Hector Rodriguez

Today is the day. The 2026 MLB Draft begins this afternoon in Philadelphia. Fish On First has already published profiles for many of the prospects worth considering for the Miami Marlins in the first round. It's time to dive even deeper with dueling multi-round mock drafts from FOF's own Hector Rodriguez and Sean McCormack. Hector Rodriguez's Mock Draft First Round (14th overall)—Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State Slot value: $5,444,900 With the 14th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman Ace Reese. No change here for me from my previous mock draft. The Marlins land one of the best power hitters in this draft class with the selection of the SEC corner infielder. Ace Reese is the 6’4”, 220-pound third baseman out of Mississippi State University. On Baseball America, Reese is the 12th-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On ESPN, Reese is the 17th-ranked prospect in this draft class. He’s also the 18th-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline. At the plate, Gracia has excellent bat speed and has natural lift in his swing. He has a 60-grade power tool and has consistently been one of the best power hitters in the country since he arrived at Mississippi State. Defensively, there are some questions about whether he can stick at third base. If not, he’s a first baseman or left fielder at the next level. During the 2026 season, Reese played and started in all 62 games. Reese slashed .336/.432/.721 with 83 hits, 23 doubles, 24 home runs, 74 RBIs, 72 runs scored, 41 walks, and a 1.152 OPS. Reese was named First Team All-SEC and Second Team All-American. Second Round (52nd overall)—Andrew Williamson, OF, UCF Slot value: $1,892,500 With the 52nd pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Andrew Williamson. The Marlins use their second round pick to draft one of my most well-rounded collegiate prospects in this draft class. Andrew Williamson is the 6’0”, 195-pound outfielder out of the University of Central Florida. On Baseball America, Williamson is the 48th-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft. On ESPN, Williams is the 50th-ranked prospect in this draft class. He’s also the 52nd-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline. At the plate, Williamson has a short, compact swing with an advanced plate approach. He posted a career-high 17.7% walk rate last season. Even though he’s undersized, Williamson has plus power potential and excellent bat speed. Williamson projects to be a right fielder at the next level. During the 2026 season, Williamson played and started in all 55 games. Williamson slashed .322/.442/.645 with 69 hits, thirteen doubles, four triples, sixteen home runs, 48 RBIs, 41 walks, and a 1.086 OPS. He was also named Second Team All-Big 12. Competitive Balance Round B (71st overall)—Will Gasparino, OF, UCLA Slot value: $1,192,600 With the 71st pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Will Gasparino. The Marlins grab another college bat who fits the mold of collegiate bats they have taken in previous drafts. Will Gasparino is a 6’6”, 220-pound outfielder out of the University of California, Los Angeles. On Baseball America, Gasparino is the 71st-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Volchko is the 72nd-ranked prospect in this draft class. He’s also the 94th-ranked draft prospect on ESPN. In the past, the Marlins have selected athletic collegiate bats with a power-over-hit offensive profile. Gasparino fits that mold perfectly. He has a 60-grade power tool and a 45-grade hit tool. He’s also an above-average runner and could stick in centerfield. During the 2026 season, Gasparino played and started in 58 games. Gasparino slashed .314/.412/.659 with 69 hits, twelve doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 64 RBIs, and a 1.071 OPS. Gasparino was named a NCBWA First Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten. Third Round (87th overall)—Jack Slightom, RHP, Lyons Township HS (IL) Slot value: $929,700 With the 87th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Jack Slightom. The Marlins grab their first high school prospect and pitching prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft. Jack Slightom is a 6’5”, 215-pound right-handed pitcher out of Lyons Township High School in Western Springs, Illinois. On Perfect Game, Slightom is the 152nd-ranked prospect and the 49th-ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. He’s also the third-ranked prospect in the state of Illinois. On ESPN, Slightom is the 60th-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft. On MLB Pipeline, Slightom is the 89th-ranked prospect in this draft class. He’s also the 101st-ranked draft prospect on Baseball America. On the mound, Slightom possesses a three-pitch mix including his fastball, slider, and changeup. Slightom’s fastball was sitting in the low-90s in his junior season. However, his fastball velocity has increased into the mid-90s and tops out at 98 mph with arm-side run. He has a slow low-80s slider and a really good feel for his changeup, which is very effective against right-handed batters. Fourth Round (115th overall)—Peyton Bonds, OF, Rutgers Slot value: $677,500 With the 115th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Peyton Bonds. The Marlins grab another college hitter who has been highly productive since they enrolled on campus. Peyton Bonds is a 6’5”, 230-pound outfielder out of Rutgers University. On MLB Pipeline, Bonds is the 81st-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On Baseball America, Bonds is the 114th-ranked prospect in this draft class. He’s also the 118th-ranked draft prospect on ESPN. At the plate, Bonds is a physically gifted prospect with plus hit tools and plenty of potential raw power. He’s one of the best athletes in this draft class and could play center field at the next level. He’s also the nephew of the MLB home run king Barry Bonds and the grandson of three-time All-Star Bobby Bonds Sr. During the 2026 season, Bonds played and started in 36 games. He missed some time due to an injury. Bonds slashed .352/.436/.535 with 50 hits, eight doubles, six home runs, 29 RBIs, thirteen stolen bases, and a .972 OPS. Fifth