Hector Rodriguez

Corona High School has some of the most talented prospects in the 2025 MLB Draft. Could their star shortstop be the Miami Marlins' first-round selection this year? Corona High School has some of the most talented prospects in the 2025 MLB Draft. Could their star shortstop be the Miami Marlins' first-round selection this year? Overview Position: SS Height: 6’1″ Weight: 165 pounds School: Corona HS (CA) Commitment: Tennessee FOF Big Board Rank: 2nd Billy Carlson is a 6’1”, 165-pound shortstop who plays at Corona High School in Corona, California. Carlson is one of the top-ranked prospects in the 2025 MLB Draft class. He’s a primary shortstop, but could also have a future on the mound. Carlson comes from one of the best high school baseball programs in the country. He’s teammates with other potential day one draft picks like Seth Hernandez and Brady Ebel. On Perfect Game, Carlson is the third-ranked prospect and second-ranked shortstop in the country. At the plate, Carlson is a line-drive hitter with a patient approach. His bat-to-ball skills are some of the best in this draft class, and he possesses good power for his size. Carlson has adjusted his swing to lift the ball more often, but has a high in-zone contact rate and low chase rate. He drives the ball to all fields and will add more power as he continues to physically mature. Defensively, Carlson is an excellent defensive shortstop with probably the best arm in this draft class. Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America grade his defensive tools a 60 or better. He’s very smooth defensively with elite arm strength and likely plays better defense than most top college shortstops. As mentioned before, Carlson could be considered a two-way prospect. On the mound, he has a power fastball that sits 92-95 mph and tops out at 97. Carlson also has confidence throwing his curveball and changeup for strikes. However, most organizations view him as a shortstop with five-tool potential if he’s able to add more power to his game. Strengths Plus hit tool Polished hitting mechanics Elite defensive skills Low chase rate and high in-zone contact rate Impressive bat speed Weaknesses Needs to fill in his frame to add more power Needs to prove he can continue to put the ball in the air Pro Comparison: Dansby Swanson Projection: Top 10 pick Bottom Line A very skilled defensive shortstop who can hit for average, Billy Carlson has the potential to be one of the best overall players coming out of this draft class. The power should come once he adds 15-20 solid pounds to his frame. If the Marlins are prioritizing upside in the first round, Carlson would be an excellent get with the seventh pick. More 2025 Draft Profiles OF Jace LaViolette LHP Liam Doyle INF Kayson Cunningham SS Eli Willits SS Marek Houston RHP Seth Hernandez 3B Xavier Neyens OF Brendan Summerhill View full article

The Miami Marlins battled for ten innings against the defending World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. They came out on top with clutch pitching from the back end of their bullpen and hitting from one of their veterans. MIAMI—The Miami Marlins picked up a massive win over the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday night. After losing each of their first four head-to-head matchups this season, they defeated the defending World Series champions 5-4 thanks to a walk-off single by Jesús Sánchez in the bottom of the tenth inning. Veteran right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill got the start for the Marlins. Quantrill had his best performance of the season against the always dangerous Dodgers lineup. He pitched five innings, allowing four hits, one run, one walk, and a season-best six strikeouts. Marlins skipper Clayton McCullough pulled Quantrill from the game after only 79 pitches and two trips through the batting order. "There's been a lot of work to get back to where I'd like to think I was closer to my normal self," Quantrill said after his performance. "There's still some stuff I would like to get ironed out, but I was much more competitive today, and I was able to pitch well from start to finish." McCullough handed the ball to left-handed relief pitcher Anthony Veneziano, and it ended up being a costly decision. Three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani jumped on the first pitch and blasted a towering leadoff homer to right field to tie the game 2-2. Veneziano would surrender another solo home run to Freddie Freeman, giving the Dodgers a 3-2 lead. Freeman made history with that home run, as it was his 42nd against the Marlins. He passed former Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and former Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard to become the all-time home run leader against the Marlins. Right-handed relief pitcher Lake Bachar came in relief for Veneziano and helped him escape the sixth inning. After the Marlins regained the lead, Bachar came back out for the seventh. He walked James Outman and retired Hyeseong Kim on a force out before McCullough made another call to the bullpen. Calvin Faucher came in relief for Bachar