Hector Rodriguez

Miami's loanDepot park hosted the second annual Prep Baseball High School All-American Game on September 14. Many of the top prospects eligible for the 2025 and 2026 draft classes were in attendance and put their talents on display. Prep Baseball returned to Miami for their second annual High School All-American Game. This time, the game was held in the Miami Marlins' home stadium, loanDepot park. Top prospects from the class of 2025 and class of 2026 faced off. One notable player who was in attendance but did not play was the top ranked 2025 prospect in the nation, Ethan Holliday. The Oklahoma State commit will not be included in the following top performers list. Here are three prospects who really caught my eye in the All-American Game. 1. 2025 INF Kayson Cunningham The Texas native, Kayson Cunningham, was the best performing prospect during the Prep Baseball All-American weekend. Cunningham showcased his power and elite bat speed, including hitting a home run in the All-American Game. He was also named the game's MVP. Cunningham is a 5'10", 180-pound middle infielder out of Johnson High School in San Antonio, Texas. On Perfect Game, Cunningham is the fourth-ranked prospect and the second-ranked shortstop in the nation. He's also the top ranked prospect out of the Lone Star State. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the fifth-best high school prospect in the 2025 MLB Draft class. He has a verbal commitment to the University of Texas. Cunningham's chances of attending Texas are slim due to the fact he's viewed as a mid-to-late first-round draft pick. MLB Pipeline projected him last summer to be the 20th overall pick of the 2025 draft. He has five-tool potential with his advanced approach at the plate, plus speed and good arm strength. The question with Cunningham is will his stick at shortstop or be moved to second base. 2. 2025 3B Xavier Neyens Another 2025 infielder who stood out during the All-American Game weekend was third baseman Xavier Neyens. The West Coast native showcased his elite bat speed and power over the weekend, including leading all players in max exit velocity (110.6 mph) with a wood bat. Neyens is a 6'4", 205-pound third baseman out of Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Washington. On Perfect Game, He is the second-ranked prospect and the #1 third baseman in the country. He's also the top-ranked prospect in Washington. MLB Pipeline ranks Neyens as the third-ranked prep prospect in the 2025 draft. He has a verbal commitment to Oregon State University. Neyens' best tool is obviously his power as he generates more power and lift than any other high school prospect in the nation. He does have some swing-and-miss to his game, but he maximizes his power potential when he barrels the ball. Neyens also has a plus arm and could pitch with a 94 mph fastball and above-average slider, but his future is likely as a position player. 3. 2025 INF Brady Ebel Brady Ebel is another West Coast prospect who showcased his skills two weekends ago. The California native is one of the most well-rounded prospects in the 2025 class. He's also the son of Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel. The 6'3", 190-pound shortstop/third baseman out of Corona High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California, is the eleventh-ranked prospect on Perfect Game and the fifth-ranked shortstop in the country. He's also the sixth-ranked prospect out of the Golden State. MLB Pipeline ranked Ebel as the eighth-ranked prep prospect in the 2025 MLB Draft. He has a verbal commitment to the LSU Tigers. Since the All-American Game, Ebel's draft stock has risen a bit. On Bleacher Report, Ebel is the projected fourth overall selection to the Washington Nationals. Ebel is one of the top pure hitters in this draft class with power potential as he continues to fill in his large frame. Honorable Mention: 2026 RHP Matthew Sharman The Class of 2026 team had some of their top prospects in the game, but one prospect who impressed on the mound was right-handed pitcher Matthew Sharman. The 16-year-old prospect showcased all four of his pitches including his plus fastball. Matthew Sharman is a 6'3", 215-pounder out of Etowah High School in Woodstock, Georgia. On Perfect Game, Sharman is the 71st-ranked prospect and the 16th-ranked right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2026. Sharman is the sixth-ranked junior prospect and top right-handed pitcher in the Peach State. Sharman has already made a verbal commitment to the University of Georgia. In the game, Sharman used his full arsenal including a fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. His fastball sat in the low 90s and topped out at 94 mph with plus spin rate. His changeup might be his best secondary pitch. It could be an excellent swing-and-miss pitch against left-handed batters. He also threw a bunch of strikes and rarely put himself in bad counts. Sharman could be an interesting prospect to watch for the 2026 MLB Draft. View full article

Ryan Weathers pitched well through the first three innings on Wednesday night before the Dodgers rallied for five runs in the fourth. Miami's offense didn't get going until it was already too late for a comeback. The Miami Marlins could not build off of their offensive explosion on Tuesday night. They lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, 8-4, to even the series. Left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers made his first start since returning from the 60-day IL due to a left index finger strain. Weathers pitched well early on, retiring 10 of his first 12 batters faced and throwing just as hard as he had been prior to his injury (96.0 mph average velocity on his four-seam fastball). However, Weathers got hit hard in the top of the fourth inning. Trailing 1-0 entering the inning, he allowed five more to score via a two-run home run by Tommy Edman and a three-run home run by Kiké Hernández. Overall, Weathers threw 4 ⅓ innings pitched, allowing eight hits, six runs (five earned), no walks and five strikeouts. Relief pitcher Xzavion Curry came in relief for Weathers and pitched well in his outing. Curry pitched 2 ⅔ innings, allowing no hits, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts. Mike Baumann also threw well, striking out two batters, including Shohei Ohtani in his final at-bat of the game. The Marlins offense struggled against Dodgers starting pitcher Landon Knack, but the bats started to wake up against their bullpen. Second baseman Otto Lopez went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Leadoff hitter Xavier Edwards continues to produce at the top of Miami’s lineup. Edwards went 1-for-5 with a single through the right side and two stolen bases, his 29th and 30th steals of the season. Nick Fortes was one of Miami’s best run-producers in the loss. Fortes went 1-for-2 with a single and two RBIs on sacrifice flies. What’s next? The Marlins will take on the Dodgers in a rubber match to decide the series on Thursday afternoon. Ohtani enters the game with 48 home runs and 49 stolen bases. Right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera will be on the mound for the Marlins. He has a 3.56 ERA at loanDepot park this season (compared to a 5.71 ERA on the road). Veteran right-hander Jack Flaherty gets the start for the Dodgers. Flaherty has pitched well all season long, especially since being dealt by the Detroit Tigers to the Dodgers at the MLB trade deadline. He has posted a 12-7 record with a 3.04 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 184 strikeouts in 151 innings pitched. The first pitch of the Dodgers-Marlins series finale is at 4:40 pm EST. View full article

