Hector Rodriguez

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

Overview Position: LHP Height: 6’9″ Weight: 255 pounds School: Bishop Feehan HS (MA) Commitment: Texas Brody Bumila is a 6’9”, 255-pound left-handed pitcher who plays at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Bumila is one of the top pitching prospects in this draft class. He’s also one of the top flamethrowers in the 2026 MLB Draft. On Perfect Game, Bumila is the 21st-ranked prospect and the fifth-ranked left-handed pitcher in the Class of 2026. He’s also the #1-ranked prospect in Massachusetts. Bumila is signed to play college baseball at the University of Texas. Bumila has really risen on draft boards during his senior season. He put together an incredible senior season and showcased his elite fastball. The southpaw is one of the hardest throwers in this draft class. On the mound, Bumila possesses a three-pitch mix including his fastball, slider, and changeup. Bumila’s fastball sits 96-98 mph and was clocked at 101 mph. His best secondary pitch is his changeup, which works very well versus right-handed hitters. Bumila’s slider leaves a lot to be desired. While he can throw it for strikes, he rarely used it because of how much he overwhelms hitters with his fastball. He can throw strikes consistently and will attack hitters on the inner half. On MLB Pipeline, Rojas is the 19th-ranked draft prospect. On Baseball America, Bumila is a five-star recruit and the 22nd-ranked prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft. He’s also the 34th-ranked draft prospect. Strengths Elite fastball Elite extension on his pitches Has a good feel for his changeup Projectable body frame Strike-thrower Frontline starter upside Weaknesses Needs to improve on his slider Injury risk Pro Comparison: Kruz Schoolcraft Projection: Top 25 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. Bumila is a left-handed pitching prospect who can be developed into a productive pitcher. While the Marlins have two elite left-handed pitching prospects, Bumila has a ton of talent and potential to be a top prospect in this draft class. He was named the MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year. View full article

Leading up to the 2026 MLB Draft, Fish On First brings you a series of scouting reports on top prospects in this draft class who could realistically wind up in Miami. Overview Position: OF Height: 5’11″ Weight: 175 pounds School: Etowah HS (GA) Commitment: Tennessee Trevor Condon is a 5’11”, 175-pound outfielder who plays at Etowah High School in Woodstock, Georgia. Condon is one of the top prep prospects in the 2026 MLB Draft class. He’s also considered one of the most athletic prospects in this draft class. Condon has already signed to play college baseball for the Tennessee Volunteers. Condon has one of the best hit tools in this draft class. He has an advanced approach at the plate with excellent swing mechanics to drive the ball to all fields. While he doesn’t have game power, Condon does have good bat speed and raw power that give him a promising foundation. He should be able to add more power to his game once he starts to fill in his frame. Condon was named Georgia’s Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year. He batted .504 with 17 doubles, nine homers, 42 RBI, and stole 15 bases. Defensively, Condon is one of the best outfielders in the 2026 class. He projects to play center field at the next level. He’s one of the fastest prospects in the draft. Condon tracks balls very well in the outfield and has above-average arm strength. Strengths 70-grade speed 60-grade hit tool Plus defensive center fielder Plus arm strength Good bat speed Advanced approach Weaknesses Punches the ball on the ground often Needs to tap into his raw power in games Pro Comparison: Drew Gilbert Projection: Top 25 pick Bottom Line Trevor Condon has four plus (or better) tools and could become a five-tool player with some development. On Perfect Game, Condon is the 21st-ranked prospect and the fourth-ranked outfielder in the Class of 2026. He’s also the second-ranked prospect and the #1 outfielder out of the Peach State. On ESPN, Condon is the thirteenth-ranked prospect and the fifth-ranked high school prospect. Condon is the 20th-ranked draft prospect on Baseball America and the 22nd-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline. 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. Condon could be a strong option for the Fish with their first selection because of how high his ceiling is. 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: RHP Height: 6’1″ Weight: 185 pounds School: Ole Miss Cade Townsend is a 6’1”, 185-pound right-handed pitcher who plays for the University of Mississippi. Townsend has risen a bunch throughout the 2026 season. Townsend is also one of the top draft-eligible sophomores in the 2026 draft class. Coming out of high school, Townsend was an elite-level prospect from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Aliso Viejo, California. On Perfect Game, Townsend was the 100th-ranked prospect and the 28th-ranked right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2024. He was also the eleventh-ranked prospect and the second-ranked RHP out of the Golden State. Burress went undrafted and honored his commitment to Ole Miss. During his freshman season, Townsend was one of the most active arms for the Rebels but didn’t have a great season. Townsend made fifteen appearances and eight starts. He posted a 1-0 record with a 6.35 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and an 11.4 K/99. In the 2026 season, Townsend has had a huge breakout season and is pitching like a potential first round selection. Townsend has fourteen appearances and starts. He has posted a 5-3 record with a 3.94 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9, and a 12.4 K/9. Townsend was named Second Team All-SEC. On the mound, Townsend possesses a five-pitch arsenal including his fastball, curveball, slider, cutter, and changeup. His fastball sits 93-95 mph and has been clocked at 98 mph this spring. Both of his breaking balls are his best pitches due to its high RPMs and whiff rate. Townsend has also mixed in a low-90s cutter and a low-80s changeup that has some quality depth. While his command isn’t great, Townsend has improved his control and improved his BB/9 from 5.3 to 3.1 this season. Strengths Five-pitch mix Two plus breaking pitches Above-average fastball with nice carry Improved control Weaknesses Suffered a shoulder injury during the season Command still needs to be improved ERA above 5.00 versus SEC offenses Pro Comparison: Hurston Waldrep Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line Cade Townsend is a promising prospect who knows how to pitch, but could use a little more development. On ESPN, Townsend is the 16th-ranked prospect and the fourth-ranked collegiate right-handed pitcher in the 2026 MLB Draft. On MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, Townsend is the 27th-ranked prospect in the 2026 draft class. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the draft and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this class. As much as they take pride in pitching development, adding arms remains a major need due to constant injuries. While the Marlins' first-round pick won’t make an immediate impact in MLB, they do need more quality depth in their farm system. Townsend would help with that. More 2026 MLB draft profiles 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

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

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

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

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

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

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