Alex Carver

Often times in employment matching situations, the early interviewees are at a disadvantage. When many candidates are potential suitors, the first to attempt to sell themselves for the role have to stand out the most. That was the case this winter with Chris Paddack and the Marlins. “They were the first ones to call,” Paddack said Friday morning as he stepped foot in the Marlins’ newly renovated Jupiter Academy. The last time Paddack was in Jupiter, he was a bright-eyed 18 year old, recently graduated from his central Texas high school. Now 30, Paddack is embarking on his eighth MLB season. It’s a full-circle moment for the 2015 draftee, one he admittedly didn’t think would ever come. “When you’re a young kid out of high school, my eyes were on the prize of getting to the big leagues. You think that’s the team you’re going to ride with until your career is over. Very few times does that happen nowadays,” Paddack reflected. “It really is a full-circle moment for me. I go back to my drive down from Texas. I just was like, 'This is a cool opportunity to be back with the team that gave me that first chance as a young kid.' The fact that I get to put a Marlins jersey on and show the city of Miami why they drafted me is a pretty surreal moment.” Paddack rejoins Miami not only with a different mindset, but as a much more complete pitcher. As a high schooler, Paddack didn’t need more than his fastball and changeup to be dominant. During his MLB career, he’s developed a curveball, slider and two-seamer. Most recently, he added a cutter. Last season, Paddack, a self-described north-and-south guy, used a whopping six different pitches. “You realize really fast that you’re not in high school anymore. I need some pitches that kind of go in different routes, different directions,” Paddack said of his pitch usage. “You look at some of the elite pitchers, they’re always changing their arsenal, always mixing in new pitches, learning different grips from different guys, picking their brains. At the end of the day, we’re the only ones that can manipulate where the baseball goes, finding those grips and tricks and techniques that work for the individual.” In terms of his selection, Paddack doesn’t stick to any specific game plan—he goes off of his feel for the hitter and the zone at-bat to at-bat. “That’s the beauty that I’ve learned over the years is you can get guys out in different ways,” Paddack said. “Especially with how good the hitters are, with how much data they have on us, we have to be able to change up that game plan or that approach that second or third time through.” One thing will always be a priority for Paddack: locating in or around the strike zone, changing eye levels, a trait that before last season, allowed him to work deeper into games and post respectable FIPs. Wanting to challenge hitters is so much a part of Paddack’s game he notes that he may have gotten overzealous with it recently. “Sometimes I overly compete in the zone and it costs me some base hits with two strikes, or a runner’s on second and third and I’m trying to slow the game down and get out of that jam, and the next thing I know I’m putting up a crooked number and it happened very fast,” Paddack said. “I think over the course of the last couple of years, one, I’ve stayed healthy, and two, just being able to learn to get out of the zone when I need to. Not necessarily being fine because I throw strikes. That's what I do. That’s why I’m a starter. It’s being able to expand out of the zone when I need to.” Paddack is confident recent rule changes as well as recent developments to the Marlins’ scientific and analytical approach will be key cogs for him in getting back to striking a proper balance. “With the new ABS (automated ball-strike) system, I really think it’s going to benefit me personally with my pitch design, how my pitches work at the top of the zone and how my changeup kind of goes underneath,” Paddack noted. “I really think it’s gonna help me get some calls that I might have not gotten in years prior, or just making hitters realize I know how to command the baseball top, bottom, in and out. That might give me some more chases if I do leave the zone on purpose.” eqgjy4.mp4 Manager Clayton McCullough is excited about what Paddack can do for his pitching staff. While the veteran will have mostly younger competition nipping at his heels for the chance at a rotation spot this spring, McCullough noted Friday that he expects the righty to be an every fifth day guy when the season opens. “We think we can really help Chris. We think we can get a lot of his arsenal back into a place where he can perform more like he’s capable of,” McCullough said. “He’s a premium strike-thrower. He certainly has started a lot of games in the major leagues. It gives us another stable arm, we believe, that can fit right into our rotation and also we believe the upside to help him perform very well in 2026.” Paddack isn’t a flashy arm. He isn’t going to light up radar guns and he probably won’t be a guy who racks up a ton of strikeouts. But he is a veteran presence who has supreme confidence and a great pitcher's IQ. With the understanding that complacency is never acceptable and keeping up with the game is a necessity, he is looking to cement his strengths and redefine his weaknesses in his return to Miami. With a $4 million buy-in from the front office behind him, Paddack is going to get a chance to return to and stick as a starter as the Marlins’ competitive window opens. This landing spot for Paddack at this point in his career couldn’t be much better. The expectation is that Paddack is going to get back into his throwing program and start throwing bullpens early next week. View full article