Round (147th overall)—Deven Sheerin, RHP, LSU Slot value: $496,400 With the 147th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Deven Sheerin. The Marlins finish this mock draft by grabbing one of the top relief pitchers in college baseball. Deven Sheerin is a 6’5”, 255-pound right-handed pitcher out of LSU. On MLB Pipeline, Sheerin is the 145th-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On ESPN, Sheerin is the 163rd-ranked draft prospect. He’s also the 233rd-ranked prospect on Baseball America. On the mound, Sheerin possesses a three-pitch arsenal including his fastball, slider, and splitter. His fastball sits in the upper-90s and has been clocked at 100 mph. It has really nice carry and gets in on right-handed batters. He has a plus mid-80s slider and decent feel for his upper-80s splitter. During the 2026 season, Sheerin made all 20 appearances out of the bullpen. Sheerin posted a 3-2 record with a 4.78 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, five saves, 4.3 BB/9, a .210 opponent batting average, and 58 strikeouts in 37 ⅔ innings pitched. Sean McCormack's Mock Draft First Round (14th overall)—Liam Peterson, RHP, University of Florida Slot value: $5,444,900 Future value: 50 With pick 14, I mock University of Florida ace Liam Peterson to the Marlins. A highly touted high-schooler out of the Tampa region, Peterson has spent his last four years at UF. The Florida native has always had electric stuff—he touches 100 mph and sits 96—but has struggled with command. Peterson, who is 6'5", has all the traits of a top-of-the-rotation starter. The ability to spin the ball at a high level will be appealing to MLB teams who are eager to expand Peterson's arsenal. Second Round (52nd overall)—Ethan Bass, SS, Glenbrook North HS (IL) Slot value: $1,892,500 Future value: 45 Ethan Bass is a more under-the-radar name in this draft. Committed to Wake Forest, he may take some convincing to sign, leading the Marlins to offer a potential overslot deal. Bass excels with his batted ball data, shows a strong understanding of the zone, while posting above-average contact rates. As the Marlins look to draft athletes who can stick at shortstop long term, Bass would fit that description. Competitive Balance Round B (71st overall)— Ryan Peterson, RHP, Sam Houston State Slot value: $1,192,600 Future value: 45 Ryan Peterson has become more of a buzzy name as the draft approaches. The Sam Houston State product struggled to begin his college career, but since exhibiting a jump in velo, he has gained solid results. Peterson commands well, has the ability to expand his pitch mix due to high spin capacity, gets strong extension down the mound and has intriguing release traits which advanced pitching development orgs may target. What makes Peterson truly stand out is his extremely flat approach to the plate and nearly side-arm angle. Highly deceptive, he has drawn comparisons to Bryan Woo and Christian Scott. Third Round (87th overall)—Alex Conover, OF, Oklahoma State Slot value: $929,700 Future value: 45 Oklahoma State outfielder Alex Conover began his college career at the JuCo level. The 6'4", left-handed hitter has taken large strides every year at the plate, cutting his chase numbers and growing into a diverse hitter who uses the whole field. Conover hit a career-high 14 home runs in 2026, while cutting his strikeout rate. A 20-year-old on draft day, he has a up arrow next to his name. Fourth Round (115th overall)—Jake Carbaugh, RHP, Plant City HS (FL) Slot value: $677,500 Future value: 40 The 6'6", 18-year-old has some outlandish traits. Beyond Carbaugh's height his ability to spin the baseball leaps off the screen (up to 2900 rpm). With whippy arm action and solid extension down the mound, Carbaugh can definitely project as a starter as his career continues. The biggest component to getting everything working is the command, but the traits are there for the Mississippi state commit. View full article

The Miami Marlins have the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft, being held in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon. This year, it seems like everything is on the table for the Marlins. I could see them grabbing a college bat/pitcher, but there could be some elite high school available in that range as well. It has become clearer which prospects are likely to be off the board by the time the Fish are on the clock. Let's focus on my top five realistically available options. 1. 2B Chris Hacopian Personally, I believe the Marlins are more likely than not to draft a collegiate hitter with their first pick. With that said, I think Chris Hacopian would be an excellent choice. Chris Hacopian is a 6’1”, 210-pound middle infielder who played at Texas A&M University. While he started his collegiate career at Maryland, Hacopian had a strong 2026 season in the SEC against some of the best pitchers in the country. During his collegiate career, Hacopian had a .339/.449/.604 career slash line. In the 2026 season, Hacopian slashed .319/.405/.578 with 53 hits, ten doubles, eleven home runs, 41 RBIs, 25 walks, and a .983 OPS. Hacopian is one of the best pure hitters in this draft class. He has an advanced plate approach and discipline. His in-zone contact rate was one of the best in college baseball. Hacopian has above-average power potential that he could tap into. On the downside, he’s not a shortstop at the next level. I think he’s a good defensive second baseman and could even play some third base if necessary. 2. LHP Gio Rojas My top high school prospect for the Marlins with the 14th overall pick is left-handed pitcher Gio Rojas. The Broward County native would be an excellent addition to Miami’s farm system since he already possesses two plus pitches with above-average control. Gio Rojas is a 6’4”, 195-pound left-handed pitcher who played at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Rojas comes from a high school that has produced excellent MLB players like Anthony Rizzo, Roman Anthony, Jesús Luzardo, and others. On Perfect Game, Rojas is the third-ranked prospect and the #1 left-handed pitcher in the country. He was named a Perfect Game All-American and signed to play college baseball at the University of Miami. On the mound, Rojas possesses a three-pitch mix including his fastball, slider, and changeup. His fastball sits 92-95 mph and tops out at 98 mph with outstanding RPMs. His slider moves more like a sweeper and sits in the low-80s with spin rates in the 2,600-2,800 rpm range. As for his changeup, he doesn’t throw it often, but has a solid feel for it and will mostly use it against right-handed batters. 