Sean McCormack

In a surprising move, the Miami Marlins selected catcher Liam Hicks in the 2024 Rule 5 draft. Where would he fit in with an organization that already had two highly regarded catching prospects—Agustín Ramírez and Joe Mack—at the upper minor league levels? It turns out that there was meaningful role for Hicks to fill in the short term while Ramírez spent much of his rookie season as Miami's designated hitter and Mack continued to develop at Triple-A. Showing a very polished plate approach, Hicks played 119 games, slashing .247/.346/.346 with a .313 wOBA and 98 wRC+ in 2025. His stock has clearly gone up since being exposed to the Rule 5 last year. However, Mack is still on his way as we were reminded last week when the Marlins selected him to their 40-man roster. They also have not given up on the idea of Ramírez behind the plate despite his struggles on defense so far. Although Hicks is well-positioned to crack the Opening Day roster and would serve as solid depth over the course of the season, this may be a good opportunity to flip him to another team with a clearer need for his services. The Milwaukee Brewers may be interested in Hicks after declining their mutual option on Danny Jansen. The Brewers still have William Contreras and top prospect Jeferson Quero, but those are the only catchers on their 40-man. With Contreras getting increasingly expensive and Quero's MLB readiness in question after a few injury-riddled seasons, Hicks would have value to them next season and beyond. Marlins acquire: LHP DL Hall and OF Brandon Lockridge Brewers acquire: C/1B Liam Hicks and player to be named later DL Hall was a former first-round pick of the Orioles in 2017. He was a piece of the Corbin Burnes trade during the 2023-24 offseason. The past two seasons in Milwaukee, Hall has not found his footing. He has missed out on meaningful playing time at the big league level while battling through knee, lat, and oblique injuries. In 81 ⅔ innings pitched as a Brewer (33 G/10 GS), he has posted a 4.30 ERA and 4.66 xFIP while experiencing a drop in velocity compared to his days in Baltimore. Health permitting, Hall would have an expanded role with the Marlins. He throws a wide variety of pitches—something the Marlins are always looking for. He could be stretched out if needed, but I believe he is best served coming out of the bullpen. M3k0ajZfWGw0TUFRPT1fQmdWVlhGSUJWd1VBREFCVFZnQUhBbEFGQUZoVEFRTUFBUVlBQWxBR0IxVlJVbEZT.mp4 Hall is still only 27, but has used up all of his minor league options entering 2026. Quite a contrast from Hall, Lockridge was a fifth-round pick of the Yankees in 2018 and has fought his way to the big leagues. He joined the Brewers at this past trade deadline in a deal that sent Nestor Cortes to the Padres. Lockridge has certainly struggled with the bat in his couple stints in the majors, slashing .231/.276/.299 through 34 games in 2025. But in Triple-A, he slashed .351/.413/.404 after being traded to the Brewers. There may be reason to believe Lockridge is on the cusp of a breakout season. From 2024 to 2025, his average exit velocity against AAA competition increased by 3 mph, his hard-hit rate by nearly 8%, and his in-zone contact rate by 5%. These trends are indicative of an improving player. M3k0ZU5fWGw0TUFRPT1fVWxjRlZsY01CRlFBQ1FZR1VnQUhDVk1EQUZsV0FnY0FCRllOQkFwVUFGVlRCMU5U.mp4 Lockridge has 99th-percentile Sprint Speed and he rated as a great defender in limited MLB action (5 OAA). Entering his age-29 season, he profiles similarly to former Marlin Derek Hill, except with potentially more upside as a hitter and two minor league options left. As of this writing, the Marlins 40-man roster is full, so they would have to open up a spot with a separate transaction to make room for both Hall and Lockridge. The PTBNL going with Hicks to Milwaukee would be determined following next month's Rule 5 draft. In 2022, the Marlins acquired Jake Mangum from the New York Mets under these conditions. Mangum was traded after MLB teams declined to take him in that year's Rule 5. In this case, the Brewers would be eyeing right-hander Matt Pushard. The former undrafted free agent had an extremely successful season in AAA, pitching 62 ⅓ innings to the tune of a 3.61 ERA with a 2.98 FIP. Pushard has four pitches with a stuff+ of 102 or better, according to Prospect Savant's model. If Pushard departs in the Rule 5, the Brewers would have their choice of the Marlins' other Rule 5-eligible relievers, such as Zach McCambley or Dale Stanavich. View full article