Adam Oller pitched well through five innings, but Philadelphia scored four runs in the sixth to break the game open. Following their win, the Phillies are now tied with the Dodgers for MLB's highest winning percentage. MIAMI—The Miami Marlins opened a four-game home series Thursday night versus the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia took the lead quickly and never gave it up in defeating the Fish, 5-2. Right-handed pitcher Adam Oller got the start and loss for the Marlins. Oller pitched 5 ⅓ innings allowing five hits, four runs, five walks, and six strikeouts. The 29-year-old righty performed better than his final line suggests. Two of the walks he allowed came on pitches that were clearly in the strike zone, but home plate umpire David Rackley saw them differently. Aside from a Bryson Stott bloop single in the top of the first inning, Oller held the Phillies scoreless until he ran out of gas in the sixth. Stott homered off Oller to extend the lead to 2-0. The next two batters also reached base, and they would come around to score against Anthony Veneziano, the left-handed reliever who was making his Marlins debut. The Marlins offense struggled to produce, especially early in the ballgame. Phillies All-Star pitcher Ranger Suárez had the Marlins off balance, forcing weak contact and whiffs. Suárez got roughed up when he previously faced this club earlier in the season, but he got his revenge by shoving five scoreless frames. Catcher Nick Fortes continues to hit the ball in the second half of the season. Fortes went 2-for-2 with two base knocks and a walk. He was in discomfort after hustling to first base on his infield single in the bottom of the seventh. After a brief delay, he stayed in the game. Coming off the bench, Griffin Conine recorded his first hit at loanDepot park with a double down the left field line. Jesús Sánchez would later drive him in with an RBI single to center field. Miami’s only other run came on a throwing error, which scored Jake Burger from second base. The Phillies improved their record to 84-56, matching the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best mark in baseball. With this loss combined, the Marlins are only a half-game clear of the Colorado Rockies for worst record in the National League. What’s next? The Marlins will look to rebound on Friday night, but will be facing one of the best pitchers in MLB. Two-time All-Star and 2024 NL Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler will get the start for the Phillies. In his fifth season with the Phillies, Wheeler has a 13-6 record with a 2.63 ERA, NL-best 0.98 WHIP, and 183 strikeouts in 167 ⅔ innings pitched. Right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera will be on the mound for the Marlins. Cabrera has struggled this season as he has posted a 3-6 record with a 5.33 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and a 5.0 BB/9. The first pitch for Friday's matchup is at 7:10 pm EST. Watch on Bally Sports Florida. View full article

Norby provided one of Miami's few highlights on Saturday during a blowout win for the visiting Cubs. MIAMI, FL—Valente Bellozo struggled on the mound and the relievers behind him weren't any better as the Miami Marlins were routed by the Chicago Cubs, 14-2. The rookie right-handed pitcher got the start on Saturday. His seventh outing at the major league level was the worst of his young MLB career. Bellozo struggled with command, frequently falling behind in the count or leaving pitches over the heart of the plate. Bellozo threw 4 ⅔ innings, his first time not completing at least five. He allowed seven hits, three home runs, five runs, a career-high five walks (one was intentional) and one strikeout. Bellozo previously had only eight walks through his first 33 innings pitched on the season. Bellozo's velocity was even lower than usual, peaking at 89.9 mph. Despite the poor results this time around, his 3.35 ERA overall is still impressive for an unheralded prospect. The Marlins offense struggled to put runs on the board as they scored two runs on four hits against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga. Rookie infielder Connor Norby was one of the view bright spots for the Miami lineup in Saturday’s loss. Norby hit his first home run as a Marlin with a solo bomb to center field. Norby is slashing .300/.333/.600 through five games in a Marlins uniform with at least one hit in each contest. Outfielder David Hensley also hit his first home run of the year with a solo blast to dead center. Ali Sánchez and Cristian Pache were the other two Marlins hitters to record a hit in the game. With the game already out of reach, Vidal Bruján made his pitching debut in the ninth inning. What’s next? The Marlins will look to avoid the sweep and snap their five-game losing streak against the Cubs on Sunday afternoon. Sidelined on Saturday by lower back discomfort, shortstop Xavier Edwards will swing a bat and hope to begin progressing toward a return to game action. Right-handed pitcher Adam Oller will be on the mound for the Marlins, his second start with the club. The Chicago Cubs will hand the ball to right-handed pitcher Javier Assad. The 27-year-old hurler has pitched well this season for the Cubs. He has a 6-3 record with a 3.11 ERA and 99 strikeouts through 113 innings pitched. The first pitch for the series finale is at 1:40 pm EST. View full article