to face the top of Los Angeles' lineup. Ohtani greeted Faucher with an RBI double down the RF line that tied the game 4-4. Faucher had some bad luck in that at-bat with two missed strike three calls by home plate umpire Erich Bacchus. Faucher would get Pages and Freeman out to keep the game tied heading into the bottom of the seventh. Heading into the top of the eighth, the Marlins handed the ball to right-hander Anthony Bender. The 30-year-old reliever had a scoreless eighth inning after walking Muncy and allowing a stolen base. Bender got Michael Conforto to ground out and Mookie Betts to fly out to LF. In the top of the ninth, right-hander Jesús Tinoco was tasked with keeping the game tied. Tinoco pitched a perfect ninth inning. He punched out the first two batters he faced and got Ohtani to roll over on a backdoor slider down and out of the zone. Tinoco went back out for the tenth and had another clean inning, which earned him his second win of the season. The Marlins' offense had an excellent night at the plate. The Fish scored five runs on eleven hits against one of the toughest pitching staffs in the league. Jesús Sánchez, the most-tenured position player on Miami's roster, was the hero. Sánchez went 2-for-5 with two base knocks, including the walk-off single in extras. 7c15f5ba-d6685177-938eec63-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 "I know the fastball has beaten me a lot lately, so I was ready for it," Sánchez said about his approach in his last at-bat. "I'm still making that adjustment with being on time with the fastball, and I know if I'm on time with the fastball, I'm still good with a breaking pitch." Another outfielder who had a huge game in Miami's win over the Dodgers was Dane Myers. The 29-year-old went 2-for-4 with an RBI, raising his batting average to .361. Rookie catcher Liam Hicks went 1-for-2 and drove in the first two runs of the ballgame for Miami. After getting robbed a home run by Andy Pages in his first at-bat, Hicks responded with a no-doubt two-run blast to right field over Pages' head. Agustín Ramírez has started to heat up after going cold since April 28. Ramírez went 2-for-4 with a double to right center and singles through the right side to load the bases for Sánchez in the tenth. Three of Ramírez's last four hits have been opposite-field knocks. It's a very encouraging sign to see a young player like Ramírez start to adjust to how the league has been attacking him after his incredible start to his career. What's next? The Marlins will host the Dodgers for the final time this season on Wednesday afternoon. Right-handed pitcher Landon Knack will get the start for the Dodgers. Knack has struggled in his first three appearances (two starts) to begin the season. The 27-year-old right-hander has posted a 1-0 record with a 7.27 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, six walks, and seven strikeouts in 8 ⅔ innings pitched. The Marlins will hand the ball to right-handed pitcher Valente Bellozo, looking to clinch their first series win since the Reds series. The Mexican-born pitcher has made three starts for the Fish this season. Bellozo has posted a 0-2 record with a 4.97 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, eight walks, and seven strikeouts in 12 ⅔ innings pitched. The first pitch of the rubber match is at 4:40 pm EST. View full article

Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette has some of the best raw power in the 2025 draft class. Once viewed as a candidate to be drafted 1-1, he has become a more realistic possibility for the Marlins with the seventh overall pick. Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette has some of the best raw power in the 2025 draft class. Once viewed as a candidate to be drafted 1-1, he has become a more realistic possibility for the Marlins with the seventh overall pick. Overview Position: OF Height: 6’6″ Weight: 230 pounds School: Texas A&M FOF Big Board Rank: 7th Jace LaViolette is a 6’6”, 230-pound outfielder who plays at Texas A&M University. LaViolette is a left-handed hitter with some of the best power in this draft class. LaViolette was a blue-chip prospect coming out of Obra D. Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas. On Perfect Game, LaViolette was the 113th-ranked prospect and 27th-ranked outfielder in the nation. He was also the seventh-ranked prospect and #1 outfielder out of the Lone Star State. He went undrafted and signed to play college baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies. In his freshman season, LaViolette earned a starting role and made a massive impact. LaViolette slashed .287/.414/.632 with 64 hits, 21 home runs, 63 RBIs, 48 walks, and a 1.047 OPS. He was named to the All-SEC Freshman team and earned Freshman All-American honors. In his sophomore season, LaViolette had another monster year and helped lead the Aggies to the College World Series. He slashed .305/.449/.726 with 79 hits, sixteen hits, three triples, 29 home runs, 78 RBIs, 64 walks, and a 1.175 OPS. LaViolette was named a First Team All-American by D1 Baseball, NCBWA, and Baseball America. That put him firmly in the