Rumors surrounded Edward Cabrera leading up to the 2025 MLB trade deadline. After finishing his career year in good health, there are sure to be many suitors trying to acquire him from the Miami Marlins again this offseason. Cabrera posted a 3.53 ERA and 3.83 FIP with a career-high 137 ⅔ innings and surprisingly consistent strike-throwing. His fastball velocity sits at 97 mph and his curveball has joined his changeup as a reliable putaway pitch. He's still under club control for three more seasons via arbitration. While the iron is hot and they're focused on making offensive upgrades, the Marlins may part with their homegrown starter. In this mock trade proposal, the Athletics—whose window of contention is similar to Miami's—look to nab Cabrera in exchange for one of their own breakout players. Marlins acquire: 1B/OF Tyler Soderstrom and OF Henry Bolte Athletics acquire: RHP Edward Cabrera and RHP Calvin Faucher Tyler Soderstrom in 2025 posted a .276/.346/.474 slash line and 25 home runs with a .354 wOBA and 125 wRC+, finishing the year with 3.4 fWAR. A left-handed hitter, he held his own against fellow lefties (103 wRC+), allowing him to accrue 624 plate appearances. 7b25b74b-17f56bb9-84e9150a-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Soderstrom began this season at first base, but moved to left field once Nick Kurtz arrived in the big leagues. Although he performed well with the glove at his new position, many still believe his defensive home moving forward should be first base or DH. That's how the Marlins would utilize him in this scenario. With only two years of MLB service time, Soderstrom is not even eligible for arbitration yet and he won't hit free agency until after the 2029 season. An affordable power bat who can anchor the Marlins lineup with loud pop, he'd fit in perfectly. Henry Bolte is the fifth-ranked prospect in the Athletics farm system, according to MLB Pipeline. The 2022 second-round draft pick was signed out of high school for an overslot deal of $2 million. In 2025 at Double-A and Triple-A, Bolte slashed .284/.385/.427 with a .377 wOBA and 121 wRC+. He flashes encouraging hard-hit rates and a max exit velo of 111.6 mph. 82zih7.mp4 Bolte plays a good outfield, but may be relegated to a corner spot long term. Speed may be his best tool with a 99th-percentile Sprint Speed in AAA. The 22-year-old shows promise and could be valuable depth for the Marlins ever-crowded outfield. Under the hood, there are areas of concern that may lead to the A's being willing to move Bolte. He has struck out in nearly one-third of his plate appearances throughout his minor league career. In AAA, he was particularly vulnerable against offspeed and breaking pitches (35 whiff% or higher vs. curveballs, sweepers, sliders, and changeups). The Marlins player development group may be able to fix his plate approach. Also, Bolte had a shockingly low pulled-air rate—remove him from the hitter-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League and his actual slugging percentage of .433 may settle in much closer to his .295 xSLG. Bolte is not Rule 5-eligible until 2026, which would allow the Marlins to keep him off their 40-man roster next season until he's fully ready to contribute. In addition to Cabrera, the A's also get a high-leverage reliever in Faucher who has posted respectable numbers for the Fish the past two seasons. He is under club control through 2029. By including Faucher in this trade, I am assuming the Marlins will make a separate offseason move to reinforce their bullpen, ideally bringing in somebody who misses even more bats. View full article

As the MLB offseason truly begins, rumors have circulated about the Miami Marlins showing interest in top-of-the-market relievers and other positions of need. Although I foresee them missing out on the big-time names such as Devin Williams, Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor, there will still be opportunities to piece together solid solutions with low-risk, short-term deals. In this article, I will briefly describe five free agents who I believe make sense for the Marlins. RHP Brad Keller Projected contract: 2 YR/$15M The most expensive potential addition that I have in this free agent group is Brad Keller. In 2025, he had a breakout season with the Cubs after moving into a bullpen role. Keller posted a 2.07 ERA and 2.93 FIP. Doing what he historically has done, Keller generated groundballs. The major difference-maker for the 30-year-old this season was an extreme fastball velocity increase from 93 mph to 97 mph—that coincided with a jump in spin rate on all his pitches. Carrying those pitch characteristics into 2026 should yield similar results. N3lkamtfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0JGVlpVVlFBVUZjQVhBTUtBd0FIQ1E4RUFBQU1CVmNBVUFRQVZWVlJCZ05UVVFwVQ==.mp4 RHP Michael Kopech Projected contract: 1 YR/$1M $250k incentive for reaching 50 innings pitched Kopech has suffered a plethora of injuries since his debut in 2018 with the White Sox. His 2025 season was impacted by health issues as well. The former first-round pick got off to a delayed start due to right knee surgery, and his knee flared up again in September, preventing him from contributing to their World Series run. As always, Kopech showed an elite fastball, but struggled to find the zone, walking 24.5% of batters he faced in 2025. He would be a dart throw for the Marlins. If they luck into a healthy season from him and are able to get him to command his fastball and offspeed, the upside is tremendous for the right-handed flamethrower. eHk5dnpfWGw0TUFRPT1fQUZCWVZWWUJVUVVBQVZvRFZRQUhCMVZmQUZnQ0FBTUFCMWNFVTFCV1ZGWlJBUXNF.mp4 LHP Ryan Yarbrough Projected contract:1 YR/$2M $250k incentive for reaching 115 innings pitched Best known for being a "bulk guy" with the Tampa Bay Rays during his 20s, Yarbrough has had an under-the-radar past two seasons. He adds depth, a veteran presence, adaptability to be a starter or