3. OF AJ Gracia Another collegiate option for the Marlins with the 14th pick is junior outfielder AJ Gracia, a pure hitter with more power compared to Hacopian. AJ Gracia is a 6’3”, 195-pound outfielder out of the University of Virginia. Gracia spent his first two seasons at Duke before transferring to Virginia with his old head coach. He would continue to produce at a high level for the Cavaliers. In his collegiate career, Gracia has a .317/.459/.583 career slash line. During his only season at Virginia, Gracia slashed .354/.489/.632 with 75 hits, fifteen doubles, fourteen home runs, 48 RBIs, 47 walks, and a 1.121 OPS. Gracia’s offensive profile is what grabs a lot of scouts’ attention. He has a very smooth left-handed swing with plenty of power potential. His plate discipline is very advanced, and he naturally lifts the ball with backspin. He projects as a corner outfielder in pro ball. 4. 3B Ace Reese Another SEC hitter who’s high on my preference list is junior third baseman Ace Reese. The left-handed-hitting corner infielder is one of the top power bats in this draft class and could be an excellent pick for the Fish. Ace Reese is a 6’4”, 220-pound third baseman who played at Mississippi State University. Reese started his collegiate career at the University of Houston but played his final two seasons with the Bulldogs. During his collegiate career, Reese had a .327/.419/.665 career slash line. In the 2026 season, Reese slashed .336/.432/.721 with 83 hits, 23 doubles, 24 home runs, 74 RBIs, 41 walks, and a 1.152 OPS. He was a consensus unanimous All-American. At the plate, Reese has a 60-grade power tool. Reese has already filled out his frame and is a well-put-together prospect. His offensive profile is more power-over-hit. He does have a chase issue, especially against breaking pitches. Defensively, it’s unlikely he sticks at third base. Reese is more than likely to play first base or left field in pro ball. 5. 3B Bo Lowrance The final draft prospect I have on my Marlins big board is South Carolina high school infielder Bo Lowrance. The Palmetto State infielder has been one of the biggest risers in this draft class. Lowrance is a 6’5”, 200-pound corner infielder who played at Christ Church Episcopal High School in Greenville, South Carolina. Lowrance is one of the most well-rounded high school prospects in the class. On Perfect Game, Lowrance is the 25th-ranked prospect and the second-ranked third baseman in the country. He’s also the 21st-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline. Lowrance is signed to play college baseball at the University of Virginia. Lowrance has the tools and potential to be a very solid prospect for the Marlins organization. He has quality bat-to-ball skills, especially against tough competition. He will add more power to his game as he fills out his large frame. He’s a good defensive third baseman with a strong arm. However, he could outgrow that position and transition to right field eventually. 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: 6’2” Weight: 190 pounds School: Alabama Justin Lebron is a 6’2”, 190-pound shortstop who plays for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Lebron was one of the top draft prospects coming into the 2026 season. However, Lebron had a down season and isn’t expected to be a super high first round selection anymore. Coming out of high school, Lebron was a blue-chip prospect from Archbishop McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches, Florida. On Perfect Game, Lebron was the 173rd-ranked prospect and the 41st-ranked shortstop in the Class of 2023. He was also the 23rd-ranked prospect out of the Sunshine State. Lebron went undrafted and honored his commitment to the University of Alabama. During his freshman season, Lebron earned a starting role for the Crimson Tide and made a major impact. Lebron played and started in all 56 games. He slashed .350/.435/.536 with 77 hits, eight doubles, eleven home runs, 38 RBIs, ten stolen bases, and a .971 OPS. He was named a First Team Freshman All-American and First Team All-SEC. In his sophomore season, Lebron continued to produce like one of the best hitters in college baseball. Lebron played and started in all 59 games. He slashed .316/.421/.636 with 73 hits, 18 doubles, 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, and a 1.058 OPS. He was named a Second Team All-American and to the SEC All-Defensive Team. However, Lebron struggled at the plate during the 2026 season. Lebron played and started in all 61 games. Lebron slashed .277/.386/.534 with 66 hits, thirteen doubles, 16 home runs, 48 RBIs, 42 stolen bases, and a .920 OPS. At the plate, Lebron has plenty of raw power potential, but his hit tool is what’s lacking. He has struggled with his chase rate and the quality of contact when down a bunch last season. During SEC play, Lebron only batted .229. Defensively, Lebron has the arm, hands, and range to be an excellent defensive shortstop. Lebron did make more errors than usual this season, though. Lebron also showcased his 60-grade speed this season by stealing 42 bases. He’s a player who can steal 30 bags in a season at the next level. Strengths Excellent defensive SS Plus speed Plus raw power potential Projectable body type Improved his in-zone contact rate Weaknesses Trouble with the curve Batted .229 in SEC play 40-grade hit tool Pro Comparison: Masyn Winn Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Justin Lebron has produced at a high level in college baseball except for this past season. He would be a project, but Lebron has the upside to become one of the best shortstops in MLB if his hit tool improves. On ESPN, Lebron is the eighth-ranked draft prospect and the fourth-ranked shortstop in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Lebron is the ninth-ranked draft prospect, and he’s also the 19th-ranked draft prospect on Baseball America. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Lebron would be an interesting option for them, especially given his local roots. More 2026 MLB draft profiles OF Derek Curiel RHP Tegan Kuhns OF Sawyer Strosnider RHP Liam Peterson 3B Bo Lowrance LHP Hunter Dietz INF Tyler Bell INF Chris Hacopian LHP Brody Bumila OF Trevor Condon RHP Cade Townsend OF Drew Burress 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: OF Height: 6’2” Weight: 192 pounds School: LSU Derek Curiel is a 6’2”, 192-pound outfielder who plays for the LSU Tigers. Curiel has been an excellent hitter since he arrived on campus at LSU. He’s one of the best prospects and the top-ranked draft-eligible sophomore in this draft class. Coming out of high school, Curiel was an elite-level prospect from Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. On Perfect Game, Curiel was the tenth-ranked prospect and the sixth-ranked outfielder in the Class of 2024. He was also the second-ranked prospect and the #1 outfielder out of the Golden State. Curiel went undrafted and honored his commitment to LSU. During his freshman season, Curiel earned a starting role and immediately became one of the top hitters in all of college baseball. Curiel played and started in all 63 games. He slashed .345/.470/.519 with 89 hits, 20 doubles, seven home runs, 55 RBIs, 53 walks, and a .990 OPS. Curiel was named the D1 Baseball National Freshman of the Year and was a First Team Freshman All-American. In the 2026 season, Curiel continued to produce at a high level for the LSU Tigers. Curiel played and started in 58 games. He slashed .353/.431/.526 with 82 hits, eighteen doubles, six home runs, 46 RBIs, thirteen stolen bases, 34 walks, and a .957 OPS. Curiel was named a Third-Team All-America by the American Baseball Coaches Association. At the plate, Curiel is one of the best pure-hitters in this draft class. He’s a left-handed hitter with a line drive swing. He can drive the ball with authority to all fields. His power is pretty limited due to his flat swing, and he still needs to fill in his frame. Defensively, Curiel proved that he can play center field at the next level. He mostly played left field during his freshman year, but patrolled center this past season. He doesn’t have the best arm strength, but he’s a very good athlete who can track balls well in the outfield. He also has above-average speed, and that helps him with his range and base-stealing ability. Strengths 60-grade hit tool Highly productive hitter at LSU Plus bat speed Projected to stick in CF Above-average speed Weaknesses Doesn’t have much power Flat swing Below-average arm strength Pro Comparison: Leonys Martín Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Derek Curiel was a blue-chip high school prospect and a highly productive hitter during his two seasons at LSU. While he doesn’t possess much power, there’s some room for growth. On ESPN and Baseball America, Curiel is the tenth-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft. On MLB Pipeline, Curiel is the 12th-ranked draft prospect and the third-ranked outfielder in this draft class. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Curiel would be an excellent option for the Fish and BA's Carlos Collazo writes that he might be "their preference" when it comes to first-round hitters, but he's unlikely to be on the board for them, if the industry's leading mock drafts are to be trusted. More 2026 MLB draft profiles RHP Tegan Kuhns OF Sawyer Strosnider RHP Liam Peterson 3B Bo Lowrance LHP Hunter Dietz INF Tyler Bell INF Chris Hacopian LHP Brody Bumila OF Trevor Condon RHP Cade Townsend OF Drew Burress 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: RHP Height: 6’3″ Weight: 190 pounds School: Tennessee Tegan Kuhns is a 6’3”, 190-pound right-handed pitcher who plays for the University of Tennessee. Kuhns is one of the top draft-eligible sophomores in the 2026 MLB Draft class. He’s also one of the most interesting prospects in this draft class. Coming out of high school, Kuhns was an elite prospect from Gettysburg Area High School in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On Perfect Game, Kuhns was the 45th-ranked prospect and the 11th-ranked right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2024. He was also named a Perfect Game All-American. Kuhns went undrafted in 2023 and honored his commitment to the Tennessee Volunteers. During his freshman season, Kuhns was mostly used as a starting pitcher but didn’t have the best season. He made fifteen appearances and ten starts. Kuhns posted a 2-4 record with a 5.40 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts in 36 ⅔ innings pitched. In his sophomore season, Kuhns had a major breakout season and improved his draft stock a ton. Kuhns made fifteen appearances and fourteen starts. He posted a 5-5 record with a 3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, one complete game shutout, and 106 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched. He was named Second Team All-SEC. On the mound, Kuhns has a four-pitch mix, but mostly relies on two pitches. Kuhns features a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and was clocked as high as 99 mph last season. He also throws an excellent 12-6 curveball that sits in the upper 70s. For Kuhns to be a starting pitcher at the next level, he needs to develop another quality weapon, whether that means improving his slider or changeup or working on something new. Kuhns has improved on his control from his freshman season. However, his command needs to be better. More repeatable mechanics would help with that. Strengths Mid-to-upper 90s fastball 60-grade curveball with 12-6 shape Excellent pitcher’s size Projectable body frame Made strides improving his control Weaknesses Needs to develop a third pitch Too much over the plate Needs to fill out his frame Pro Comparison: Gage Wood Projection: Top 25 pick Bottom Line Tegan Kuhns has the tools to be an excellent pitching prospect, but needs to physically mature and work on his mechanics. If he’s able to develop more pitches to complement his fastball and curveball, he could be one of the best pitchers to come out of this draft