish was a blue-chip prospect and Perfect Game All-American coming out of Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep in Hudsonville, Michigan. On Perfect Game, he was the 39th-ranked prospect and the third-ranked catcher in the Class of 2022. He was also the second-ranked prospect in the state of Michigan. Irish went undrafted and signed with the Auburn Tigers. During his freshman season, Irish earned a starting role for the Tigers and made an instant impact on their offense. Irish was one of two players to start in all 58 games for Auburn in 2023. He slashed .361/.429/.546 with 86 hits, 24 doubles, six home runs, 50 RBIs, a .419 BABIP, and a .975 OPS on his way to being named a Freshman All-American. In his sophomore season, Irish continued to produce for the Tigers and started to tap into his raw power. In 47 games, he slashed .319/.403/.627 with 58 hits, eleven doubles, two triples, fourteen home runs, 59 RBIs, and a 1.030 OPS. After the season, Irish was named First Team All-SEC. Irish raised the bar even higher as a junior, showcasing his ability to hit for average and with even more power. During the 2025 season, Irish slashed .364/.469/.710 with 78 hits, thirteen doubles, nineteen home runs, 58 RBIs, eleven stolen bases, 165 wRC+, and a 1.179 OPS. He was named First Team All-SEC for the second season in a row and First Team All-American by the ABCA. Irish is a left-handed hitter with quick hands and plus bat-to-ball skills. He has a gap-to-gap approach with most of his power to his pull side. He showed the ability to hit against high velocity with an 84% contact rate on pitches 92 mph or more. He also handles secondary pitches well and looks comfortable in the batter’s box against left-handed pitchers. While Irish’s hit tool and raw power make him an intriguing prospect, he does need to improve on his approach and lift. A lot of his grounders (47.2 GB%) are the result of offering at pitches that he'd be better off taking. If Irish can be a bit more patient at the plate, he could get himself into better counts and avoid cheap outs. On defense, Irish played the outfield for most of the 2025 season after fracturing his scapula early in the season. Irish isn’t great defensively behind the plate, but has improved on his receiving skills and mechanics. The Michigan native does have a great arm, which makes scouts believe he’s more suited to play right field. On Just Baseball, Irish is the tenth-ranked draft prospect. He is the thirteenth-ranked prospect on Baseball America. Strengths Plus hit tool Plus raw power Can drive the ball to all fields with authority Hits well against high velocity Plus arm strength Weaknesses Doesn’t project as a catcher High ground ball rate Needs to be more patient at the plate Pro Comparison: Ryan O’Hearn Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Ike Irish has produced at a high level for the Auburn Tigers this season to secure himself of a first-round selection. Irish could be an underslot option for the Marlins with the seventh overall pick if their top choices have already been taken. More 2025 Draft Profiles LHP Jamie Arnold RHP Kyson Witherspoon RHP Riley Quick 3B Gavin Fien RHP Tyler Bremner 2B Gavin Kilen SS Joseph "JoJo" Parker INF Aiva Arquette SS Billy Carlson OF Jace LaViolette LHP Liam Doyle INF Kayson Cunningham SS Eli Willits SS Marek Houston RHP Seth Hernandez 3B Xavier Neyens OF Brendan Summerhill View full article