Marlins right-hander Chris Paddack speaks to the media following his first day of spring training workouts. Paddack hopes his new club can help with the missing parts of his game. View full video

The internal debates were especially heated this time around, which bodes well for the long-term outlook of the Miami Marlins organization. Miami's farm system is deep. At Fish On First, we rank only 30 prospects at a time—there are dozens of others worth monitoring closely who could realistically grow into major league roles in the future. Each player's previous ranking—as of October 3—is shown in parentheses. Click the hyperlink in a player's name to visit their prospect profile. FOF Top 30 as of January 21, 2026 LHP Thomas White C Joe Mack LHP Robby Snelling OF Owen Caissie OF Dillon Lewis RHP Kevin Defrank INF Aiva Arquette SS Starlyn Caba OF Dillon Head OF Kemp Alderman INF/OF Andrew Salas OF Luis Cova RHP Karson Milbrandt OF Cam Cannarella INF Maximo Acosta OF Andrés Valor OF Brendan Jones RHP Eliazar Dishmey OF Fenwick Trimble INF Santiago Solarte LHP Keyner Benitez RHP Noble Meyer INF Cristian Hernández OF Esmil Valencia RHP Josh White OF PJ Morlando RHP Josh Ekness 1B Deyvison De Los Santos OF Brandon Compton INF Juan Matheus Removed since the previous update: INF Jared Serna (#24), RHP Nigel Belgrave (#25), INF Luis Arana (#26), RHP Liomar Martínez (#27), INF Drew Faurot (#28), C Ryan Ignoffo (#29) and OF Matthew Etzel (#30) are no longer ranked. Honorable mentions: OF José Castro, INF Jared Serna and INF Ronny Muñoz. The next detailed update to the FOF Top 30 will be coming in March during spring training. View full article

Outfield prospect Brendan Jones discusses the bittersweet process of getting traded from the Yankees to the Marlins and why he's optimistic that it will be a smooth transition to his new organization. View full video

All Fish On First podcasts are brought to you by Jet Ski Rentals of South Florida—offering Miami’s best jet ski and boat adventures. With six jet ski locations and over 120 boats, there’s something for every style and every budget. They’re reservation-based only. To inquire, call 305-990-2192, or check them out online at SFJetskiRentals.com. This Miami Marlins farm system is now unquestionably among the best in baseball. On Swimming Upstream, Alex Carver and Kevin Barral analyze all of the talent that the Marlins have recently acquired via trade and international free agency. Then, they sit down for an exclusive interview with one of those new prospects, outfielder Brendan Jones. You can find Swimming Upstream on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. Our audio programming also includes The Offishial Show, Fish Unfiltered, Fish On First LIVE and more. Jones, who's entering his age-24 season, was part of a five-player trade last week that sent left-hander Ryan Weathers to the New York Yankees. The Marlins also acquired prospect Dillon Lewis, Juan Matheus and Dylan Jasso in the deal. The Nashville, Tennessee, native was a low-profile prospect coming out of the 2024 MLB Draft. However, Jones has quickly made a name for himself in pro ball with a polished plate approach and plus-plus speed. Used primarily in center field last season, he led all Yankees farmhands in stolen bases (51) and ranked third in runs scored (89). The trade reunites Jones with some familiar faces from the Yankees organization, including director of hitting Joe Migliaccio and MiLB hitting coach Tom DeAngelis. "That should hopefully make for a smooth transition," he says. Jones tells Swimming Upstream that he will be a non-roster invitee at Marlins spring training next month. He's likely to open up the 2026 season at the Double-A level, batting near the top of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos lineup. Health permitting, his major league debut should come in 2027. Follow Brendan (@BrendanTJones), Alex (@marlinsminors), Kevin (@kevin_barral) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Join the Marlins Discord server! Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. View full article