class. On ESPN, Kuhns is the 18th-ranked prospect and the fifth-ranked right-handed pitching prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft. Kuhns is also the 22nd-ranked draft prospect on Baseball America and the 25th-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Kuhns could be an option if the Fish believe they can mold him into a more complete pitcher. More 2026 MLB draft profiles OF Sawyer Strosnider RHP Liam Peterson 3B Bo Lowrance LHP Hunter Dietz INF Tyler Bell INF Chris Hacopian LHP Brody Bumila OF Trevor Condon RHP Cade Townsend OF Drew Burress 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: OF Height: 6’2” Weight: 200 pounds School: TCU Sawyer Strosnider is a 6’2”, 200-pound outfielder who plays for the TCU Horned Frogs. Strosnider is one of the best athletes in the 2026 MLB Draft class. The draft-eligible sophomore also has one of the best power tools in this draft class. Coming out of high school, Strosnider was a blue-chip prospect from Brock High School in Parker County, Texas. On Perfect Game, Strosnider was the 101st-ranked prospect and the 17th-ranked outfielder in the Class of 2024. Strosnider went undrafted and honored his commitment to TCU. During his freshman season, Strosnider earned a starting role and immediately became one of the best hitters in the Big 12. Strosnider played in 56 games and started in 55. He slashed .350/.420/.650 with 77 hits, thirteen doubles, ten triples, eleven home runs, 51 RBIs, and a 1.070 OPS. He was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and First-Team Freshman All-American. In the 2026 season, Strosnider didn’t produce at the same level. Strosnider played and started in 50 games. He slashed .273/.415/.590 with 50 hits, eleven doubles, four triples, thirteen home runs, 47 RBIs, twelve stolen bases, and a 1.005 OPS. At the plate, Strosnider has an excellent left-handed swing and consistently makes loud contact with pitches in the zone. However, he does tend to chase pitches out of the zone. He made strides in taking more walks and still possesses light tower power. During batting practice at the MLB Draft Combine last month, Strosnider posted an average exit velocity of 93.1 mph and a 90th percentile EV of 106.3 mph. For context, our draft profile series has also featured Combine participants Bo Lowrance (91.1 mph average and 103.0 mph 90th) and Trevor Condon (95.4 mph average and 101.8 mph 90th). Strosnider is an excellent defensive outfielder. He’s likely to play center field or right field at the next level. He has 60-grade speed and one of the best arms in this draft class. Even though he mostly played right field at TCU, some scouts believe his future is in center. Strengths 60-grade power tool High contact rate for pitches in the zone 60-grade speed Above-average arm strength Premier outfield defense Weaknesses Bad 2026 season High chase rate Below-average hit tool Pro Comparison: JJ Bleday Projection: Top 30 pick Bottom Line Sawyer Strosnider has many excellent tools and is one of the best prospects in this draft class. However, his hit tool has some volatility. Struggles during the 2026 season may have hurt his stock. On Baseball America, Strosnider is the 14th-ranked prospect and the fourth-ranked outfielder in the 2026 MLB Draft. On MLB Pipeline, Strosnider is the 22nd-ranked draft prospect. He’s also the 36th-ranked draft prospect on ESPN. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. They have been comfortable making big bets in athletic, power-hitting prospects in previous drafts, and Strosnider fits that mold. More 2026 MLB draft profiles RHP Liam Peterson 3B Bo Lowrance LHP Hunter Dietz INF Tyler Bell INF Chris Hacopian LHP Brody Bumila OF Trevor Condon RHP Cade Townsend OF Drew Burress 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: RHP Height: 6’5″ Weight: 225 pounds School: Florida Liam Peterson is a 6’5”, 225-pound right-handed pitcher who plays for the University of Florida. Peterson is one of the most talented pitching prospects in the 2026 MLB Draft class. However, he has not performed up to his capabilities. Coming out of high school, Peterson was an elite prospect from Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, Florida. On Perfect Game, he was the 34th-ranked prospect and the eighth-ranked right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2023. He was also named a Perfect Game All-American. Peterson went undrafted in the 2023 MLB Draft and honored his commitment to the Florida Gators. During his freshman season, Peterson earned a spot in Florida’s weekend rotation. Peterson made sixteen appearances and thirteen starts. He posted a 3-6 record with a 6.43 ERA, a .257 opponent batting average, and 77 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched. Peterson was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team. In his sophomore season, Peterson had a better season, but still didn’t pitch very well. Peterson made sixteen appearances and fifteen starts. He posted an 8-4 record with a 4.28 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 12.5 K/9, .250 opponent batting average, and 96 strikeouts in 69 ⅓ innings pitched. In his junior season, Peterson was named a Preseason First Team All-American. Peterson made sixteen appearances and starts. He posted a 3-6 record with a 4.59 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, one complete game, 3.8 BB/9, and 111 strikeouts in 84 ⅓ innings pitched. On the mound, Peterson possesses a four-pitch arsenal including his fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and was clocked multiple times in the triple digits. Peterson’s slider might be his best pitch as he’s comfortable using it in any count and it generates lots of swing-and-miss. Peterson started to use his 12-6 curveball more often this season and it was successful against batters of either handedness. The biggest issue for Peterson is his command. His walk rate went down every season, but he has been over the plate a little too much, resulting in hard-hit balls. Strengths Elite slider Mid-to-upper 90s fastball velocity High K% Has consistently dropped his walk rate Excellent pitcher’s frame Weaknesses Needs to get more life on his fastball Too much over the plate Loses composure when things start to go bad Pro Comparison: Bobby Miller Projection: Top 25 pick Bottom Line Liam Peterson has the size and tools to be a quality pitcher at the next level. If he can hit the corners more often and get more life on his fastball, he could turn out to be the best pitcher in this draft class. On ESPN, Peterson is the thirteenth-ranked prospect and the third-ranked right-handed pitching prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft. Peterson is also the 20th-ranked draft prospect on Baseball America and MLB Pipeline. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the draft and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Peterson could be an exciting option, but he comes with high risk given his lack of consistency. If the Marlins decide to go with what they believe is a safer alternative, I would not blame them. More 2026 MLB draft profiles 3B Bo Lowrance LHP Hunter Dietz INF Tyler Bell INF Chris Hacopian LHP Brody Bumila OF Trevor Condon RHP Cade Townsend OF Drew Burress 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: 3B Height: 6’5″ Weight: 200 pounds School: Christ Church Episcopal School (SC) Commitment: Virginia Bo Lowrance is a 6’5”, 200-pound third baseman who plays at Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, South Carolina. Lawrence has been one of the top rising high school prospects in this draft class. He’s also one of the most well-rounded prospects in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On Perfect Game, Lowrance is the 61st-ranked prospect and the fourth-ranked third baseman in the Class of 2026. He’s also the second-ranked prospect in South Carolina. Lowrance is signed to play college baseball at the University of Virginia. At the plate, Lowrance has one of the most advanced approaches for high school prospects in this draft class. He has a smooth, short, compact left-handed swing with tons of power potential. Lowrance has a ton of physical maturing to do, but he also needs to learn how to lift the ball more often to tap into his raw power potential. He runs pretty well for a player of his extra-large frame. Defensively, Lowrance has the arm strength to be a third baseman at the next level. However, he could potentially grow out of that position as he starts to fill out his very large frame. He could be a corner outfielder or first baseman if he moves off of third base. Strengths Well-rounded player Plenty of raw power potential Projectable body frame Hit well against tough competition in the summer circuit Above-average arm strength Weaknesses Needs to learn how to lift the baseball Might grow out of third base Pro Comparison: TJ Rumfield Projection: Top 30 pick Bottom Line The Marlins have not had recent success when using their first-round selection to sign players to underslot deals (PJ Morlando, Noble Meyer, etc.). However, Bo Lowrance has a more balanced profile with a higher floor compared to prospects who are typically in that situation. On MLB Pipeline, Lowrance is the 21st-ranked draft prospect. On ESPN, Lowrance is the 22nd-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft. He’s also a five-star prospect and the 45th-ranked draft prospect according to Baseball America. 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. Lowrance could be an option if they decide to save signing bonus money for the later rounds. More 2026 MLB draft profiles LHP Hunter Dietz INF Tyler Bell INF Chris Hacopian LHP Brody Bumila OF Trevor Condon RHP Cade Townsend OF Drew Burress 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: 6’6″ Weight: 235 pounds School: Arkansas Hunter Dietz is a 6’6”, 235-pound left-handed pitcher who plays for the University of Arkansas. Dietz had one of the biggest breakout seasons in all of college baseball last season, elevating his draft stock in the process. Coming out of high school, Dietz was an elite prospect from Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, Florida. On Perfect Game, Dietz was the 57th-ranked prospect and the seventh-ranked left-handed pitcher in the Class of 2023. He was also named a Perfect Game All-American. Dietz went undrafted in 2023 and honored his commitment to the Arkansas Razorbacks. During his first two seasons at Arkansas, Dietz hardly pitched for the Razorbacks due to injuries. In his freshman season, Dietz suffered a stress fracture in his elbow and only made two appearances. He made another two appearances in his redshirt freshman season due to an injury-plagued season. In his redshirt sophomore season, Dietz was finally healthy and made a huge impression on the college baseball world. Dietz made sixteen appearances and starts. He posted a 7-4 record with a 3.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9, 13.8 K/9, a .221 opponent batting average, and a 36.2% strikeout rate. He was also named First Team All-SEC and a Third Team All-American on Baseball America. On the mound, Dietz possesses a four-pitch arsenal including his fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and tops out at 98 mph. Dietz’s slider is his best secondary pitch. His slider sits in the upper-80s and is highly effective against left-and-right-handed batters. The slider recorded a 50% whiff rate against both types of hitters last season. Dietz also throws a low-80s curveball, which is effective against right-handed batters. Dietz does need to improve on his changeup. He has good control on his pitches, but needs to improve on his command. Strengths Two 60-grade pitches High K% and low BB% Strike-thrower Excellent 2026 season Ideal frame for starting pitcher Weaknesses Injury history Hardly pitched in college Pro Comparison: Jon Lester Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line If Hunter Dietz didn’t have such a long injury history, he would be off the board early. On MLB Pipeline, Dietz is the 17th-ranked prospect and the #1 collegiate left-handed pitching prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft. Dietz is the 24th-ranked draft prospect on ESPN and the 35th-ranked prospect on Baseball America. 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. I think it would be a high-risk, high-reward decision if the Marlins selected Dietz. More 2026 MLB draft profiles INF Tyler Bell INF Chris Hacopian LHP Brody Bumila OF Trevor Condon RHP Cade Townsend OF Drew Burress 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