conversation to be the #1 overall pick in 2025. LaViolette's stock has dipped a bit during his junior season. He has started in 47 games. He’s slashing .277/.437/.594 with 47 hits, nine doubles, fifteen home runs, 53 RBIs, 47 walks, and a 1.031 OPS. He also broke the record for most home runs in Texas A&M history. LaViolette is a legit power hitter with a quality approach at the plate. His hit tool needs some work, but he does a nice job creating loft in his swing. He can drive the ball to all fields with power, and his average exit velocity is in the 90th percentile. On defense, LaViolette plays center field very well for the Aggies. He has good agility for his size and plus arm strength. Long term, his skillset is more suited for right field. Strengths Elite power tool Very patient Excellent bat speed Drives ball to all fields with authority Plus arm strength Weaknesses Slightly below-average hit tool Production has dipped during junior season Pro Comparison: Kerry Carpenter Projection: Top 10 pick Bottom Line Even with a “down” junior season, Jace LaViolette’s power is still there. A player that the Marlins didn’t think they would be able to get early in the 2025 draft cycle could actually be available when they are on the clock. If the Marlins believe they could help develop his hit tool, he would be an excellent option with their first-round pick. More 2025 Draft Profiles LHP Liam Doyle INF Kayson Cunningham SS Eli Willits SS Marek Houston RHP Seth Hernandez 3B Xavier Neyens OF Brendan Summerhill View full article

Tennessee's Liam Doyle has been college baseball's best pitcher this season, leading the nation in strikeouts with an elite fastball. Could he be on the board when the Marlins make their first-round selection? Tennessee's Liam Doyle has been college baseball's best pitcher this season, leading the nation in strikeouts with an elite fastball. Could he be on the board when the Marlins make their first-round selection? Overview Position: LHP Height: 6’2″ Weight: 220 pounds School: LSU FOF Big Board Rank: 17th Liam Doyle is a 6’2”, 220-pound left-handed pitcher who plays for the LSU Tigers. Doyle has been one of the biggest risers in this draft class. The former Coastal Carolina and Ole Miss transfer has been one of the best pitchers in the NCAA this season and arguably has the best fastball in the 2025 draft class. Coming out of high school, Doyle wasn’t a highly-touted prospect. On Perfect Game, Doyle was the 427th-ranked prospect and the 56th-ranked left-handed pitcher in the country. He was highly regarded in New Hampshire, though, ranking as the #2 prospect in the state. Doyle went undrafted out of high school and signed to play at Coastal Carolina. In his freshman season, Doyle made an immediate impact for the Chanticleers. Doyle made 23 appearances and seven starts. He posted a 3-1 record with a 4.15 ERA, one save, 1.12 WHIP, and 69 strikeouts in 56 ⅓ innings pitched (11.0 K/9). After the season, he entered the transfer portal and committed to Ole Miss. In 2024, Doyle was in the Rebels’ weekend rotation, but he struggled in his first season in the SEC. He posted a 3-4 record with a 5.73 ERA across sixteen appearances and eleven starts. Doyle was still striking out batters at a high rate (34.7 K%). He transferred again, this time joining the defending national champions, the Tennessee Volunteers. In his junior season, Doyle has had a major breakout, serving as Tennessee’s Friday night starter since Opening Day. He has posted an 8-2 record with a 2.39 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, .147 batting average against, 23 walks, and 115 strikeouts in 67 ⅔ innings pitched. Doyle also has a 43.9 K% and 2.28 FIP. Doyle possesses a four-pitch mix: fastball, slider, cutter, and splitter. Doyle’s fastball is probably the best pitch in all of college baseball. It sits in the mid-90s and has been clocked at 100 mph. It has a ton of run and has been unhittable at the top of the zone. While his fastball gets a ton of hype, his slider is another quality pitch and has generated more swing-and-miss than in the past. His splitter has improved a ton this season, but he struggles with leaving his cutter over the plate at times. Strengths Elite fastball Plus slider Strikeout artist Above-average control Leads the nation in strikeouts, WHIP, and batting average against Weaknesses Inconsistent command of cutter Reliever risk due to high fastball usage and unorthodox delivery Pro Comparison: Robbie Ray Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Liam Doyle has had an outstanding season and could be an option for the Marlins with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Not only does the southpaw flamethrower have the highest fastball whiff% in the country, but he can also throw strikes and has a quality slider and splitter. Doyle has the potential to be a frontline starter at the next level. More 2025 Draft Profiles INF Kayson Cunningham SS Eli Willits SS Marek Houston RHP Seth Hernandez 3B Xavier Neyens OF Brendan Summerhill View full article