The Marlins have been active this offseason in the free agent and trade markets. Peter Bendix got his whale in fireballing closer Pete Fairbanks. He also dealt from starting pitching depth while maximizing return value on Miami’s biggest trade asset, Edward Cabrera, who is coming off a career year after he managed to stay healthy. The acquisitions of Esteury Ruiz and Christopher Morel bolstered the club's position player depth. These moves, along with the fact that top prospects including the likes of Thomas White, Robby Snelling, and Joe Mack are on the verge of their big league debuts, have given brightened their 2026 outlook. However, the Marlins shouldn’t be content yet. As winter wears on and we push closer to pitchers and catchers reporting back to Jupiter, there is still more that can and should be done. The Marlins spent much of last season with a hole at first base. Following the losses of Troy Johnston (claimed by Rockies) and Eric Wagaman (traded to Twins), that hole is even more glaring. Currently, three players on their 40-man roster have played first base in the big leagues: Liam Hicks, Graham Pauley and Javier Sanoja. Each of them are far more experienced and effective at other positions, though. In the minor leagues, the closest thing the Marlins have to an MLB-ready first baseman is Deyvison De Los Santos. While the last baseball we saw DDLS play this winter overseas was encouraging, he struggled in hitter-friendly Jacksonville this past season. There were also concerns about him off the field as well. The power-only bat will require more seasoning in Triple-A. If only there existed an experienced first baseman who could hold down the position in the short term and help mentor parts of Miami’s young core as a great teammate. Enter Tyler Lawrence France. A very late-round pick in 2015, France has proven to be a very productive major leaguer for five different organizations. In five of his six MLB seasons, he’s posted a positive WAR. Originally a second/third baseman, France began playing first base for the Mariners in 2021. He hasn’t spent much time at any other position since, giving him over 5,400 career innings at the position. With the glove, France has been among MLB’s best at the position, including this past season. For the second time in his career, the 31-year-old led his league in fielding percentage at a near-perfect .996. He also turned in a 10 OAA and his fielding run value was plus-7, marks which ranked first and second among 1Bs. irqhn2.mp4 Offensively, France can be a pesky hitter. He has never struck out much, but he also does not take many walks. In 2025, he posted a 16.9% K rate and 4.5% walk rate, making him one of the most inconsistent free passes in all of baseball. His propensity for getting hit by pitches keeps his on-base percentage in good condition (he has twice led MLB in that category). Historically, France has been able to square up enough to reach double-digit home runs, but he has limited bat speed and even more limited foot speed. Overall, he is mostly a singles-hitting, for-average bat who is best off the bench and can be slotted in at the bottom of a lineup where he attempts to find a hole and turn it over. France’s struggles on both sides of the ball in 2024 allowed the Twins to garner his services for an even $1 million. He didn’t live out the full season with Minnesota as he was dealt to the Blue Jays as part of a deadline deal. With Toronto, France made it to the World Series for the first time in his career, but he wasn’t much of a contributor. Ultimately, he was not offered a new contract and has not been offered one since the start of free agency. Headed into his age-31 season, France would not cost much and there is a likelihood he may even accept a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Absent any outside additions, Christopher Morel, Griffin Conine and Heriberto Hernández are leading candidates to see time at first base. The Marlins may ultimately move Agustín Ramírez off the catcher position—especially as Joe Mack nears a big league call-up—but Bendix has remained adamant that he is confident in Ramírez’s ability to stick at backstop. All of these individuals are neophytes at the defensive aspects of manning first. A potential France signing would not be flashy. It would not garner many ooh’s and ahh’s from Marlins fans, much less the national baseball world. However, it would provide Miami with a short-term fix to their most obvious problem, first base defense, in the most obvious way. As a bonus, he can also play other positions. There is a potential added bonus if the pop in his bat returns. All we are saying is give France a chance. With low-risk/high-reward potential, the Marlins can’t go wrong. View full article

Compared to hitters, pitchers generally have more to prove at the big league level before being considered for contract extensions. In fact, there's never been a pre-debut deal for an arm. But Thomas White isn’t just another arm. Will the Marlins set a new precedent and get their star-studded lefty on paper at the tender age of 21? Here are some reasons why they should be attempting to sign him ASAP. White was drafted by the Marlins in 2023 in the competitive balance round already ahead of the curve. Regarded as the 24th-ranked prospect in that year’s MLB Draft, he came supplied with a plus fastball in the mid 90s, a curveball with spin rates in the 2700 rpm range and the blueprint for a late-fading changeup. He also enticed the Marlins with his intangibles, including great grades, a commitment to a top-tier collegiate program at Vanderbilt, and supreme maturity. What prevented White from being selected closer to the head of his class was uncertainty surrounding his future ability to fully iron out nascent control and repeatability while growing into a long 6’5” frame. 