The 2026 MLB Draft gets underway next Saturday, July 11. 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 four-round mock draft. The Marlins will make five selections within the first four rounds—the 14th, 52nd, 71st, 87th, and 115th overall picks. That will account for the vast majority of their spending, with the combined slot value of those picks being equivalent to about 85% of their $11,960,100 total bonus pool. Here is the 2026 Fish On First MLB Mock Draft 2.0. First Round (14th overall)—Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State Slot value: $5,444,900 With the 14th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman Ace Reese. The Marlins have one of the best power hitters in this draft class with the selection of the SEC corner infielder. Ace Reese is the 6’4”, 220-pound third baseman out of Mississippi State University. On Baseball America, Reese is the 12th-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On MLB Pipeline and ESPN, Reese is the 21st-ranked prospect in this draft class. During the 2026 season, Reese has played and started in all 62 games. He slashed .336/.432/.721 with 83 hits, 23 doubles, 24 home runs, 74 RBIs, 72 runs scored, 41 walks, and a 1.152 OPS. Reese was named First Team All-SEC and a Second Team All-American. At the plate, Reese has excellent bat speed and has natural lift in his swing. He has a 60-grade power tool and has consistently been one of the best power hitters in the country since he arrived at Mississippi State. Defensively, there are some questions about whether he can stick at third base. If not, he’s a first baseman or left fielder at the next level. Second Round (52nd overall)—Kaden Waechter, RHP, Jesuit HS (FL) Slot value: $1,892,500 With the 52nd pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed Kaden Waechter. The Marlins use their second round pick to draft their first high school prospect with the selection of Waechter. Kaden Waechter is the 6’3”, 185-pound right-handed pitcher out of Tampa Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. On ESPN, Waechter is the 48th-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Waechter is the 52nd-ranked prospect in this draft class. On the mound, Waechter possesses a three-pitch mix including a fastball, slider, and changeup. Waechter’s fastball sits 92-95 mph and tops out at 96 mph with 2600 RPM. His slider sits in the mid-80s and can throw it against left-handed and right-handed batters. He can throw strikes and has a good feel for his changeup. On Perfect Game, Waechter is the 25th-ranked prospect and the third-ranked right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2026. Waechter is also the fourth-ranked prospect and the second-ranked RHP out of the Sunshine State. Competitive Balance Round B (71st overall)—Joey Volchko, RHP, Georgia Slot value: $1,192,600 With the 71st pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed Joey Volchko. The Marlins use another early round draft pick to bolster the pitching staff in their farm system. Joey Volchko is a 6’4”, 225-pound right-handed pitcher out of the University of Georgia. On ESPN, Volchko is the 67th-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Volchko is the 73rd-ranked prospect in this draft class. On the mound, Volchko possesses a four-pitch mix including a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. Volchko’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and tops out at 99 mph. His slider is his best secondary pitch, which sits in the upper-80s. Volchko also throws a changeup and curveball, but he struggles to command those pitches. During the 2026 season, Volchko made eighteen appearances and starts. He posted an 11-2 record with a 3.68 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, one complete game, 4.3 BB/9, and 119 strikeouts in 95 ⅓ innings pitched. Volchko was named a Third Team All-American by the NCBWA. Third Round (87th overall)—Peyton Bonds, OF, Rutgers Slot value: $929,700 With the 87th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Peyton Bonds. The Marlins grab another college hitter who has been highly productive since they enrolled on campus. Peyton Bonds is a 6’5”, 230-pound outfielder out of Rutgers University. On MLB Pipeline, Bonds is the 74th-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On ESPN, Bonds is the 93rd-ranked prospect in this draft class. At the plate, Bonds is a physically gifted prospect with plus hit tools and plenty of potential raw power. He’s one of the best athletes in this draft class and could play center field at the next level. He’s also the nephew of the MLB home run king Barry Bonds and the grandson of three-time All-Star Bobby Bonds Sr. During the 2026 season, Bonds played and started in 36 games. He missed some time due to an injury. Bonds slashed .352/.436/.535 with 50 hits, eight doubles, six home runs, 29 RBIs, thirteen stolen bases, and a .972 OPS. Fourth Round (115th overall)—Tyson LeBlanc, SS, Kansas Slot value: $677,500 With the 115th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select shortstop Tyson LeBlanc. The Marlins grab another college hitter who had a major breakout season in his first season in Division I. Tyson LeBlanc is a 6’0”, 2o0-pound shortstop out of the University of Kansas. On Baseball America, LeBlanc is the 103rd-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. On MLB Pipeline, LeBlanc is the 130th-ranked prospect in this draft class. At the plate, LeBlanc has solid bat-to-ball skills and has showcased his power playing for the Kansas Jayhawks. While LeBlanc mostly played shortstop, it’s more likely that he ends up at second or third base at the next level. During the 2026 season, LeBlanc played and started in all 63 games. LeBlanc slashed .341/.425/.706 with 87 hits, twelve doubles, three triples, 25 home runs, 69 RBIs, eleven stolen bases, and a 1.131 OPS. LeBlanc was named a First Team All-American on Perfect Game and Second Team All-American by D1 Baseball. 