Hector Rodriguez

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

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