The Miami Marlins offense had plenty of opportunities to take the lead, but failed to do so, ultimately losing to the Cincinnati Reds in extra innings. MIAMI, FL—Aiming to get the series split on Thursday night, the Miami Marlins had to go through All-Star right-hander Hunter Greene. Despite putting together some quality at-bats against him and enjoying clutch performances from most of their relievers, they lost to the Cincinnati Reds in extra innings, 10-4. This was the first series loss for the Marlins since the MLB All-Star break. The Marlins offense had a quiet night except for a three-run fourth inning. The Marlins loaded the bases with no outs before a Derek Hill RBI fielder’s choice. Vidal Bruján and Jhonny Pereda would drive in the other two runs with RBI singles. The main issue was their combined 2-for-14 production with runners in scoring position. Right-handed pitcher Kyle Tyler got the start for the Marlins. Tyler struggled early in his outing giving up two runs in the first and another in the third. Tyler threw 4 ⅓ innings allowing five hits, three runs, two walks, and three strikeouts. Relief pitcher Jesus Tinoco came in for Tyler, who had allowed two runners on base with one out. Tinoco was able to work around the traffic with a Tyler Stephenson strikeout and TJ Friedl fly out to center field. He threw 1 ⅓ innings allowing one hit, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout. Declan Cronin replaced Tinoco in the top of the sixth with two outs and a runner on second. Cronin got Noelvi Marte to ground out to Xavier Edwards at shortstop. Southpaw reliever Andrew Nardi came in relief for the seventh and dominated. Nardi had a clean inning and struck out all three batters faced. In the eighth inning, Miami handed the ball to Anthony Bender. After giving up a leadoff single to Tyler Stephenson, Bender retired the next three batters and kept the ballgame tied at three. Calvin Faucher pitched in the ninth and had a quick 1-2-3 inning. Eventually, the Fish ran out of trustworthy arms to use. Emmanuel Ramirez pitched in the tenth inning and was awful in his short relief outing. Making his job more difficult, a well-located 3-2 pitch was called a ball to force in Cincinnati's go-ahead run. Ramirez didn’t record a single out and allowed seven runs (five earned) on three hits, two walks, and one hit by pitch; in his previous 11 appearances as a big leaguer, he had allowed only four runs. Right-hander Darren McCaughan finished the tenth inning, though the damage had already been done. Z0daMDRfWGw0TUFRPT1fVkFNSFZWTUNWUVFBRHdZSFVBQUFWRlVGQUFOVFZsWUFVUWNIQVFKWFVBTlNVd01E.mp4 Xavier Edwards went 2-for-5 in his first game after losing his 23-game on-base streak. Jhonny Pereda went 2-for-4, collecting his first two hits and first RBI of his MLB career. What’s next? The Marlins will host the San Diego Padres for a three-game weekend series. Right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera will be on the mound for the Marlins. Cabrera pitched well in his last outing against the Atlanta Braves. He pitched five innings allowing three hits, no runs, two walks, and eight strikeouts. Veteran left-handed pitcher Martin Pérez will get the start for the Padres. Pérez was traded from the Pirates to the Padres at the MLB trade deadline. In his first start, he threw six innings allowing three hits, one run, no walks, and seven strikeouts. The first pitch for the series opener is at 7:10 pm EST. View full article

The fourth and final Miami Marlins mock draft is here. Read below to see which prospects the Marlins may draft through the first six rounds. We're almost there. The 2024 MLB Draft gets underway on Sunday night. After finishing the 2023 season with an 84-78 record (third in the NL East), the Miami Marlins hold the 16th overall pick and will have mid-round picks in each subsequent round minus the compensation and competitive balance rounds. Miami's amateur scouting department is being led by Frankie Piliere for the first time. “We are looking at layers of impact talent wherever that comes in,” Piliere said earlier this week, per the Miami Herald. "We are considering everything.” Catch up on the previous three versions of our mock draft here, here and here. This time, we’ll simulate six rounds: the 16th, 56th, 70th, 92nd, 122nd, 155th and 184th overall selections. Here is the Miami Marlins 2024 MLB Mock Draft 4.0. First Round (16th overall)—Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State Slot value: $4,704,700 With the sixteenth pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman Cam Smith. The Marlins draft one of the top draft-eligible sophomores in this draft class who is coming off a monster 2024 season. At the plate, Smith has plus hitting tools and has just started to tap into his raw power. Smith’s plate approach has vastly improved since his freshman season and he also raked in the Cape Cod League. Defensively, he has a good glove with a plus arm. Smith projects as a good defensive third baseman at the next level. On the season, Smith slashed .387/.488/.654 with 104 hits, 22 doubles, 16 home runs, 57 RBIs, four stolen bases, 44 walks, and a 1.142 OPS. Smith was named Third Team All-American on D1 Baseball. Smith was also named Second Team All-ACC last season. If Smith isn’t available, Miami could also target other college hitters like Seaver King (Wake Forest), Ryan Waldschmidt (Kentucky) and Carson Benge (Oklahoma State). Second Round (56th overall)—Chris Levonas, RHP, Christian Brothers HS (NJ) Slot value: $1,603,400 With the 56th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select left-handed pitcher Dasan Hill. The Marlins grab one of the best right-handed high school pitching prospects in this draft class. On Perfect Game, Levonas is the 41st-ranked prospect and the ninth-ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. He’s the second-ranked prospect and #1 right-handed pitcher in New Jersey. On MLB Pipeline, Levonas is the 59th-ranked prospect and the fifteenth-ranked right-handed pitcher in this draft class. On the mound, Levonas possesses a four-pitch mix, including his fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. His fastball and slider are both plus pitches. Levonas’ fastball sits in the mid-90s and tops out at 97 mph. His slider has excellent movement with a high spin rate. His curveball is very effective but he is still developing his changeup. He has drawn comparisons to former first-round pick Chase Petty. Levonas is signed to play college baseball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Competitive Balance Round B (70th overall)—Dylan Dreiling, OF, Tennessee Slot value: $1,139,100 With the 70th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Dylan Dreiling. The Marlins grab another draft-eligible sophomore who’s coming off a monster year and helped lead Tennessee to their first national championship. During the 2024 season, Dreiling was one of the best hitters in a loaded Tennessee lineup. Dreiling slashed .342/.459/.715 with 84 hits, 19 doubles, two triples, 23 home runs, 75 RBIs, 53 walks, and a 1.174 OPS. He was named a Third Team All-American and was also named First Team All-SEC. At the plate, Dreiling has good hit and power tools. He showed at Tennessee that he can consistently barrel balls to all fields and draw a bunch of walks. He improved a ton from his freshman season against left-handed pitchers. He was named the Most Outstanding Player in the College World Series. Third Round (92nd overall)—Mason Russell, LHP, Casteel HS (AZ) Slot value: $800,800 With the 92nd pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select