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: INF Height: 6’1″ Weight: 210 pounds School: Texas A&M Chris Hacopian is a 6’1”, 210-pound infielder who plays for Texas A&M University. Hacopian is one of the best pure hitters in the 2026 MLB Draft class. He’s also one of the top collegiate prospects in this draft. Coming out of high school, Hacopian was a blue-chip prospect from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland. On Perfect Game, Hacopian was the 380th-ranked prospect and the 76th-ranked shortstop in the Class of 2023. He was also the sixth-ranked prospect and second-ranked shortstop out of Maryland. Hacopian went undrafted and honored his commitment to the University of Maryland. During his freshman season, Hacopian won the starting job and had an excellent season. He played and started in all 55 games. Hacopian slashed .323/.421/.578 with 72 hits, ten doubles, fifteen home runs, 42 RBIs, and a 1.009 OPS. Hacopian was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team and Second Team All-Big Ten. He was also named a Second Team Freshman All-American. In the 2025 season, Hacopian had another productive season for the Maryland Terrapins. Hacopian played and started in all 52 games. He slashed .375/.502/.656 with 72 hits, twelve doubles, fourteen home runs, 61 RBIs, 40 walks, and a 1.158 OPS. After the season, Hacopian entered the Transfer Portal and signed to play with the Texas A&M Aggies. In his first season at Texas A&M, Hacopian was named a Preseason All-American. He took a step back much closer to his freshman level of production. He played and started in 42 games. Hacopian slashed .319/.405/.578 with 53 hits, ten doubles, eleven home runs, 41 RBIs, 25 walks, and a .983 OPS. He was named a 2026 First Team All-SEC. At the plate, Hacopian is one of the most mentally advanced hitters in this draft class. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills and is very disciplined at the plate. He has a line-drive swing and can drive the ball to all fields. He could add more power to his game if he lifted the ball more often. Defensively, Hacopian is likely to play second or third base at the next level. He’s not the best runner, but has good fielding mechanics and average arm strength. Hacopian’s hit tool will carry him through the minor league levels. Strengths 60-grade hit tool High walk rate and low K rate Advanced approach Consistently a very good hitter High average exit velocity Weaknesses Limited defensive Below-average speed Pro Comparison: Matt Shaw Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Relying mainly on his bat to provide value, Chris Hacopian has the talent to get through the minor leagues quickly. On MLB Pipeline, Hacopian is the tenth-ranked prospect and the #1 second baseman in the 2026 MLB Draft. Hacopian is also the eleventh-ranked draft prospect on Baseball America and 19th on ESPN. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the draft and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Hacopian would be an excellent option for the Fish. More 2026 MLB draft profiles RHP Cade Townsend OF Drew Burress 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: SS Height: 6’1″ Weight: 190 pounds School: Kentucky Tyler Bell is a 6’1”, 190-pound shortstop who plays for the University of Kentucky. Bell is one of the top draft-eligible sophomores in the 2026 MLB Draft class. Coming out of high school, Bell was a blue-chip prep prospect out of Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Illinois. On. Perfect Game, Bell was the 59th-ranked prospect and the fifteenth-ranked prospect in the Class of 2024. He was also the second-ranked prospect and #1 middle infielder out of Illinois. Bell was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 66th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft as the first pick in Competitive Balance Round B. However, Bell went unsigned and honored his commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats. In his freshman season, Bell made an immediate impact for the Wildcats. Bell played and started in all 56 games. Bell slashed .296/.385/.522 with 67 hits, seventeen doubles, two triples, ten home runs, 46 RBIs, eleven stolen bases, and a .907 OPS. He was named a First Team Freshman All-American and to the All-SEC Freshman Team. He also played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. During the 2026 season, Bell suffered an injury that sidelined him for a bit, but he still played and started in 41 games. He slashed .343/.510/.608 with 49 hits, nine doubles, nine home runs, 29 RBIs, 30 walks, ten stolen bases, and a 1.119 OPS. There wasn't much drop-off from him in conference play, slashing .333/.468/.576 with 33 hits, seven doubles, five home runs, 18 RBIs, and a 1.044 OPS. He was named to the 2026 First Team All-SEC. At the plate, Bell is a switch-hitter with excellent swing mechanics and power from both sides. Most of Bell’s power comes from the pull side, but he’s a very well-rounded hitter with few weaknesses. Defensively, Bell has the arm, hands, and range to stick at shortstop at the next level. However, he has shown the ability to play all over the infield at a high level during his time in Cape Cod and the USA Collegiate National Team. Strengths Well-rounded prospect Switch-hitter Advanced approach Plus runner Defensive versatility Weaknesses Limited power to opposite field Suffered a shoulder injury Pro Comparison: Jorge Polanco Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line Tyler Bell has a lot of experience against top pitching in the Cape Cod League and the SEC. He has consistently hit at a high level and hasn’t struggled with high velocity. He’s expected to be an early-to-mid first round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. On Baseball America, Bell is the 11th-ranked prospect and fourth-ranked shortstop in the MLB Draft. On MLB Pipeline, Bell is the 20th-ranked prospect. Bell is also the 29th-ranked prospect on ESPN. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the draft and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Bell is a hitting prospect who’s a legit candidate for the Marlins when they are on the clock. More 2026 MLB draft profiles INF Chris Hacopian LHP Brody Bumila OF Trevor Condon RHP Cade Townsend OF Drew Burress 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