Texas prep prospect Kayson Cunningham is viewed by some as the best pure hitter in this draft class. Could he be the Marlins' first-round pick in 2025? Texas prep prospect Kayson Cunningham is viewed by some as the best pure hitter in this draft class. Could he be the Marlins' first-round pick in 2025? Overview Position: SS Height: 5’9″ Weight: 170 pounds School: Johnson HS (TX) Commitment: Texas Kayson Cunningham is a 5’9”, 170-pound middle infielder who plays at Johnson High School in San Antonio, Texas. Cunningham is potentially the best pure hitter in the 2025 MLB Draft class. He might be one of the smaller players in this class, but he’s a terrific athlete who can hit for average and has great power for his size. On Perfect Game, Cunningham is a blue-chip prospect. He’s the fifth-ranked high school prospect in the country and the top prospect out of Texas. Cunningham is the sixth-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline and thirteenth-ranked prospect on Baseball America. Cunningham is a left-handed hitter with excellent bat-to-ball skills and a disciplined approach. He projects as a top-of-the-order hitter who can hit the ball to all fields and rarely chases pitches out of the zone. Excellent bat speed enables Cunningham to generate tons of power for his size. He could develop into a five-tool player as he fills out his frame. Defensively, Cunningham has the hands, footwork, and arm strength to stick at shortstop. However, many scouts will see his smaller stature and want to move him to second base. Whichever team drafts Cunningham should give him the opportunity to play shortstop and only move him to second base if his performance necessitates it. Last summer, Cunningham was named MVP of the USA Baseball 18U National Team. He also won Prep Baseball All-American Game MVP honors after going 2-for-3 with a 400-foot home run and two RBIs. Strengths Plus hit tool Excellent bat speed Advanced approach Great athlete who runs very well Plays well against tough competition Weaknesses Undersized Might be limited to second base long term Pro Comparison: Termarr Johnson Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line In their first draft with Frankie Piliere as amateur scouting director, the Marlins showed a willingness to invest heavily in high school prospects. They could continue that trend with Kayson Cunningham. The Lone Star State native embraces the bright lights. Cunningham has the tools to be a quality everyday big leaguer, with his hit tool being his greatest asset. More 2025 Draft Profiles SS Eli Willits SS Marek Houston RHP Seth Hernandez 3B Xavier Neyens OF Brendan Summerhill View full article

Prep shortstop Eli Willits is one of the youngest prospects in this draft class. Already a great pure hitter, Willits can add more power to his game as he continues to fill in his frame. Prep shortstop Eli Willits is one of the youngest prospects in this draft class. Already a great pure hitter, Willits can add more power to his game as he continues to fill in his frame. Overview Position: SS Height: 6’1″ Weight: 175 pounds School: Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK) Commitment: Oklahoma Eli Willits is a 6’1”, 175-pound shortstop who plays at Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Lawton, Oklahoma. A well-rounded prospect with five-tool potential, Willits is also one of the youngest prospects in the 2025 MLB Draft—he will still be 17 years old on draft night. Willits is an elite high school prospect who was originally in the Class of 2026 before reclassifying. On MLB Pipeline, Willits is the eleventh-ranked draft prospect. On Baseball America, Willits is the twelfth-ranked prospect and sixth-ranked prep prospect. At the plate, Willits is a switch-hitter with polished mechanics and an excellent approach. He rarely chases outside the strike zone and has excellent bat-to-ball skills. Willits has average power, but could tap into more of his raw power as he continues to fill in his frame. Defensively, Willits has good hands and plus arm strength. He projects as a middle infielder or center fielder at the next level thanks to his plus speed—Willits was clocked running a 6.70 60-yard dash by Perfect Game. He’s also the son of former MLB outfielder Reggie Willits. Strengths Plus hit tool Advantage approach at the plate Polished hitting mechanics Great athlete High baseball IQ Plus arm strength Weaknesses Needs to fill in his frame to add more power Might not stick at shortstop Pro Comparison: Jackson Holliday Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line The Marlins will have the opportunity to add a blue-chip prospect to their farm system with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Eli Willits would be a sound choice. Beyond excellent tools and athleticism, Willits is advanced when it comes to the mental part of baseball. He can do all the small things well. Long term, he could develop into a complete hitter. More 2025 Draft Profiles SS Marek Houston RHP Seth Hernandez 3B Xavier Neyens OF Brendan Summerhill View full article