left-handed pitcher Mason Russell. The Marlins grab another prep pitching prospect. On Perfect Game, Russell is the 39th-ranked prospect and the sixth-ranked left-handed pitcher in the country. He’s also the third-ranked prospect and the second-ranked left-handed pitcher in Arizona. On the mound, Russell possesses a four-pitch mix including his fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. His fastball and curveball are his best two pitches. The fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out at 95 mph. His curveball moves like a 12-6 curveball with a plus spin rate. His slider might also be considered a cutter and he is still developing his changeup. Russell is signed to play college baseball for the University of Arizona. Fourth Round (122nd overall)— Austin Overn, OF, USC Slot value: $589,000 With the 122nd pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Austin Overn. The Marlins grab one of the best and fastest athletes in this draft class who also plays elite defense. During the 2024 college season, Overn had a quiet year playing for the USC Trojans. He slashed .270/.349/.461 with 65 hits, twelve doubles, five triples, eight home runs, 32 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and a .810 OPS. Overn was named to the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team. However, his production in the Cape Cod League this summer stands out. Through 21 games, Overn is slashing .333/.429/.564 with 26 hits, five doubles, two triples, three home runs, 12 RBIs, seven stolen bases and a .993 OPS. Overn is a contact hitter with very little power who relies on his speed (75 grade, per MLB Pipeline). He projects as a center fielder at the next level. Fifth Round (155th overall)— Chris Cortez, RHP, Texas A&M Slot value: $427,000 With the 155th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Chris Cortez, one of the best relief pitchers in college baseball. Cortez is coming off his best season pitching for the Texas A&M Aggies. In 2024, Cortez made 25 appearances and three starts. He posted a 10-3 record with a 2.79 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 14.2 K/9, and struck out 102 batters in 64 ⅔ innings pitched. Cortez was named Third Team All-American on D1 Baseball. On the mound, Cortez only throws his fastball and slider. His fastball regularly sits in the upper 90s and has touched 101 mph with arm-side movement and sink. His slider tunnels very well with his fastball and moves like a sweeper. Sixth Round (184th overall)— Ryne Guida, 1B/DH, FIU Slot value: $331,300 With the 155th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select first baseman/DH Ryne Guida. The Marlins select a local college senior to save some slot value money for some of their earlier picks. Originally from Broward county, Guida played two seasons for the FIU Panthers. Guida was one of the best hitters for the Panthers during his time at FIU. During the 2024 season, he slashed .335/.420/.536 with 75 hits, 18 doubles, nine home runs, 56 RBIs and a .956 OPS. Guida was named First Team All-Conference USA as a DH. Guida is an excellent hitter who consistently makes loud contact, works counts and drives the ball to all fields. While he doesn’t provide much speed or defense, Guida is a polished hitter who will sign well under slot value since he’s a college senior. View full article

With the 2024 MLB Draft just days away, here are my top five prospects for the Miami Marlins to target with the 16th overall pick. The Miami Marlins will have the sixteenth overall pick in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Their first selection under the new Peter Bendix-led regime, they need to get this decision right to assist with their organizational rebuild. With the draft rapidly approaching, it has become clearer which of the top prospects are likely to be off the board by the time Miami is on the clock. Let's focus on five realistically available players worth considering. The Marlins are expected to select from a cluster of college hitters who have mid-first round projections. However, that's what pre-draft rumors also indicated last year and Miami surprised everyone with the selection of prep pitching prospect Noble Meyer. Here are the top draft-eligible prospects for the Marlins to target. 1. Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State smith 45b38173-4034cdd1-a938792d-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 The Marlins need to add impact bats in their farm system and Cam Smith might be the best option available. The Florida State third baseman has been one of the most productive hitters in college baseball and still has room for development. During the 2024 season, Smith was one of the best third basemen in college baseball. He slashed .387/.488/.654 with 104 hits, 22 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs, 57 RBIs, 44 walks, and a 1.142 OPS. Smith was also named a Third Team All-American on D1 Baseball. At the plate, Smith has improved his plate approach and fixed his swing-and-miss issues he had in his freshman season. Smith consistently makes loud contact and can drive the ball deep to all fields. He’s also a good defensive third baseman with one of the better arms in this draft class. Smith has an excellent hit tool and still has more power left in the tank. He also impressed last summer in the Cape Cod League. He slashed .347/.406/.575 with 58 hits, twelve doubles, four triples, six home runs, 26 RBIs, and a .981 OPS. Smith was named the Most Outstanding Pro Prospect in Cape Cod. 2. Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee moore 48dd8195-58fb8f68-37fb356c-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Another infielder who is coming off a monster 2024 season is Tennessee’s second baseman, Christian Moore. The Brooklyn native capped off his collegiate career with an incredible season and helped lead the Tennessee Volunteers to their first NCAA championship. During the 2024 season, Moore shined and stood in the most competitive conference in college baseball. Moore slashed .375/.451/.797 with 111 hits, 19 doubles, two triples, 34 home runs, 74 RBIs, 38 walks, and a 1.248 OPS. Moore was also named a consensus First Team All-American. At the plate, there’s plenty to like about Moore. He’s an aggressive hitter who’s looking to do damage. His bat speed and approach allow him to consistently barrel balls to all fields. While his power potential is impressive, he does need to work on not chasing pitches out of the zone and shortening his swing when behind in the count. Scouts projects Moore to be a second baseman at the next level, but he is athletic enough to play center field if needed. 