6he284.mp4 During his first full pro season, White had a 120/38 K/BB ratio in 96 frames across both single-A levels. The 19-year-old got called strikes at a 16% clip, attributing to a 30 CSW%, though he only threw first-pitch strikes at a 53% rate. This past season, the already-impressive prospect became a potential superstar. White came in to minor league spring training 30 pounds heavier than he was at the time of his draft selection. He showed what he could do with the extra muscle mass in one of his first side sessions. White was touching 97 while throwing at 80% effort when one of his coaches uttered, “Let it go.” White lit up the radar at over 100 mph. He morphed his breaking ball into a wipeout slider to generate more whiffs. Finally, his changeup also became firmer. This combination of higher velo and better stuff all while holding onto solid control made White even more unhittable. He had an amazing 2025 season, earning Double-A Pensacola MVP honors and ending at Triple-A contributing to the Jumbo Shrimp’s playoff run. With size, stuff, control, and maturity beyond his years, White is the prize of a rebuilt Marlins farm system and one of the best prospects Minor League Baseball has to offer. He's on the precipice of a potential major league debut this coming season. If White comes to the majors and dominates, he will quickly exceed his small-market team’s price range. Offering him an extension now may be Miami's only chance to push back his free agency. Signing White would reinforce the Marlins’ commitment to breeding in-house talent, rewarding success, and keeping young players in Miami. It would stifle the stigma that the club mortgages assets once they reach a certain service-time threshold. An extension would give Miami a rotational anchor from the left side, which they lacked throughout the last two losing seasons. Negotiating with Scott Boras is always a chore—he is notorious for getting his clients top dollar as dictated by the open market. In this case, perhaps he would be intrigued by the opportunity to venture into uncharted territory and secure generational wealth for White when he's only a few months above the legal drinking age. A good starting point for a potential White deal would be Hunter Greene. Shortly after embarking on his second season at the MLB level in 2023, he inked a six-year deal (including a club option) worth $53 million guaranteed and $95 million if all performance incentives are met. A key consideration for the Marlins would be securing a second club option, stretching their control of White through 2033. It's been a busy year at the bargaining table for the Marlins, discussing extensions with Kyle Stowers and most recently Eury Pérez, but to no avail. Although those ascending stars are important future building blocks themselves, they need to prioritize White. View full article

Summer has ended and October has arrived. As leaves start to fall, the proverbial final leaf has unfortunately fallen on the Marlins’ 2025 season. But although they are not participating in the playoffs, the dog days of summer were not nearly as arduous as some expected them to be for Miami and Marlins fans. The team stayed competitive until the very end. We surveyed our staff as well as our SuperSubs regarding who and what excited them most within this year, the 33rd season in franchise history. Each staffer and SuperSub vote was weighted equally. Below are the winners of the 2025 FOF Awards. Hitter of the Year: OF Kyle Stowers (90.6%) “A team long in-need of a reliable long-ball hitter finally has one. Much like the Marlins writ large, Kyle Stowers far surpassed all measurable expectations. That he ended his season in the statistical company of NL East powerhouse hitters Kyle Schwarber, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso suggests Stowers might have reached offensive heights similar to theirs if not for injury.” — Alec Chao (@xiaochi_chao) Part of a midseason trade in 2024 that sent Trevor Rogers to the Baltimore Orioles, Stowers stepped into his first full major league season in 2025 with something to prove after he struggled mightily in his first 50 games with the Marlins. From the very start of the season, Stowers was an offensive force. In March and April, he slashed .323/.396/.510. On the final day of that span, he slammed two home runs, one of his three multi-home run games of the season. As the season progressed, Stowers didn’t slow down much. He was front and center for some of the team’s biggest moments, including two walk-off home runs. The only variable that was able to slow Stowers was an oblique injury that cost him the final quarter of the season. Despite that, Stowers collected 3.6 bWAR, making him the ninth outfielder in franchise history to record that feat in a single season. Some of the names he joined: Sheffield, Floyd, Stanton and