Wake Forest's Marek Houston has been one of the biggest risers as the 2025 draft approaches. Could the ACC middle infielder be Miami's first pick? Wake Forest's Marek Houston has been one of the biggest risers as the 2025 draft approaches. Could the ACC middle infielder be Miami's first pick? Overview Position: SS Height: 6’3″ Weight: 205 pounds School: Wake Forest Marek Houston is a 6’3”, 205-pound infielder who plays at Wake Forest University. Houston was already known for his defense, but his offensive numbers have improved a ton and he has hit for more power. Three months away from the MLB Draft, his stock is rising. Houston was a blue-chip prep prospect out of Venice High School in Florida. He was the 120th-ranked prospect and the 25th-ranked shortstop in the Class of 2022. Houston decided to commit to an out-of-state school and signed with Wake Forest. As a freshman at Wake Forest, Houston earned a starting role thanks to his defensive prowess. He slashed .220/.328/.307 with 48 hits, five doubles, and four home runs in 65 games that season for the Demon Deacons. In his sophomore season, Houston had a breakout performance and earned a third-team All-ACC selection. He slashed .326/.433/.517 with 72 hits, sixteen doubles, eight home runs, 38 walks, and a .949 OPS. Houston continues to improve at the plate as a junior. He has made more consistent loud contact while increasing his launch angle. His ground ball percentage has gone from 49.5% to 43.3%. Houston is slashing .338/.446/.603 with 51 hits, ten doubles, ten home runs, 48 RBIs, 29 walks, and a 1.049 OPS. At the plate, Houston has good plate discipline. Adding 10-12 pounds of muscle during the 2024-25 offseason has tremendously helped his power numbers at the plate without sacrificing contact or lowering his batting average. Houston is also one of the best defensive infielders in the 2025 MLB Draft class. A good athlete with smooth mechanics and an accurate arm, Houston has all the tools to stick at shortstop and is very comfortable playing the position. Strengths Plus hit tools Plus glove Improved power Low K% and high BB% Accurate arm Great range on defense Weaknesses More likely to have gap power than over-the-fence power at the next level Sometimes too passive at the plate Pro Comparison: Jeremy Peña Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line The Marlins will have the seventh overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Houston has quickly moved up into the rankings and could be an option. The Sunshine State native has had an excellent collegiate career at Wake Forest. He’s one of the best defensive prospects in this draft class and has become a more complete hitter with his improved power. He has even been stealing bases more frequently this spring to raise his floor as an offensive player. More 2025 Draft Profiles RHP Seth Hernandez 3B Xavier Neyens OF Brendan Summerhill View full article

Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill is one of the most well-rounded prospects in the 2025 MLB Draft. Could he be an option for the Miami Marlins with their first-round pick? Overview Position: OF Height: 6’3″ Weight: 200 pounds School: Arizona Brendan Summerhill is a 6’3”, 200-pound outfielder who plays at the University of Arizona. Summerhill is one of the top collegiate bats in the 2025 MLB Draft and also one of the top pure hitters available. On MLB Pipeline, Summerhill is the tenth-ranked prospect and the second-ranked outfielder in the 2025 draft class. He’s also ranked #8 on Just Baseball and #19 on Baseball America. During his time at Arizona, Summerhill has a career .334/.426/.555 slash line. After playing sparingly as a freshman, Summerhill had a major breakout season for the Wildcats. In his sophomore season, Summerhill slashed .324/.399/.550 with 77 hits, eighteen doubles, six triples, eight home runs, 59 RBIs, and a .950 OPS. He was also named to the 2024 All-Star Team in the Cape Cod Summer Collegiate League. In his junior season, Summerhill continues to produce at the plate for the Wildcats. Summerhill is slashing .409/.500/.656 with 38 hits, five doubles, six triples, two home runs, 24 RBIs, a .462 BABIP, a 168 wRC+, and a 1.156 OPS. Summerhill has an 87.3% contact rate and a 90% in-zone contact rate. He does a good job of keeping his chase rate down at 15.3%. At the plate, Summerhill is an advanced hitter with clean hitting mechanics and a disciplined approach. He’s a line-drive hitter who can drive the ball to all fields, but most of his power comes from the pull side. 0twi2q.mp4 During the 2025 season, Summerhill has a low 11.8% strikeout rate and a 14.5% walk rate. He has also improved his average exit velocity from 87 mph to 91.7 mph and could add more power to his game as he continues to fill in his frame. Summerhill has played right field at Arizona, but projects to be a center fielder at the next level. He solely played center field in the Cape Cod League. Strengths Advanced approach Low K% and high BB% Excellent in-zone contact rate Improved quality of contact Can stick in CF Weaknesses Has yet to show in-game home run power Needs to add more strength Pro Comparison: Matt Vierling Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line Brendan Summerhill is a quality collegiate bat who does a lot of things well at the plate and defensively. The Chicago native seems like a high-floor prospect who already has a great approach at the plate and can consistently make contact with pitches in the zone. It’s good to see his average exit velocity trend in the right direction, and Summerhill could even add more power to his game as he fills in his 6’3” frame. If that happens, Summerhill will likely move to right field, which isn’t an issue for him thanks to above-average arm strength. Summerhill is a player to watch until the end of the collegiate season. He could be on Miami’s radar with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. More 2025 Draft Profiles RHP Seth Hernandez 3B Xavier Neyens View full article