3. James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State eaba6c84-c4ac948a-a0e77497-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Another Florida State player who will be a first-round selection on Sunday night is outfielder James Tibbs III. The powerful left-handed hitting outfielder had three excellent seasons playing for the Seminoles. During the 2024 season. Tibbs posted a career season and led the Seminoles to another trip to the College World Series. Tibbs slashed .363/.488/.777 with 91 hits, 18 doubles, 28 home runs, 95 RBIs, 58 walks, and a team-high 1.264 OPS. He was named the ACC Player of the Year and a unanimous First Team All-American. Tibbs is a smart, powerful hitter who has cut down on his strikeouts and improved his walk rate in each of his three seasons at FSU. Tibbs is known to hunt and punish the fastball, but does have a history of struggling with secondary pitches. He is a solid outfielder and projects to play left field due to his below-average speed. Tibbs is one of the most decorated hitters in Florida State’s history, a program that has produced plenty of MLB standouts through the years. Tibbs also raked in Cape Cod. He slashed .303/.390/.472 with 43 hits, six doubles, six home runs, 25 RBIs, and a .862 OPS. 4. Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina vance 01ff9bfb-62815f65-82bf671f-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Another ACC outfielder who could be on the Marlins’ radar with the sixteenth overall pick is North Carolina’s Vance Honeycutt. The Tar Heels center fielder might have the biggest upside in this draft class. In the 2024 season, Honeycutt had an excellent junior season and rebounded nicely after struggling at the plate as a sophomore. Honeycutt slashed .318/.410/.714 with 81 hits, thirteen doubles, two triples, 28 home runs, 70 RBIs, 28 stolen bases, and a 1.124 OPS. Honeycutt broke the home run record in North Carolina’s history and became the first two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year in the conference’s history. Watching Honeycutt play, he passes the eye test with flying colors. He’s a very toolsy prospect who has produced at a high level and led the Tar Heels to the College World Series. He’s very exciting to watch and has superstar potential. However, the underlying data raises some serious concerns. Honeycutt's strikeout rate is one of the highest in his draft class, he’s a pull-happy hitter and chases pitches out of the zone. If the Marlins believe they have the right people in their player development department, Honeycutt might be worth the risk. He'll need help to unlock his full potential in the pros. 5. Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State janek be54ddc9-7bd1b53b-55ea16bf-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 The final prospect on the 2024 Miami Marlins draft board was arguably the best Group of 5 player in college baseball. Walke Janek is an excellent catching prospect who fills a major need for the Marlins and should be able to sign under slot value. During the 2024 season, Janek built off his productive sophomore season with an excellent junior season. Janek slashed .368/.480/.714 with 80 hits, fifteen doubles, five triples, 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, 40 walks, and a 1.185 OPS. Janek was named a First Team All-American on D1 Baseball. He was also the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. At the plate, Janek possesses elite bat speed and good strength to generate plus power potential. Janek could still add to his frame to tap more into his raw power and translate it to game power. His plate approach improved from last season, though he still needs to lower his chase rate and continue to improve on driving the ball to all fields. Behind the plate, Janek shines and helps make him a first-round prospect. He might have the best arm behind the dish in this draft class. He also receives the ball well and controls the run game beautifully. Janek won the Buster Posey Award, which goes to college baseball's top catcher. Janek could be a good underslot option for the Fish if they are looking to save some dollars to use later in the draft. View full article

Simulating who the Marlins could select with their first six picks in the upcoming draft. The 2024 MLB Draft is only a week away, beginning on Sunday, July 14. After finishing the 2023 season with an 84-78 record (third in the NL East), the Miami Marlins hold the 16th overall pick and will have the 16th pick in each subsequent round minus the compensation and competitive balance rounds. Miami's amateur scouting department is being led by Frankie Piliere for the first time. In case you missed them, here are version 1.0 and version 2.0 of our mock draft. This time, we’ll simulate five rounds—the 16th, 56th, 70th, 92nd, 122nd and 155th overall selections—and will continue to expand the exercise as the draft date approaches. Here is the Miami Marlins 2024 MLB Mock Draft 3.0. First Round (16th overall)—Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State Slot value: $4,704,700 With the sixteenth pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman Cam Smith. The Marlins draft one of the top draft-eligible sophomores in this class. Smith is coming off a monster 2024 season. At the plate, he has plus hitting tools and has just started to tap into his raw power. Smith’s plate approach has vastly improved since his freshman season and he also raked in the Cape Cod League. Defensively, Smith is a good glove with a plus arm. He projects as a good defensive third baseman at the next level. On the season, Smith slashed .387/.488/.654 with 104 hits, 22 doubles, 16 home runs, 57 RBIs, four stolen bases, 44 walks, and a 1.142 OPS. Smith was named Third Team All-American on D1 Baseball. Smith was also named Second Team All-ACC last season. Second Round (56th overall)—Dasan Hill, LHP, Grapevine HS (TX) Slot value: $1,603,400 With the 56th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select left-handed pitcher Dasan Hill. The Marlins grab one of the best southpaw high school pitching prospects in this draft class. He's signed to play college baseball at Dallas Baptist University. On Perfect Game, Dasan Hill is the 47th-ranked prospect and the eighth-ranked left-handed pitcher in the country. He’s the sixth-ranked prospect and #1 left-handed pitcher in the Lone Star State. On MLB Pipeline, Hill is the 52nd-ranked prospect and the sixth-ranked left-handed pitcher in this draft class. On the mound, Hill possesses a four-pitch mix, which includes a fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. Hill’s fastball velocity has jumped a couple of miles per hour in his senior year. He sits in the low 90s and tops out at 96 mph. Hill has plus feel with his breaking pitches, especially his slider with a high spin rate. His changeup shows some promise and projects well with his long, skinny frame. Competitive Balance Round B (70th overall)—Kyle DeBarge, SS, Louisiana Slot value: $1,139,100 With the 70th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select shortstop Kyle DeBarge. The