Yelich. Stowers accomplished the feat in 117 games, a feat only bested by Stanton in 2015 (74 games). The Marlins’ All-Star representative was third-best among NL outfielders with a 149 wRC+ (min. 200 PAs). Stowers broke out in a big way, proving his prospect pedigree was no fluke. Not yet arbitration eligible, the 27-year-old should be a mainstay in the Marlins’ lineup as their competitive window fully opens. Pitcher of the Year: RHP Edward Cabrera (59.4%) “It finally feels like he’s got the walks under control to go along with his arsenal that has teased Marlins fans for so long.” —Casey Marika (@CaseyMarika) Since he was signed as an international free agent in 2015, Cabrera’s potential stemming from good size and fantastic stuff has never been questioned. Unfortunately, in multiple ways, his consistency has always been an issue. Whether it be in his ability to stay in the strike zone or in his ability to stay on the field, Cabrera has struggled mightily. However, through several different regime changes dating all the way back to Dan Jennings sitting in the GM seat, the Marlins have remained committed to harnessing his talent. Finally, in 2025, Cabrera’s on-field output validated their patience. Things started rocky for Cabrera in April. Through his first five starts, Cabrera had a 6.29 ERA (4.90 FIP) via a 24/12 K/BB. On May 10, though, Cabrera began to settle in. He didn’t dazzle with strikeouts that day, but rather lived inside the strike zone, challenging hitters with stuff that channeled Kenny DeNunez and simply said, “here it is, I dare you to hit it.” Forty-nine of Cabrera’s 79 pitches landed inside the zone. This would become a theme for Cabrera for the rest of the season. And it worked to his advantage. Over his next 10 starts before the All-Star break, Cabrera held down a 2.54 ERA (3.04 FIP) in 52 innings. His overall zone percentage over that span was 50.8 and he garnered swings on 60.1% of those pitches. His swinging strike percentage was 13.8%. In the second half, Cabrera ticked up even more. With his zone percentage hovering right at 50%, Cabrera garnered a 14% whiff rate over his final 55 ⅔, allotting him a 3.42 ERA and 64/18 K/BB. Overall, Cabrera threw 50.7% of his pitches in the strike zone, up more than 4% from 2024. Being more in the strike zone especially early in counts meant more protective hitters which equated to more chase. His CSW% jumped from 27.7% to 30.7% and his whiff rate from 11.9% to 12.6%. Seemingly the biggest catalyst for Cabrera’s success was a retooled arsenal. He de-emphasized his four-seam fastball in favor of his two-seamer, which he used 20.6% of the time. Immediately, the Cabrera sinker was a huge difference-maker. He could theoretically throw the pitch for strikes whenever he needed to. It landed in the zone 63.7% of the time. Secondly, Cabrera incorporated a slider which he threw at a 17.3% rate. It was more of a change-of-pace offering, but it gave hitters more to think about than just his patented fastball/changeup combo from years past. Overall, Cabrera was much less reliant on his highest-effort pitch, his changeup—his usage of it dropped from 33% to 26%. It is a credit to Cabrera for remaining coachable through a wide variety and long bouts of previous adversity. This newest version looked fearsome to opposing batters. Cabrera did face more challenges in 2025 in terms of his health. He missed time on two separate occasions; once at the start of the season due to a blister he incurred during spring training, and most of September was lost due to a right elbow sprain. The 27-year-old remains under club control for three more seasons. His solid 2025 is projected to garner him $3.7 million in arbitration. Rookie of the Year: OF Jakob Marsee (59.4%) “With how many league-wide statistical droughts he ended—how many Marlins franchise records he matched—in his first 13 games, Jakob Marsee easily earned Marlins Rookie of the Year honors in his first two weeks as a major leaguer. Notwithstanding his stellar offensive numbers, Marsee’s early defensive showings in CF similarly breed confidence in his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball in his first full-season in 2026.” —Alec Chao (@xiaochi_chao) Thought to be a relatively minor piece at the time he was traded to the Marlins at the deadline last season, Marsee has become a legitimate building block. A sixth-round selection by San Diego in 2022, Marsee flew threw the minors with both of his organizations, making in to Triple A with the Marlins last season. Wherever he’s played, Marsee has always shown a great eye at the plate. Coming into this season, his career OBP sat at .373. In a more extended look against the most advanced pitching the minor leagues have to offer this year, Marsee not only kept that trend going, posting a .379 OBP courtesy of a 15.9% walk rate. He struck out a lowly 18.9% of the time, the best marker he’s posted since 2023 at High-A. Marsee didn’t stop at collecting a single base after dropping the bat. As a Jumbo Shrimp, the 6’, 180-pounder touched them all 14 times. Even more impressive was the plus speed Marsee exhibited, showing