bulk reliever, and a funky look for hitters. He also limits walks. Peter Bendix would have familiarity with Yarbrough dating back to his days in Tampa. The soft-throwing southpaw could play a meaningful role for the Marlins in 2026. bGJlWm9fWGw0TUFRPT1fQWdFQ0JsSUdBQU1BWEFZREJBQUhVQUJTQUFNTVZGa0FDbFJUQndzTVVnVlhCZ0VE.mp4 INF Amed Rosario Projected contract: 1 YR/$5.2M It may be curious to add to a seemingly packed infield for the Marlins, but I believe Amed Rosario could serve as valuable insurance behind Connor Norby and Graham Pauley in 2026, while being enough of an offensive threat to play DH vs. lefties. Rosario in 2025 saw a 2 mph increase in his bat speed which led to a career-high hard-hit rate of 45%. Perhaps even more importantly, the soon-to-be 30-year-old infielder had the highest pulled-air rate of his career—up to 17.9% from a career norm of 10%. This is why Rosario had the highest slug (.436) and average exit velo (91.2 mph) of his career. Perhaps a mini breakout season is on the horizon for the journeyman infielder. ZzZ2b1FfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0IxSUhVMVVDWGdZQVdRRUxBQUFIQUFjSEFGa0ZVUWNBQ2xNTVVnUUVCRkJSVVFwVQ==.mp4 C James McCann Projected contract: 1 YR/$1.5M $150k incentive for 95 games played After what many thought was the finale of a solid MLB career in 2024, McCann was released by the Braves near the end of 2025 spring training and picked up by the Diamondbacks in June. McCann went on to put up 0.7 fWAR for the Diamondbacks and hit .260/.324/.431 with five home runs and a 110 wRC+ in 42 games. McCann would add a veteran presence that Marlins catchers and pitchers haven't had since trading away Nick Fortes. There's only a clear fit for him if the Marlins have determined that it's time to move Agustín Ramírez to first base or DH. cU82azFfWGw0TUFRPT1fVWdaWUFsTURWZ0lBV3dZR0J3QUhBUVJXQUZrRVVGWUFCVlFNQ0ZkV0JnVlFCd1Jl.mp4 View full article

Within every surprising season, there are unlikely contributors. The 2025 Miami Marlins were widely projected—including by the Fish On First staff—to win no more than 70 games. Instead, they finished 79-83, which was good enough for third place in the NL East. In the absence of splashy moves involving veterans with long MLB track records, Miami's relative success compared to preseason expectations was the result of a series of small, smart acquisitions. The Fish netted 6.2 fWAR from the combination of Janson Junk (2.5 fWAR), Ronny Henriquez (1.3 fWAR), Heriberto Hernández (1.3 fWAR), Liam Hicks (1.0 fWAR), and Tyler Phillips (0.1 fWAR). These players were not held in high regard by other teams around the league, which made them attainable via minor league free agency, the Rule 5 draft, waiver claims and cash trades. Credit goes to the Marlins for identifying their upside. Janson Junk, a career-long journeyman, found his footing with the Marlins this season after stints with the Angels, Athletics, and Brewers. Junk dialed in his mechanics over the offseason while training at the well-known Driveline Baseball facility. That made him a natural target for the Marlins, whose new director of pitching, Bill Hezel, had worked several years at Driveline himself. Junk needed to be patient and prove himself with Triple-A Jacksonville throughout April and most of May. Once called up, he posted a 4.17 ERA with a 3.15 FIP in 110 innings pitched over 21 appearances (16 starts). He established a new all-time franchise-low walk rate while working for a league-minimum salary. Junk now has the future outlook of a fifth starter. Ronny Henriquez was claimed off waivers from the Twins on Feb. 11. Immediately, the undersized righty emerged as arguably the best reliever for the Marlins. In 73 innings pitched this season, Henriquez posted a 2.22 ERA, 3.15 FIP, 32.3 K%, and he led all Marlins pitchers in chase%, whiff%, and xBA. Henriquez was the difference between winning or losing several tight games in 2025. He could make an even greater impact moving forward now that the Marlins fully understand what a weapon they have in him. On top of that, having cheap, long-term control over Henriquez allows the team to allocate money towards different areas of the roster. More than nine years removed from the start of his professional career, Tyler Phillips finally made his MLB debut for the 2024 Phillies as mostly a starter. When the Phillies decided there was no room for Phillips on their Opening Day roster this year, the Marlins picked him up for cash considerations and transitioned him to the bullpen. The Marlins tinkered with Phillips' pitch mix—they upped his sinker, curveball, and splitter usage and dropped his four-seam and sweeper usage. That led to him generating a shocking amount of chase on pitches outside the strike zone. Phillips ended the season with 77 ⅔ innings, a 2.78 ERA, 4.14 FIP, 55.6 GB%, and limited damage with a 5.1 barrel%. Like Henriquez, Phillips gradually became a mainstay in high-leverage situations. His 2.33 WPA was tops on the Marlins pitching staff. Onto the hitters, Heriberto Hernández spent the previous four seasons in Tampa Bay's minor league system prior to being signed by the Marlins as a minor-league free agent in December 2024. As former general manager of the Rays, Peter Bendix