The Miami Marlins have shown they are willing to draft high school pitching prospects early in the draft. Could they do the same if RHP Seth Hernandez is available? Overview Position: RHP Height: 6’4″ Weight: 190 pounds School: Corona HS (CA) Commitment: Vanderbilt Seth Hernandez is a 6’4”, 190-pound right-handed pitcher who plays at Corona High School in Corona, California. Hernandez is one of the best pitching prospects in the 2025 draft class and he’s considered the top high school pitching prospect available. On Perfect Game, Hernandez is the third-ranked prospect and the top-ranked right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2025. He’s also the #1 overall prospect in California. Seth Hernandez is one of three prep prospects from Corona High School (Billy Carlson and Brady Ebel) projected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft. Hernandez has dominated on the mound in the summer circuit against all of the best prep hitting prospects in the country. He is signed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University. On the mound, Hernandez has a four-pitch mix, including his fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. His fastball sits 96-98 mph and was clocked at 100 mph last in the summer. His fastball has an above-average spin rate and explodes out of his hand. The changeup might be Hernandez’s best pitch and it’s one of the best offspeed pitches in this draft. Hernandez has a true 12-6 breaking ball and a sharp slider, and both pitches possess spin rates near 2,700 RPMs. Hernandez has good control and fills up the strike zone but will need to fine-tune the command on his secondary pitches. At 6’4” and 190 pounds, Hernandez has the ideal pitching frame with room to fill it out with more muscle. Strengths Power fastball Elite changeup Above-average spin rate on all pitches Pounds the strike zone Ideal pitching frame Weaknesses Needs to improve mechanics while throwing breaking pitches Needs to improve command of secondary pitches Pro Comparison: Jack Flaherty Projection: Top 10 pick Bottom Line Seth Hernandez is a blue-chip prospect. The Golden State native has a high floor and the upside to become a frontline-type pitcher in the pros. He’s a very talented pitcher with an excellent work ethic and has an advanced game plan on the mound for his age. The Marlins will have the seventh overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and they have shown the willingness to draft high school pitching prospects early. I believe Hernandez could be Miami’s guy if he’s available at #7. More 2025 Draft Profiles 3B Xavier Neyens View full article

Sandy Alcantara had another impressive performance on the mound in his third Grapefruit League start of 2025. The Marlins had a productive game at the plate, but the Washington Nationals overcame a five-run deficit against the Fish bullpen. Jupiter, Fla.—Miami Marlins ace right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara made his third start of spring training on Wednesday versus the Washington Nationals. The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner continues to pitch very well in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. Alcantara pitched 2 ⅔ innings, allowing no hits, no runs, two walks, and one strikeout. The two-time All-Star reached his limit of 45 pitches and threw 62.2% strikes with six whiffs. Alcantara’s fastball sat at 98 mph and topped out at 100 mph. He threw his four-seamer/sinker combo 69% of the time. “I was working a little bit on my fastball command,” Sandy said after his outing. “I think the command was good today, but I still walked two guys, so I got to keep working in the bullpens and try to be more perfect.” He also mixed in a few sliders and changeups, including a well-located slider to record his only strikeout in the afternoon. “My pitching coach and I have been working on having a better slider,” said Alcantara. “My slider has been good, but we’re looking for more break, so we changed the grip a little bit and it’s giving the result I’m looking for." Right-hander Valente Bellozo had a rough outing in relief for Alcantara. The 25-year-old pitcher threw 2 ⅔ innings, allowing six hits, four runs, one walk, and three strikeouts. He also allowed three solo home runs to James Wood, Luis Garcia Jr., and Andrew Pinckney. Right-handed relief pitcher Brett de Geus had a poor showing in his first appearance this spring. Recently claimed