the ability to turn anything into at least a double. Despite spending just 98 games in Jacksonville, his 47 stolen bases led the team and the International League. After the trade of Jesús Sánchez to Houston, Marsee immediately filled the void. The Marlins promoted Marsee to the majors on August 1 following a minor league career that lasted just 395 games. In his first MLB game, Marsee put in summation exactly what he can provide—he doubled, walked three times, and scored two runs in a thrilling Marlins win. Overall, in 55 games, Marsee slashed a very impressive .292/.363/.478 with five home runs and 14 stolen bases. A supremely patient hitter with a great approach, Marsee waits out opposing pitchers and forces them into the strike zone, allowing him to make up for average bat speed. His quiet setup from the back of the batters box allows him to let the ball get deep after which he can spray it to all fields. Marsee has consistently found success against fellow lefties, including a .324/.370/.554 MLB slash line in nearly equal splits. He’s a terror on the bases capable of 20-plus steals annually. His solid range (4 OAA over the small MLB sample) and above-average throwing arm will allow him to stick in the corner outfield spots. After a fantastic first impression, Marsee will be locked into an everyday starting lineup spot next season. Move of the Year: RHP Ronny Henriquez claimed off waivers from Minnesota Twins (53.1%) “Miami claimed Henriquez off waivers in exchange for virtually nothing, making the move a clear steal. In his first season with the club, Henriquez posted a 7–1 record and accumulated 2.3 bWAR over 73 innings pitched—nearly all in high-leverage situations. He recorded strikeouts in 60 separate appearances, setting a new Marlins single-season record.” — Isaac Azout (@IsaacAzout) Following the trade of Tanner Scott last season and the losses of Andrew Nardi and Declan Cronin to injury, Miami’s bullpen could have collapsed. One of the first moves the Marlins made in 2025 was claiming Henriquez off waivers from the Twins. He came to the Marlins having thrown to a solid 3.44 ERA in Triple-A in 2024, which he matriculated into a 3.26 ERA in a small sample of 19.1 IP with Minnesota. Henriquez did not come with any remaining minor league options, so it was up to him to either impress the Marlins’ brass in spring training or be exposed to waivers once again. Statistically, Henriquez did not have a good spring by any means as he allowed three home runs in his seven innings pitched. However, the Marlins saw past those numbers and stayed hopeful that there was a solid floor in Henriquez’s fiery velo and plus slider. During the spring, they also taught him how to throw a sweeper, which became his second-most-used pitch during the 2025 campaign. Suddenly a much more complete pitcher, Henriquez was spectacular for the Marlins for the entirety of the season, much more than they could’ve hoped for, especially as he learned how to adapt to a new organization. With a 2.22 ERA (3.15 FIP) and daunting 32% K rate, he was one of the best relievers in all of baseball. His 36% whiff rate and 35% chase rate graded in the 97th and 98th percentiles league-wide. His average fastball velo of 96.6 mph ranked in the 85th percentile. Henriquez occasionally struggled with overall command. His walk rate landed at 8.9% and he was at times susceptible to having his power stuff used against him. He allowed hard contact at a 42.5% rate. The 25-year-old could become an even more prominent fixture in the Marlins’ bullpen in 2026. He was a spectacular find by Peter Bendix and company. Game of the Year: August 1 vs. New York Yankees (73.4%) “Because of how wild of a back and forth it was! That series sweep was such a high point in the year.” —Casey Marika (@CaseyMarika) Always one of the most highly anticipated series of the season, the Marlins were in the midst of a 6-3 stretch when the Yankees came to town. New York was also riding high, fresh off a sweep against the Tampa Bay Rays and looking to further narrow the gap to the top of the AL East. Janson Junk, a great find for Miami as a minor league signing, drew the start. After a perfect first three innings, Junk ran into trouble with the Yankees’ high-powered lineup in the fourth and fifth frames. Highlighted by a Giancarlo Stanton homer and RBI hits by Jasson Dominguez and Cody Bellinger, New York put up back-to-back three spots to get into the Marlins’ bullpen. The Marlins, courtesy of a Javier Sanoja home run and and Liam Hicks pinch-hit single, fought back in their half of the fifth, plating four only to see the Yankees post another three runs in the top of the seventh. Down five with nine outs to play with, Miami at this point had a 2.8% chance to win the game. They needed a huge spark. What followed was one of the Marlins’ best offensive innings of the season. Kyle Stowers hit a grand slam (his second of the season), Sanoja hit his second home run of the game, and Augustin Ramirez recorded an RBI single to put the Marlins ahead 10-9 going into the eighth inning. Miami’s lead was very short lived though, as Anthony