was familiar with Hernández from the period when they overlapped in Tampa. After a midseason call-up, Hernández posted a .266/.347/.438 slash line for a 118 wRC+ and .341 wOBA. The 25-year-old rookie was an above-league-average hitter for 87 games and contributed through his defense as well with 5 OAA. Even for an organization that is deep with other outfield options, Hernández has moved up the depth chart and may have found himself a role as a platoon hitter. Liam Hicks spent all of 2024 in Double-A in the Rangers and Tigers organizations. The Canadian native stood out in the Rule 5 draft due to being a catcher whose hitting profile didn't rely on his power, but instead his contact ability and patient approach. Hicks put up a .247/.346/.346 slash line with a 98 wRC+ and .313 wOBA. He split time between catcher and first base for the Marlins. Given the circumstance of skipping Triple-A and going straight to the big leagues, he had an impressive year. TDZvVnFfVjBZQUhRPT1fQkFCWFZWQUVVZ1lBRGxaVFZRQUhVZ0ZTQUZnQ1cxWUFBMU5XQTFBRkFRTUdDUWND.mp4 Hicks posted better numbers vs. RHP with a 104 wRC+, justifying a significant spot on the Marlins roster even if his defense behind the plate continues to be sub-par. He had a 90.8% contact rate on pitches in the zone and ranked in the 90th percentile or better in whiff% and chase%. As a small-market team, the Marlins must find ways to be cost-efficient. That is a trait shared by perennial postseason qualifiers such as the Rays, Brewers, and Guardians. Bendix's front office has to annually supplement the roster with quality big leaguers who were overlooked by their old teams, and that requires operating outside the box. It was encouraging to see the Marlins create valuable pieces out of nothing in 2025. If they can do the same in 2026 while also spending what it takes to complete a few major moves that address their biggest weaknesses, the Fish could exceed expectations yet again. View full article

The Miami Marlins have had a lack of consistency with their lineup construction this season. In 132 games played, they've used 124 unique batting orders. Updating my preseason thought exercise in response to call-ups, breakouts, trades and injuries, let's analytically find the best way to construct the Marlins lineup. All of the players included below are either on the 26-man active roster or projected to be reinstated from the injured list before the end of the 2025 season. 1. Xavier Edwards, 2B Edwards is the stereotypical leadoff man in baseball and has fittingly started all of his games there in 2025. "X" brings a great contact/speed combo. With a .291/.349/.368 slash line so far this season, Edwards sets the tone for the rest of the lineup and his legs put pressure on the opposing team. MTZxV2dfWGw0TUFRPT1fVWdkUVVBSUhWZ1VBRFZOVEFnQUhCMWNEQUZrRlZWTUFVVlZRVXdFRFYxWmRVMVFE.mp4 2. Jakob Marsee, CF Marsee has had a meteoric rise since his call-up to the big leagues at the beginning of this month. Through 24 games, Marsee has posted a .329/.398/.671 slash line, .443 wOBA and 188 wRC+ with 1.7 fWAR. He slots into the two-hole perfectly. You want your best hitter batting second—that has become the norm in the sabermetric era of baseball. The Central Michigan product has flashed power with four home runs and an average exit velocity of 92.5 mph to complement an elite eye at the plate and above-average speed. N3lSeWtfWGw0TUFRPT1fQXdCVUJ3QUdWbEVBQ2xvRFVRQUhVQWRYQUZnRVdsVUFCbFFEQUFwV1Z3dFNVZ0Zm.mp4 3. Agustín Ramírez, DH Agustín Ramírez's stats may not be eye-popping, but looking deeper, he's just scratching the surface. Better production is inevitable moving forward as he gains experience and spends a greater percentage of his time as Miami's designated hitter. Ramírez's base stats at the big league level are .230/.288/.428 with a .308 wOBA, although his xwOBA is .353. When playing DH this season, he has been a .304/.304/.514 hitter with a .346 wOBA, and 121 wRC+. With men in scoring position, Ramírez has a .814 OPS and 122 wRC+. The "Gus Bus" can reliably bring in the high on-base players ahead of him. MDRXejJfVjBZQUhRPT1fQlFoWFhRVlZWd0lBV2xWUlZRQUhCZzlSQUFNRlVWUUFCd0FGVVZJSEJnZFNVd29I.mp4 4. Kyle Stowers, LF The breakout of Kyle Stowers is one of the top headlines for the Marlins this season. Stowers leads the Marlins in home runs (25) and batting run value (26 RV), and he has posted elite batted-ball data, including a hard-hit rate of 52% and barrel rate of 19%. His overall slash line is .288/.368/.544 with a .387 wOBA, and 149 wRC+. Stowers also performs well with RISP (.863 OPS and 125 wRC+). QXdhdmdfWGw0TUFRPT1fVlFWV1ZsSUdVQUlBRGdFSFZBQUhVbFFBQUFBTlZ3TUFWRk1IQndkVUF3QUdWbE1D.mp4 5. Griffin Conine/Heriberto Hernández, RF Ironically, both Conine and Hernández have performed better in 2025 versus same-handed opposition, but historically in their careers, this hasn't been the case. Projecting some regression to the mean, this would set up a perfect platoon option for the Marlins in right field and bring pop to the middle of the order. Debuting shortly after Conine underwent shoulder surgery, Hernández has been a pleasant surprise for the Fish this season with his bat, and he has even shown the ability to be a good fielder. The son of Mr. Marlin