Louisiana shortstop is an excellent fielder with Gold Glove potential. During the 2024 season, DeBarge had an incredible breakout season and led the Ragin’ Cajun offense. DeBarge slashed 356/.418/.699 with 91 hits, 19 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs, 72 RBIs, ten stolen bases, 24 walks, and a 1.117 OPS. He was named the Sun Belt Player of the Team and First Team All-American on D1 Baseball, Baseball America, and NCWBA. At the plate, DeBarge is a good contact hitter who rarely chases out of the zone. His power numbers jumped a bunch compared to his first two seasons at Louisiana. DeBarge also has good speed and plays excellent defense. Third Round (92nd overall)—Corey Collins, 1B, Georgia Slot value: $800,800 With the 92nd pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select first baseman Corey Collins. The Marlins reach in the third round for a senior infielder who should sign below slot value. Overshadowed by teammate and Golden Spikes Award winner Charlie Condon, Collins had an excellent 2024 season for the Georgia Bulldogs as well. Collins slashed .354/.574/.772 with 56 hits, six doubles, 20 home runs, 58 RBIs, 56 walks, and a 1.346 OPS. Collins was also named Second Team All-American on Baseball America. Collins is a pull-happy hitter, but made gains with his plate approach last season. His on-base percentage was somewhat inflated due to being hit by 28 pitches in 52 games. He crushes the fastball and also improved on reading spin and hitting breaking pitches. Collins could play left or right field at the next level. Fourth Round (122nd overall)— Harrison Didawick, OF, Virginia Slot value: $589,000 With the 122nd pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Harrison Didawick. The Marlins grab another draft-eligible sophomore with the selection of Didawick. During the 2024 season, Didawick had a breakout campaign for Virginia and helped lead the Cavaliers to the College World Series. Didawick slashed .297/.414/.642 with 70 hits, thirteen doubles, 23 home runs, 68 RBIs, fourteen stolen bases, and a 1.056 OPS. At the plate, Didawick has plenty of raw power and has shown his ability to drive the ball to all fields. Most of Didawick’s power is to his pull side and he struggles against breaking pitches. He is a good defensive outfielder with good speed for a 6'4" player. Some scouts believe he can develop into a center fielder at the next level (he primarily played LF in college). Fifth Round (155th overall)— Cade Townsend, RHP, Santa Margarita Catholic (CA) Slot value: $427,000 With the 155th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Cade Townsend. The Marlins grab another high school pitching prospect and get one from the West Coast. Cade Townsend is a 6’1”, 185-pound right-hander out of Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. On Perfect Game, Townsend is the 110th-ranked prospect and the 28th-ranked righty in the country. He’s also the thirteenth-ranked prospect and fourth-ranked right-handed pitcher out of California. Townsend is signed to play college baseball for the Ole Miss Rebels. On the mound, Townsend's arsenal includes a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. His fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out at 94 mph. The curveball is Townsend’s best pitch, which has a high spin rate and generates lots of swing-and-miss. Townsend does need to develop some feel with his slider and changeup. His control also needs refinement, but his work ethic will help him develop into a more complete pitcher at the next level. View full article

What if the Miami Marlins reached for a high school prospect with the 16th overall pick to save some money for the other rounds of the draft? Overview Position: SS Height: 6’2″ Weight: 180 pounds School: Oxford HS (AL) Commitment: Alabama Carter Johnson is a 6’2”, 180-pound shortstop out of Oxford High School in Oxford, Alabama. The 2024 draft class has many top-tier collegiate power hitters and that seems to be the preferred demographic for the Marlins with their first-round pick. However, if some of their top targets are off the board, Miami could pivot and sign a high school player to an underslot deal instead. That brings us to Johnson. On MLB Pipeline, Johnson is the 40th-ranked prospect and the ninth-ranked shortstop in the 2024 draft class. On Perfect Game, Johnson is the 19th-ranked prospect and the fifth-ranked shortstop in the country. He’s also the #1 prospect in Alabama. Johnson is signed to play college baseball for the Alabama Crimson Tide. At the plate, Johnson is a well-rounded prospect who has developed into an excellent hitter. Johnson has a line-drive approach and can drive the ball to all fields. He has advanced plate discipline with plus power, mostly to his pull side. Defensively, Johnson has plus hands and a good arm, but most scouts view him as a third baseman at the next level. He also has above average speed. Strengths Advanced plate discipline Drives the ball to all fields 20+ home run projection Plus glove Weaknesses Lacks present power Might move to third base at the next level Needs to work on reading spin Pro Comparison: Gunnar Henderson Projection: First two rounds pick (34th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of July 6) Bottom Line I expect the Marlins to draft a college hitter in the first round, but that could require a signing bonus equivalent to the No. 16 pick's full slot value of $4,704,700. Selecting Johnson should be less expensive than that. If the team feels his long-term projection is similar to other candidates remaining on the board, they might decide to save a higher percentage of their bonus pool for signing players in the later rounds. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

The Marlins offense jumped on Brayan Bello in the first inning. but couldn't build upon that for the rest of the game. Meanwhile, Boston totaled 12 hits and seven walks, putting runners on base in eight of nine innings. The Miami Marlins dropped their third consecutive game on Wednesday night. The Miami offense struggled to put runs on the board and couldn’t get the clutch hits with runners in scoring position. The Boston Red Sox continue to have their number historically, having beaten the Fish in 33 of their 49 all-time meetings. Left-handed pitcher Trevor Rogers got the start for the Marlins. He had lasted at least five innings in each of his previous six starts, but the 2021 All-Star didn’t last very long this time around. Rogers pitched three innings while averaging 28 pitches per inning, allowing five hits, two runs, three walks, and six strikeouts. Rogers picked up his ninth loss on the season, tied for the second-highest total in the majors. 