off waivers, the 27-year-old pitcher threw one inning, allowing four hits, four runs, one run, and one strikeout. The Marlins offense had a nice day at the plate, scoring seven runs on eleven hits. Third baseman Connor Norby had his best game this spring as he went 2-for-3 with two RBI singles. Griffin Conine went 2-for-2 with two base knocks and a walk. Both of Conine’s hits were off left-handed pitchers. Nick Fortes suffered a “groin contusion” on a foul tip in the top of the first inning. He would stay in the game to finish the inning, but then was replaced by pinch-hitter Rob Brantly. In the third inning, the veteran backstop blasted a three-run home run down the right field line. It was Brantly's first home run in a Marlins uniform since 2013. What’s next? The Marlins will be on the road for their next spring training game versus the Atlanta Braves. Left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers will get the start for the Fish. Weathers looked good in his first outing this spring. He pitched two innings allowing no hits, no runs, one walk, and four strikeouts. The first pitch for Thursday’s game is at 6:05 pm EST. View full article

Could the powerful, left-handed-hitting third baseman be the Marlins' first-round selection in the 2025 MLB Draft? Overview Position: 3B Height: 6’4″ Weight: 200 pounds School: Mount Vernon HS (WA) Commitment: Oregon State Xavier Neyens is a 6’4”, 200-pound third baseman who plays at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Washington. Neyens is one of the top hitting prospects in this draft class. He’s also among the best power hitters in the 2025 draft class. On Perfect Game, Neyens is the second-ranked prospect and the top-ranked third baseman in the class of 2025. He’s also the #1 overall prospect in the state of Washington. Neyens has already signed up to play college baseball at Oregon State University. Neyens has improved his swing and ability to use the whole field, but still has some work to do with making consistent contact. He uses his lower half very well, keeps his hands inside the ball, and constantly keeps his front shoulder closed, even on inside pitches. Neyens played the first game of his senior season on March 11 and homered the following day. Defensively, Neyens has plus arm strength that could keep him playing at third base. He’s a solid athlete who shows good footwork and soft hands. Neyens is a smooth defensive third baseman who looks very comfortable on defense. Some scouts are concerned that he’ll grow out of third base and would likely move to left field or right field. Strengths Plus raw power Advantage approach at the plate Has improved his ability to drive the ball to all fields Sweet left-handed swing Added some loft to his swing Excellent arm strength Weaknesses Showed some swing-and-miss over the summer There’s some risk he could end up being a corner outfielder Tends to chase at offspeed pitches out of the zone Below-average runner Pro Comparison: Austin Riley Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line Xavier Neyens has the potential to be a middle-of-the-order type batter. The Evergreen State native has the hit and power tools to be a quality addition to the Marlins organization. The Marlins will have the seventh overall in the 2025 MLB Draft after having one of the worst seasons in the franchise's history. The Fish need to add more power bats, especially at the lower levels of their farm system, and Neyens should be an option. View full article

The Miami Marlins did not get the draft position they were hoping for. However, they'll still have a wide variety of talented high school and college prospects to choose from with the seventh overall pick. The third annual MLB Draft Lottery was cruel to the Miami Marlins. They entered the lottery with as good a chance as any team to land the No. 1 overall pick. Instead, Miami got one of the worst possible outcomes, dropping all the way down to seventh in the 2025 draft order. You can watch the Fish On First staff's reaction to the news here. The draft is still seven months away and a lot can change between now and then, but the Marlins are unlikely to have the opportunity to land consensus top prospects like Ethan Holliday, Jace LaViolette and Jamie Arnold. Their amateur scouting department should be setting their sights a bit lower. Let's discuss six draft-eligible players—three each from the college and high school ranks—who could realistically be available to the Marlins in the 2025 MLB Draft. Cam Cannarella, CF, Clemson The Marlins have been searching for their everyday center fielder of the future. They have several promising options in their farm system already, but none of them can be fully relied upon. Clemson’s Cam Cannarella has the potential to contend for that job someday. Cannarella is a 6’0”, 180-pounder who is coming off a stellar sophomore season for the Tigers. He almost led Clemson to the College World Series. Cannarella slashed .337/.417/.561 with 83 hits, sixteen doubles, three triples, eleven home runs, 60 RBIs, 34 walks and a .978 OPS. He was also a Third-Team All-American by NCBWA. Cannarella has