is projected back in the big leagues around the final week of the regular season. He'd get the majority of starts at this position, facing right-handers. Nnk5ajJfWGw0TUFRPT1fVlFGWlUxSUNBQUlBWFFFR1VRQUhWd1FIQUZrTVYxTUFCVk1CQ0FZREJGRlZCUW9B.mp4 6. Otto Lopez, SS Otto Lopez may be one of MLB's unluckiest hitters in 2025. He has posted a .240/.311/.359 slash line, but there's been a 53-point difference between his wOBA and xwOBA and a low BAIP of .261. Lopez's expected metrics are promising with an xBA of .284 and xSLG of .455. He's been miscast in the heart of the Marlins order for much of this season, but the club should continue starting him regularly in the sixth spot, anticipating a higher average moving forward. WEQyWURfWGw0TUFRPT1fQXdNQUJWTUVYZ0FBQzFBS1hnQUhBZ0JWQUFNRkFBUUFDd0VHVmxKVEIxQlhBd3ND.mp4 7. Connor Norby/Graham Pauley, 3B There were big expectations for Connor Norby entering 2025. However, he has fallen way short of the performance he gave last season post-trade deadline. Once he returns from left hamate bone surgery in the next few days, batting this low in the lineup may take pressure off of him to come through in high-leverage moments and allow him to find his swing again at the big league level. Norby is at his best when he is pulling the ball in the air for power and going the other way for doubles and singles. Graham Pauley may eventually overtake Norby at third base and deserves occasional starts even when both are healthy. In July and August before his oblique injury, Pauley posted a .254/.371/.492 slash line, with a 141 wRC+, and walking as many times as he struck out. This was easily the best stretch for Pauley as an MLB player. His defensive ability at third is an important factor when deciding how to balance the playing time between them. WEQyeFpfWGw0TUFRPT1fQjFOUlV3QUNCUVVBV1ZNTFZ3QUhDUUpVQUFNQ0JWY0FCbDFUQkFSUlZBRmNWRlJm.mp4 8. Eric Wagaman, 1B The relatively unknown Eric Wagaman got much praise from the coaching staff and front office alike entering 2025. There have been deep slumps that raised questions about whether Wagaman belonged on the Marlins roster, though his expected stats paint a slightly different picture. A good August (138 wRC+ and .370 wOBA) may have ensured a spot for him in the majors for the rest of the year. After that, the Marlins have a complicated decision to make regarding their future at first base. UHZnak5fVjBZQUhRPT1fQWdGU1VWQURBbEVBQ0ZJRkJ3QUhWVk5WQUFBQ1ZGQUFCQVFCQWdVSENBQlNWZ1lF.mp4 9. Liam Hicks, C I believe Hicks' elite eye and ability to get on base would set up opportunities for the top of the Marlins lineup to drive him in. One of the most unique catchers in baseball, he has a .350 on-base percentage and a 99th percentile chase rate. This unorthodox usage of the Rule 5 Draft pick may lead to good results for the Marlins. MnJPazVfWGw0TUFRPT1fQkFWWFVGTlFYbEFBV2djREF3QUhVbFZlQUFCV1cxa0FWRlpSVkZJRUJGRlRCbEJX.mp4 View full article

It was a unique year for the Miami Marlins, who used all of their 2025 MLB Draft selections on college players. With many of the draftees set to make their professional debuts any day now, I've highlighted the five best picks that the Marlins made, based on value or sheer player evaluation. 1. SS/3B Aiva Arquette (Round 1) The Marlins' first selection of the draft may have been one of the better value selections in the whole draft. Aiva Arquette who ranked second on the Fish On First big board, and the top rated college bat in the draft by most insiders and scouts. Arquette is a lanky shortstop who most likely will move over to 3rd base as his career continues. With the bat Arquette possess real 60-grade pop, the Hawaiian native does have above-average amount of chase in his profile, but is able to mitigate the aggressive approach with his long arms and great hand-eye coordination to make contact in all quadrants of the zone. Arquette has a expected of .570 and higher vs fastballs 93+ or more and slugs well vs off-speed. The first-rounder has shown few holes in his hitting at the college level. He'll have a chance to through the minors in a way that has become increasingly common across baseball, but rare for Marlins prospects. 2. INF Drew Faurot (Round 4) Drew Faurot was the second of three Florida State teammates selected by the Marlins. Faurot, who ranked 131st on the FOF big board, brings infield pop and good infield defense. In 2025, Faurot slugged .564 with 16 home runs. He is a power threat from both sides of the plate, with a bit better feel from the left side. After swing mechanic changes, Faurot was able to put together the best season of his college career with the Noles. What makes Faurot stand out as a prospect is the projection as a legitimate powerful, bat-first infielder in the pros. He must refine his approach throughout the minor leagues—he did major damage vs fastballs, but lacked the ability to make contact with offspeed. 3. LHP Joey Volini (Round 6) The final Nole selected is the big 6'4" lefty. Joey Volini in 2025 had a 3.50 ERA, 10.8 K/9, and a 2.6 BB/9 in 87.1 IP. Volini fills up the strike zone and has multiple solid offspeed offerings. His fastball is not electric, but the deception and size of Volini makes it play up. The pitchability is present. Volini has the upside of a No. 4/No. 5 starter in the big leagues if the Marlins are able to squeeze extra velocity out of his fastball. 