60f772b4-8f5156bb-b84b341d-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Right-handed relief pitcher Huascar Brazoban came in relief for Rogers. Brazoban was excellent out of the bullpen. He pitched three innings allowing three hits, no runs, no walks, and three strikeouts. Right-handed pitcher Calvin Faucher came in relief and got in trouble by walking batters. He led off the inning walking the first two batters and allowing an infield single to load the bases. Faucher was able to get an out before being pulled from the game. He finished with ⅓ of an inning allowing one hit, one run, and two walks. Left-hander Andrew Nardi replaced Faucher and minimized the damage in the seventh. Yoshida grounded out to third, which allowed a run score. Nardi then punched out Dom Smith. Anthony Bender pitched the eighth and blanked the Boston offense. That was the only 1-2-3 inning for the Marlins pitching staff all night. Heading into the ninth, the Marlins handed the ball to rookie right-handed pitcher Anthony Maldonado. The Bethune-Cookman product was called up earlier today. Maldonado immediately got in trouble as Tyler O’Neill led off the inning with a single. Rafael Devers jumped on a first-pitch slider for an RBI triple down the right field line. Things only got worse after a base-clearing double by Ceddanne Rafaela broke the game open, 7-1. Rafaela has six runs batted in during the series, outscoring the Marlins all by himself. 5320c635-4e1e952e-985df999-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Maldonado had allowed five earned runs in the 10 games he pitched during his previous MLB stint. He was charged with four in this outing alone. The Marlins offense jumped on Boston’s starting pitcher, Brayan Bello, early with three hits and a run scored in the first. Miami would score only one other run in the ballgame in the bottom of the ninth when the outcome was already determined. Jesús Sánchez performed very well in Wednesday’s loss. Sánchez went 3-for-4 including an RBI single. Left fielder Bryan De La Cruz went 1-for-3 with a single and walk. The Marlins offense had another rough game due to their lack of production with runners in scoring position. Miami went 1-for-9 in the ballgame with runners in scoring position. The Red Sox went 5-for-20. What’s next? The Miami Marlins will complete their home series versus the Boston Red Sox with an afternoon game on the Fourth of July. Right-handed pitcher Kyle Tyler is scheduled to be the starting pitcher for the Marlins. The Boston Red Sox will have right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta on the mound for the series finale. Pivetta has posted a 4-5 record this season with a 4.52 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts in 61 ⅔ innings pitched. He's made four career appearances at loanDepot park, all as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2017-2019. The first pitch is at 1:10 pm EST on Bally Sports Florida. View full article

The Miami Marlins are expected to take a college bat with their first-round pick, but there's always a slight chance Miami takes a pitcher. Jurrangelo Cijntje might be the best arm available with the 16th overall pick, and he's certainly the most unique one. Overview Position: SHP Height: 5'11″ Weight: 200 pounds School: Mississippi State Jurrangelo Cijntje is a 5’11”, 200-pound pitcher who plays for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Cijntje is one of the most unique baseball prospects since he’s an ambidextrous pitcher. Coming out of high school, Jurrangelo Cijntje was one of the top high school prospects in his class. On Perfect Game, Cijntje was the 34th-ranked prospect and the #1 both-handed pitcher in the country. He was also the ninth-ranked prospect in Florida and was a Perfect Game All-American. Cijntje was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, but honored his commitment to Mississippi State. Cijntje struggled as a freshman in Mississippi State’s weekend rotation. He posted a 3-5 record with an 8.10 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 11.3 K/9, and 63 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. As a sophomore, Cijntje had a breakout season and turned himself into a first-round draft prospect. Cijntje posted a 8-2 record in sixteen starts to go along with a 3.67 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 11.2 K/9/. 3.0 BB/9, and 113 strikeouts in 90 ⅔ innings pitched. Cijntje was also named a Second Team All-American. On the mound, Cijntje possesses a three-pitch mix which includes a fastball, slider, and changeup. As a right-handed pitcher, Cijntje’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and tops out at 98 mph. He also has a plus slider and has a good feel for his changeup. As a left-hander, Cijntje’s velocity and control both drop a little bit. His fastball sits in the low 90s and peaks at 94 mph. He also works from a low slot and his slider is more of a sweeper from the left side. Strengths Ambidextrous Power fastball Mixes his pitches well Pitched well against SEC competition Weaknesses Left-handed fastball doesn’t miss many bats Average-to-below average control Scouts might ask him to be a right-handed pitcher only Pro Comparison: Marcus Stroman (when throwing righty) Projection: Top 25 pick (38th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of July 1) Bottom Line The Marlins desperately need to add more hitters to their farm system. However, they have done a good job of drafting and developing pitching prospects. They could lean into that organizational strength in the first round and still load up on hitting talent in later rounds. Jurrangelo Cijntje is a hometown prospect who played for Champagnat Catholic School and pitched for Curacao in the Little League World Series. If Cijntje improves as a left-handed pitcher, he could turn into a middle-of-the-rotation type arm. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

Simulating who the Marlins could select with their first five picks in the upcoming draft. The 2024 MLB Draft is only a couple weeks away, beginning on Sunday, July 14. After finishing the 2023 season with an 84-78 record (third in the NL East), the Miami Marlins hold the 16th overall pick and will have the 16th pick in each subsequent round minus the compensation and competitive balance rounds. Miami's amateur scouting department is being led by Frankie Piliere for the first time. Following up on our first Marlins mock draft, we’ll simulate four rounds—the 16th, 56th, 70th, 92nd, and 122nd overall selections—and will continue to expand the exercise as the draft date approaches. Here is the Miami Marlins 2024 MLB Mock Draft 2.0. First Round (16th overall)—Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest With the sixteenth pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman and outfielder Seaver King. Under the new regime, the Marlins use their first pick on one of the top collegiate players in the country. The former Division II All-American was one of the top players available in the Transfer Portal last year and he signed with Wake Forest. During