some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the 2025 draft class and combines it with plus speed. He’s an excellent defensive outfielder who can make some incredible plays and has a ton of range. The left-handed hitter does need to fill out his frame and add more solid weight to his frame. His exit velocity and hard-hit percentage leave a lot to be desired, but his in-zone whiff rate is 8.3%, which means he rarely misses pitches over the plate. Max Belyeu, OF, Texas Another outfielder who could be an option for the Marlins with the seventh overall pick is Max Belyeu. In 2024, he was named the Big 12 Player of the Year in Texas’ final season in the Big 12. Belyeu is a 6’2”, 210-pound Lone Star State native. He led a stout Texas Longhorns roster that included nine players who were named to the All-Big 12 teams. Belyeu slashed .329/.423/.667 with 69 hits, fifteen doubles, a team-high eighteen home runs, 56 RBIs and a 1.090 OPS. At the plate, Belyeu has a great combination of hit and power tools. Coming out of high school, he was more hit over power, but the rising junior has improved the latter during his time in Austin. This past season, Belyeu’s hard-hit percentage was 48%, and his EV95+LA10-30° rate was 25.8%. Aiva Arquette, INF, Oregon State Aiva Arquette is a 6’5”, 220-pound infielder. Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Arquette honored his commitment to the University of Washington and has since transferred to Oregon State. The Hawaii native was one of the top players in the Pac-12 in 2024. Arquette slashed .325/.384/.574 with 68 hits, fourteen doubles, twelve home runs, 36 RBIs and a .959 OPS. He was also named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Team. Arquette is a well-rounded ballplayer and one of the best athletes in this draft class. He has a fluid swing and consistently makes loud contact to all fields with his 56% hard-hit percentage. Arquette also has a solid 17.5 K% and a .357 BABIP. Xavier Neyens, 3B/OF, Mount Vernon (WA) Age: 18 | Height: 6’4” | B/T: L/R Oregon State commit Xavier Neyens is a large 18-year-old. He already possesses big power potential as he demonstrated while participating in many summer events. Power is not the only trait Neyens brings to the table. He has a good eye at the plate and a smooth lefty swing. Being able to stay calm in the box allows him to have a better feel for the barrel compared to other large, slug-first bats. His natural leg kick allows him to stay on time and square up the baseball to flash elite exit velos. High school players of this size usually have some strikeout issues, but the power and approach Neyens has shown at such a young age should prevail. Neyens projects to be in a corner infield or corner outfield role when he gets to the pros. His long-term success or lack thereof will come down to player development. Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Braxton (OK) Age: 17 | Height: 6’1” | B/T: S/R Eli Willits is one of the top high school shortstops in a relatively deep class and one of the youngest (17 years and seven months old on draft day). The Oklahoma native is committed to the Sooners, but will be coming to the pros if drafted in this range. A crafty shortstop with a great approach from both sides of the box, he has more of a laid-back swing that utilizes quick hands to reach all quadrants of the zone. Willits is currently more advanced from the left than the right side, which is common for young switch-hitters. He will get every shot to stick at shortstop as he has a plus arm and very agile feet. Combine these skills with a plus running grade and you can be looking at a complete five-tool player as he continues to grow into his frame and gain power. tz6pix.mp4 POBO Peter Bendix and amateur scouting director Frankie Piliere have a history of selecting high school shortstops within the top two rounds, like they did last year with Carter Johnson. Willits could be next in line. Billy Carlson, SS/RHP, Corona (CA) Age: 18 | Height: 6’1” | B/T: R/R The two-way, Southern California native has cemented himself as a potential first-round pick. Carlson has a bazooka of an arm, getting up to 95-97 mph on the mound and throwing darts across the diamond. He has shifty feet at shortstop and projects to stick there if focuses on being a position player. Carlson bears some resemblance to top Tampa Bay Rays prospect Carson Williams. Although his current power production doesn't match what Williams has shown in the minor leagues, a compact right-handed swing with an excellent barrel path through the zone allows Carlson to pull the ball well and in the air. mcuedm.mp4 Combining three average pitches with a projectable bat and glove, the Marlins could look to experiment with Carlson as both a pitcher and hitter. I believe his best path is to commit to being a position player where he'd be a high-floor prospect with the potential to develop into a league-average bat at the next level. Carlson will be 19 on draft day, which is atypically old for a prep prospect, but that shouldn't scare away the Marlins who made 19-year-old PJ Morlando their top pick in 2024. View full article