4. UTIL Jake McCutcheon (Round 10) Missouri Valley Conference product Jake McCutcheon found his power stroke this season. In his first two years of college ball, McCutcheon never hit more than one home run in a season; this year, he hit 15. The lefty had a slash line of .358/.444/.647. Where on the diamond McCutcheon plays is a different story. He may stick in the infield at second base, or move to a corner outfield spot. Either way, the Marlins acquired a potential under-the-radar bat with utility upside in the 10th round. 5. LHP RJ Shunck (Round 16) The Marlins in the 16th round selected Toledo's RJ Shunck. Another tall lefty, Shunck is the tallest player the Marlins selected, standing at 6'7". Spending most of his 2025 season working out the bullpen, Shunck may have a future starting role in the Marlins org. The Ohio native would need to add additional pitches to his arsenal, which currently consists of a sinker, slider, and occasionally a cutter. There is big stuff with Shunck. If he is unable to put it all together as a starter, he could fly through the minor leagues as a reliever. View full article

Ryan Gusto was the headline piece that the Marlins received when sending Jesús Sánchez to Houston on Thursday. Gusto, who is 26, made his MLB debut with the Astros this year. So far in 24 total appearances (14 starts), Gusto has put up a 4.92 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 4.11 FIP in 86 innings. On the surface, his numbers have not been impressive. What made Gusto attractive to the Marlins? His six years of control, ability to command the strike zone, deep arsenal, and underlying individual pitch metrics. There is a lot of untapped potential here. Gusto comes to Miami will sizable platoon splits. He sets up on the middle part of the rubber and then cuts over to the right side of the mound, releasing the ball nearly pointing at the right-handed batter's box. It's a deceptive look that has helped him hold RHB to a .345 slugging percentage. He confidently fills up the zone against them (4.3% walk rate), but maybe a bit too confidently. Throwing in the middle of the zone still leaves him susceptible to damage. Look how good he is when commanding just off the edges: Breaking down the arsenal, Gusto throws seven pitches: four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, changeup, slider, sweeper, and curveball. Five of those pitches currently have whiff rates above 22%. Interestingly, Gusto becomes the third Marlins pitcher on the 40-man roster who throws three different types of fastballs, joining Calvin Faucher and Cal Quantrill, This is a growing trend around the league, as having more pitches allows a pitcher to sequence more effectively vs. righties and lefties. According to the FanGraphs stuff+ model, Gusto has three above-average offerings—the four-seam (106 Stf+), sinker (109 Stf+), and slider (110 Stf+). I foresee the Fish cutting down on Gusto's four-seam fastball and increasing the usage on other pitches. His four-seam does have intrigue and works effectively at the top of the zone. So far this season in the big leagues, he's been averaging 94.1 mph and touching 97 mph, and it has gotten a 30.4 CSW%, which ranks in the 80th percentile. Gusto pounds the fastball high 65.8% of the time, 92nd percentile in HiLoc% among all four-seamers. It plays well with his above-average vert of 17 inches and low VAA (-4.33). With natural cut (6.1 inches of horizontal movement), this pitch has great results vs. righties (.119 xAVG, .161 xWOBA, 2.3 barrel%, and 30.3 CSW%). NHlNUW9fWGw0TUFRPT1fVWxWVlVWSldBQWNBVzFvR1VRQUhWRlFFQUFBTkFnVUFCRndCVVFjRkJ3RlZCVmND.mp4 Gusto mixes up his arsenal depending on the handedness of the batter. He uses his cutter and four-seam nearly evenly, but elects to throw his changeup and curveball mainly to lefties, and the sinker, sweeper, and slider to righties. Gusto's changeup seemingly has the most potential as it has been highly effective vs. lefties. It has posted an above-average 54.2 GB% and a low hard-hit% of 20.8%. He throws it hard—88 mph on average—with good spin. This is a pitch that may see a increase in its usage. It may fair well vs. righties as well due to its characteristics. TzBsWGxfWGw0TUFRPT1fVlFFQVZWSURVMVFBQVZFSEFnQUhBQVJVQUFOUUFsUUFBRmNGVWdKUkNRRUJBQVlF.mp4 Gusto's curveball and sweeper have both had mixed results. The curveball has been hit hard in the air too often with a 56.8 hard-hit%, and .525 xSLG. It has a average exit velocity of 92 mph. The placement of the curveball is in the zone too often (44% zone rate). Gusto may look to change the location of the pitch, or perhaps he just had trouble commanding it. In either case, there is reason to believe this pitch should see its usage dropped. NHlNUW9fWGw0TUFRPT1fQmdFRVhWd0RVbFlBVzFFTEF3QUhWUUplQUFNQ0FWTUFVMWRSQlZaV1ZBRmNCQUFB.mp4 The sweeper has had slightly better results, but a shocking .629 xSLG because of its 41.9% fly ball rate. Like the curveball, the sweeper has caught the hittable areas of the zone too often. He gets solid outcomes when throwing it low and to the arm side. With other pitchers, the Marlins