his junior season, King slashed .308/.377/.577 with 78 hits, fourteen doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 64 RBIs, eleven stolen bases, 34 walks, and a .954 OPS. King was named Third Team All-ACC. King is 12th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 28. Second Round (56th overall)—PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville HS (SC) With the 56th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder PJ Morlando. The Marlins grab one of the most talented high school prospects in this draft class. On Perfect Game, Morlando is the #1 high school prospect in the country. On MLB Pipeline, Morlando is the 57th-ranked prospect in the 2024 draft class. During his high school career, Morlando won the High School Home Run Derby and was named MVP of the High School All-American Game. Morlando has a good plate approach and can work counts and draw walks. Morlando’s raw power hasn’t translated into games yet and he does get pull-happy at times. Morlando is 37th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 28. Competitive Balance Round B (70th overall)—Tristan Smith, LHP, Clemson With the 70th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select left-handed pitcher Tristan Smith. The Marlins grab their first pitcher in this draft class and select the ace pitcher for the Clemson Tigers Tristan Smith is one of the top southpaw pitchers in this draft class. Smith is a 6’2”, 195-pound left-hander out of Clemson. During the 2024 season, Smith posted a 2-1 record in twelve starts. He posted a 4.47 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, a .250 opponent batting average, and 66 strikeouts in 50 ⅓ innings pitched. On the mound, Smith possesses a three-pitch mix which includes his fastball, slider, and changeup. Smith’s fastball sits 91-94 mph and tops out at 96 mph. His slider is his best pitch—sitting in the low 80s, it generates a high spin rate. Smith also has a good feel for his changeup which gets swing-and-miss against both right-handed and left-handed batters. Smith is 133rd on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 28. Third Round (92nd overall)—Josh Kuroda-Grauer, SS, Rutgers With the 92nd pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer. The Marlins grab one of the best contact hitters in all of college baseball who's coming off an outstanding junior season. During the 2024 season, Kuroda-Grauer played and started in 53 games. He slashed .428/.492/.590 with 95 hits, 19 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 45 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, 23 walks, and a 1.082 OPS. Kuroda-Grauer was named the 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year. He finished second nationally in batting average just behind the Golden Spikes Award winner, Charlie Condon. Kuroda-Grauer has some really interesting tools that could make him into a quality MLB player. He also rarely strikes out and he only punched out 18 times in 258 plate appearances (7.0 K%). Kuroda-Grauer is 83rd on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 28. Fourth Round (122nd overall)— Nick Brink, RHP, Portland With the 122nd pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Nick Brink. The Marlins grab a senior right-handed pitcher in order to try to save some bonus pool money. During the 2024 season, Brink started in fifteen games and posted a 10-4 record. He had a 3.61 ERA, two complete games, one shutout, 130 strikeouts, and 24 walks in 99 ⅔ innings pitched. He also posted a 1.08 WHIP, 11.7 K/9, and a 2.1 BB/9. He was named a Second Team NCBWA All-American. On the mound, Brink possesses a four-pitch mix which includes a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. Brink’s fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out at 95 mph with good command. Brink has a good feel for both his breaking pitches. However, his best pitch is his changeup which sits at 81-85 mph and generates swing-and-miss. View full article

Vance Honeycutt was one of the best players in college baseball this season. His power, glove, and speed are at an elite level, but his hit tool and plate approach worries some scouts. Could the Marlins take a chance and draft Honeycutt with the 16th overall pick? Overview Position: OF Height: 6’3″ Weight: 205 pounds School: North Carolina Vance Honeycutt is a 6’3”, 205-pound outfielder who plays for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Honeycutt has one of the highest ceilings in the 2024 MLB Draft class, but he has some things he needs to work on in order to realize his full potential. Coming out of high school, Honeycutt was one of the best high school prospects in North Carolina. On Perfect Game, Honeycutt was the 17th-ranked prospect and the fifth-ranked infielder in North Carolina. Honeycutt was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. However, he didn’t sign and honored his commitment to UNC. During his freshman season, Honeycutt made a huge splash and was one of the best players in the ACC. Honeycutt slashed .296/.409/.672 with 73 hits, ten doubles, four triples, 25 home runs, 57 RBIs, 29 stolen bases, and a 1.082 OPS. He was a Third Team All-American and consensus Freshman All-American. As a sophomore, Honeycutt took a step back in production and also missed the last couple of games due to an injury. He slashed .257/.418/.492 with 49 hits, seven doubles, twelve home runs, 43 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, 49 walks, and a .910 OPS. Honeycutt was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. In his junior season, Honeycutt returned to form and led the Tar Heels to the College World Series. Honeycutt slashed .318/.410/.714 with 81 hits, 13 doubles, two triples, 28 home runs, 70 RBIs, 28 stolen bases, 36 walks, and 1.124 OPS. He was named a Second Team All-American by Baseball America. Honeycutt is one of the best athletes in this draft class. He has some exciting tools that compare favorably to established big leaguers. However, his plate approach leaves a lot to be desired. Strengths Plus power Excellent speed and baserunner Gold Glove potential Plus arm strength High ceiling Weaknesses 27.5% strikeout percentage Chases at pitches out of the zone Pull-happy hitter Pro Comparison: Byron Buxton Projection: Top 20 pick (19th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 29) Bottom Line While Vance Honeycutt was one of the best hitters in college baseball in 2024, some scouts are worried about his plate approach. His strikeout rate is a concern and he needs to use the whole field more often at the dish. The Marlins desperately need to add more hitters to their farm system. Honeycutt is a high-risk, high-reward prospect with a wide range of possible outcomes—he could develop into one of the best outfielders in the game, or fail to make the transition to pro ball. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article