Volpe, the next Yankee batter, tied the game with a homer of his own. Volpe came in clutch for New York again in the ninth, recording an RBI double to put his team back up by two. Down to their last two outs, Sanoja once again served as the spark plug for Miami. The super-utility player recorded his third hit of the game with a single to left field, then got into scoring position via a Jakob Marsee walk. It was then Xavier Edwards’ turn to play the hero. Coming off a .324/.361/.471 month of July, X didn't disappoint. His single to right field easily plated Sanoja then got under the glove of José Caballero, tying the game once again. Edwards advanced to third on the play, putting the winning run 90 feet away. Ramirez, known for his huge power and massive exit velocities, then stepped to the plate and hit a ball 39 mph off the end of his bat—the equivalent of a swinging bunt. Edwards ran on contact and slid into home plate head first safe, exhilarating a sellout crowd. The 13-run total tied a season-high and was the most Miami has scored at loanDepot park since 2023. The wild win showcased the tenacity and never-say-die attitude the Marlins played with all season. It also set the tone for a series sweep of the Yankees, their first in franchise history. The game was an instant classic. Prospect of the Year: LHP Thomas White (33.3%) The best left-handed pitcher in Minor League Baseball just keeps getting better. Despite posting a sub-3 ERA and 76/21 K/BB at the level last season, Miami took the cautious route with their top prospect and future ace, sending him back to Beloit to start the year. At the end of June, White got the call to Pensacola. In 10 games with Pensacola, White was virtually untouchable. Over 45.1 IP, he held down a ludicrous 1.59 ERA and 75/24 K/BB. A major highlight on the season for Thomas was his outing on July 26 in which he allowed just two hits, didn’t walk a batter, and struck out a career-high 14 over five innings. As good as the start looked both live and on paper, White told Fish On First last month there was room for him to be even better. e6f98e9a-c532e27c-bda4700a-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Immediately following that outing, the Marlins loosened the reins on their top prospect. After previously maxing out at 86 pitches, White averaged 93 pitches per start during August and September. He excelled with the increased workload and even earned an additional promotion to contribute to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s playoff run. Against the highest level of competition in the minors in playoff settings, White threw 10 ⅓ innings, struck out 17 and walked 10, giving Duval County a glimpse of what they can expect next season. It is well within the realm of possibility we see White make his MLB debut sometime in 2026. The 6’5” southpaw is the total package. On top of elite raw stuff, he stays repeatable with his delivery and diligently studies the game, continuing to optimize his arsenal. Maturity is also on his side, as the 21-year-old is unfazed by failure or decisions beyond his control. Pitchers like this don’t come along often. Well ahead of schedule with an unquestioned MLB rotational floor and the ceiling of a dominant ace, it would behoove the Marlins to start exploring a long-term deal. View full article

It's just a bit more satisfying when a farm system prominently features homegrown talent rather than relying on players who were acquired by selling off productive members of the major league roster. Initially, Peter Bendix revitalized the Miami Marlins' pipeline via trade, losing a lot of games in the process. The 2025 season was a significant turning point with more on-field success across all levels, heavily driven by former Marlins draft picks and international signings. At Fish On First, we rank only 30 prospects at a time, though there are dozens of others worth monitoring closely. Each player's previous ranking—as of September 8—is shown in parentheses. Click the hyperlink in a player's name to visit their prospect profile. FOF Top 30 as of October 3, 2025 LHP Thomas White (#1) C Joe Mack (#2) LHP Robby Snelling (#4) INF Aiva Arquette (#3) RHP Kevin Defrank (#6) INF/OF Andrew Salas (#5) OF Dillon Head (#8) OF Kemp Alderman (#15) SS Starlyn Caba (#7) OF Luis Cova (#12) OF Andrés Valor (#11) INF Maximo Acosta (#10) RHP Karson Milbrandt (#19) OF Cam Cannarella (#16) RHP Eliazar Dishmey (#20) OF PJ Morlando (#18) LHP Keyner Benitez (#14) RHP Noble Meyer (#13) OF Esmil Valencia (#25) OF Fenwick Trimble (unranked) RHP Josh White (unranked) RHP Josh Ekness (#23) 1B Deyvison De Los Santos (#17) INF Jared Serna (#21) RHP Nigel Belgrave (#27) INF Luis Arana (#30) RHP Liomar Martínez (unranked) INF Drew Faurot (unranked) C Ryan Ignoffo (unranked) OF Matthew Etzel (unranked) Removed since the previous update: RHP Adam Mazur (#9) graduated from prospect eligibility; INF Chase Jaworsky (#22), INF Anthony Abreu (#24), LHP Dax Fulton (#26), RHP Grant Shepardson (#28) and INF Carter Johnson (#29) are no longer ranked. Honorable mentions: RHP Pedro Montero, INF Payton Green, INF Steven Herrera and C Almen Tolentino. The next detailed update to the FOF Top 30 will be coming in late January (following the opening of the next international free agent signing period). View full article