have successfully introduced/refined their sweepers. In Gusto's case, the keys will be location and adding extra depth on the pitch. Gusto has also experimented with a tighter slider, that moves horizontally, like his sweeper, but is thrown harder. This pitch has only been thrown 2% of the time, but has shown some promise vs. right-handed hitters. It appears in its low usage that Gusto has better control of the pitch and doesn't throw it in undesirable locations. The Marlins may up his usage of it. SzRsMGxfWGw0TUFRPT1fRGxOWFZ3VlNYMU1BV2dBQ0F3QUhCMU5XQUFOUkFsTUFCRlZUVWdOUkNWVUdCd0pY.mp4 Lastly, Gusto's cutter and sinker have been poor. Both pitches currently have a minus-3 pitch value, according to Baseball Savant. The cutter averages 89 mph and doesn't have much movement. It has a 65.7% hard-hit rate and .393 xwOBA, getting a 25% whiff rate. He has thrown it in the strike zone a staggering 64% of the time, ranking in the 95th percentile of cutters. This level of exposure may be leading to the high level of damage on the pitch. It's another opportunity for the Marlins to either change the intended location of the pitch, or lessen the usage of it in general. TkE5WTVfWGw0TUFRPT1fQjFOUVhBRlNBMUVBQ0ZCUlZ3QUhBQUJYQUFNREFsUUFBRkJRQmdVRVZ3RldBUU5T.mp4 The sinker, which is thrown mainly to righties, has worked as intended to generate ground balls and a good amount of whiff (15.2% so far). The pitch has the lowest fly ball rate in his arsenal besides the lesser utilized slider. It has been pounded by opponents, with a 13.3% barrel rate and 45.2 hard-hit%. Like his other pitches, it has a high zone rate and gets a lot of contact. TkE5WTVfWGw0TUFRPT1fQVFJSFVGUUhVd01BVzFFSEFBQUhBbGNDQUZrTUFnTUFWRklOQmxaV1VnWmNBRkFG.mp4 Overall, the Marlins identified a young, controllable starting pitcher with the upside of a No. 3/No. 4 and the floor of a swingman. Ryan Gusto will certainly see pitch design and pitch mix changes, hopefully benefiting like many other Marlins have this season under the tutelage of pitching coach Daniel Moskos and director of pitching Bill Hezel. They have a knack for utilizing deep arsenals to create advantageous pitch sequencing methods. Gusto should fit right in. View full article

Sandy Alcantara is slated to take the mound at Busch Stadium on Tuesday night for the 159th start of his Miami Marlins career. It could very well be the final time he wears this uniform. With the MLB trade deadline looming on Thursday and the Marlins not yet in true postseason contention, Alcantara is reportedly one of the most popular names on the market. Alcantara has struggled this season (6.66 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 104.0 IP), but industry insiders still estimate that the former NL Cy Young Award winner has substantial value. He's been gradually regaining his command as gets further away from Tommy John surgery and there are no concerns about his arm health with a fastball that's sitting above 97 mph. His contract provides two years of club control after this season at prices that would be considered team-friendly if he simply performs to his career averages moving forward. We believe these are the sort of prospect packages that deadline buyers would be willing to offer for Miami's consideration. Toronto Blue Jays receive: Sandy Alcantara and $5.6 million cash Miami Marlins receive: 3B Orelvis Martínez, LHP Kendry Rojas, RHP Gage Stanifer and SS Juan Sánchez The proposed cash would cover what Sandy is owed for the rest of the 2025 season, allowing the Blue Jays to add payroll in other transactions as they continue their run for an AL East title. First, Orelvis Martínez is a former Top 100 MLB prospect who has struggled to find consistent playing time in the major leagues. Martinez was suspended in the middle of his 2024 campaign for PEDs. He slashed .267/.346/.523 with a 123 wRC+ that year in Triple-A. He's still in AAA this season and it's been ugly statistically, hitting under .200, although his BABIP is unsustainably low at .235. The third baseman brings loud pop and perhaps just needs a change of scenery the same way much like afterthought turned All-Star Kyle Stowers did at last year's deadline. eUwxNkdfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0JnSlFYUUZYVTFFQVhBUUFCd0FIQWxOVkFBTUdBbElBQXdFQUJRZFJBbEJUVXdOVw==.mp4 Kendry Rojas has risen up prospect boards in 2025. The Cuban native is a lefty who sits mid-90s. Rojas has a advanced feel for throwing strikes, with a repeatable delivery. Rojas' best pitch is his changeup. He throws a slider as well. As long as he stays healthy and collects innings, Rojas should be in the majors by mid-to-late 2026. A 19th-round draft pick in 2022, Gage Stanifer has made his way to High-A. He brings loud stuff to the table—a fastball with a lot of ride and 17-20 inches of induced vertical break, plus a gyro slider. Nobody can question the arm talent. The problem with Stanifer has been the control. In 70 innings this season between Low-A and High-A, he has posted a 13.1% walk rate. He's been extremely effective in spite of that thanks to a 38.1% strikeout rate and no home runs allowed. There is a lot of reliever risk in Stanifer, but if the Marlins can shore up the command problems, they got themselves a