Marlins top prospect Thomas White struck out 14 of 17 batters faced on July 26, even though the quality of his stuff was way below normal. White tells Swimming Upstream about the importance of pitch execution. View full video

Swimming Upstream—Episode #67 A very special guest joins Alex Carver and Isaac Azout on Swimming Upstream: Miami Marlins left-hander Thomas White. The consensus top prospect in the Marlins organization since early 2024, White just keeps getting better. This conversation touches on the evolution of his pitch mix, the increasingly analytical approach that the Marlins have applied to player development, relationships with his teammates, his recent 14-strikeout game and more. Find Swimming Upstream on the Fish On First YouTube channel, our new-look Apple Podcasts channel and wherever else you get your pods. FOF's audio programming also includes Fish On First LIVE, Fish Unfiltered, Big Fish Small Pod and more. During a 2025 season that's been split between High-A Beloit and Double-A Pensacola, the 20-year-old lefty has made 18 starts, posting a 2.27 ERA, 2.13 FIP and .189 BAA. His 37.5% strikeout rate is third-highest among all minor leaguers with a minimum of 70 innings pitched. For the second consecutive year, White represented the Marlins at the Futures Game. Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline currently rank White 21st overall on their respective MLB Top 100 prospects lists. The last Marlins prospect to be so highly regarded by national outlets was Eury Pérez in 2023. White is a virtual lock to participate in 2026 Marlins big league spring training as a non-roster invitee. Health permitting, he will make his MLB debut before the end of that season. Follow Alex (@marlinsminors), Isaac (@IsaacAzout) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Join the Marlins Discord server! Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. View full article

The venue now known as loanDepot park is deep into its 14th season serving as the home of the Miami Marlins. When the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County received approval for public funds to cover over $510 million—approximately 80.3%—of the total cost to build it, the primary objective was keeping a Major League Baseball franchise in South Florida. All parties involved also envisioned that the ballpark would be a vibrant, indispensable community hub. That part still has not come to fruition...yet. However, the process of improving the area directly adjacent to the stadium is underway. Astute loanDepot park visitors will notice green-lined fencing around certain property surrounding the West Plaza. The reason why: this has become city-owned land. Starting in August 2021, the city began to seek out property in the area, remaining active in that regard through at least May 2023. According to public records, the City of Miami has purchased six properties, all of them on NW 5th Street or NW 6th Street between NW 16th Avenue and NW 17th Avenue. Each of the parcels were previously single-family homes or empty lots, and they were acquired either through outright purchase or eminent domain. Eminent domain refers to the government’s right to inherit private property through public use, even without the owner’s consent but through just compensation. Official public records obtained through the City of Miami state the following: 1649 NW 5th St and 1651 NW 5th St were purchased on 8/2/2021 1641 NW 5th St was purchased on 8/31/2021 1628 NW 6th St was acquired via eminent domain taking on 8/14/2022 1653 NW 5th St was acquired via eminent domain taking on 2/3/2023 1644 NW 6th St was purchased on 5/25/2023 These properties are represented by stars on the map below: The city has sought out land just west of the park’s main entrance for “park land development.” By definition, in Florida, park land development refers to the process of designing, gaining approval for, and constructing a park or recreational area, which must comply with local zoning, land use plans, and regulations to create public or private facilities for recreation. According to a City of Miami spokesperson, the details regarding the development of the land are still being finalized. The upcoming construction of the site will likely coincide with the opening of Miami Live!, a privately-funded project to be located on the West Plaza. The Marlins have partnered with The Cordish Companies to make loanDepot park a more alluring destination with indoor-outdoor dining and entertainment spaces. It is expected to cut its tape in early 2026, coinciding with the World Baseball Classic. In addition to the space adjacent to loanDepot park, the City of Miami is also undertaking a much larger project named Miami Freedom Park, a space near Miami International Airport, for similar reasons. That space promises a new stadium for the Inter Miami CF soccer franchise and is expected to open in the spring of 2026. View full article