potential mid-rotation arm. Lastly, Juan Sánchez is a widely unknown Dominican Summer League prospect who signed with Toronto earlier this year. Sánchez would be a dart throw in this deal, but has shown some promise with his bat, slashing .340/.451/.560 with a 159 wRC+. Importantly, he gets good lift with a 45.5% fly ball rate to go along with decent contact numbers. Sánchez may not stick at shortstop, but early on, the 17-year-old has shown some skills there. San Diego Padres receive: Sandy Alcantara and Dane Myers Miami Marlins receive: RHP Braden Nett, LHP Boston Bateman, 1B/C Lamar King Jr and SS Brandon Butterworth In this scenario, the Padres would also acquire Dane Myers to add good defense and a decent cheap bat. These teams have a good working relationship, having completed deals at each of the last two trade deadlines as well. Like Kendry Rojas, Brandon Nett has flown up prospect rankings. The 2022 undrafted free agent signed for $10k it's safe to say the Padres found a diamond in the rough. Nett has great stuff and a deep arsenal. He brings a plus fastball, slider and underrated cutter along with a curveball and changeup. The flaw for Nett is his command—he has had trouble locating pitches in the zone. Rounding that out would be an additional boon to his prospect status. Boston Bateman came to the Padres with more pedigree, selected in second round of the 2024 draft out of high school. Bateman is a tall glass of water standing at 6'8". Assigned to Low-A, he has a 25.8% K-rate and 8.6% walk rate with a 4.08 ERA, although his FIP is 3.25. Impressively, Bateman has only allowed one home run in 68 ⅓ innings. Only 19 years old, the California native's upside isn't far behind current Marlins lefties Thomas White and Robby Snelling. Both Lamar King Jr. and Brandon Butterworth have had strong seasons in 2025. King was a 2022 fourth-round pick out of high school. Regarded as a "raw" prospect at the start of his pro career, major swing adjustments have King looking ready for higher level competition. He currently has a 121 wRC+. He lacks a true defensive home and profiles best at first base or DH long term. A 12th-rounder last season out of NC State, Butterworth stuck out to scouts with his glove, but seemingly has out-performed with his bat. In 87 games, he has hit 11 homers in A+ and is slashing .262/.324/.455 with a 113 wRC+ and .359 wOBA. Unranked on many prospect lists for the Padres, Butterworth has an up arrow next to his name. Chicago Cubs receive: Sandy Alcantara Miami Marlins receive: OF Owen Caissie and SS Juan Tomás The Marlins have specifically asked about Owen Caissie in Edward Cabrera negotiations. If these teams cannot find common ground on Cabrera's worth, maybe the focus shifts to Alcantara. Through 81 games at Triple-A this season, Caissie is slashing .278/.377/.563 with 20 home runs, 46 RBI, and a 137 wRC+. The one concern is his 29.3% strikeout rate—slightly up from last season—but he’s also walking at an encouraging 12.8% clip. With nearly two full years of AAA experience under his belt, Caissie appears ready for the next step. If the Marlins end up moving on from Jesús Sánchez in a separate deal, Caissie would have a path to be called up immediately and take over in right field. Juan Tomás is a name that should sound familiar to Marlins fans who follow the international market. He was once expected to sign with Miami, but instead inked a $1.1 million deal with the Cubs. Through 31 games in the Dominican Summer League, the 17-year-old infielder is slashing just .200/.371/.337 with one home run, 16 RBI and a 93 wRC+. However, Tomás is trending in the right direction after an early-season slump and has been walking at an impressive 21.8% rate, showing an advanced eye for his age. The tools are there, including an above-average arm. Tomás might outgrow shortstop as he fills out his 6'2" frame. That said, third base could be a natural fit. Trading one of the most accomplished pitchers in franchise history is never easy. But in the Marlins’ case, they can feel comfortable about the arms in their prospect pipeline and others due back from injuries in 2026. The Cubs are in need of rotation help, and Alcantara would give their pitching staff a major boost as they gear up for what they hope will be a deep postseason run. View full article

Along with Sandy Alcantara, fellow flame-throwing righty Edward Cabrera is the hottest name on the trade block for the Miami Marlins. Cabrera has put up the best and most consistent season of his major league career thus far. With a cost-effective salary, high upside and three-plus years of club control remaining, Miami would only move him at this week's trade deadline if a nice prospect package is involved. The current asking price for Cabrera is understandably steep. Matthew Trueblood of North Side Baseball reports that the Chicago Cubs prefer him over any of the other controllable starters on the trade market, but the Marlins are insisting that both Owen Caissie and Jaxon Wiggins be in the deal, and the Cubs aren't comfortable with that. "The two teams are in a staring contest, each hoping the other blinks first," Trueblood writes. A slight adjustment may be needed to satisfy both sides. Here's a five-player mock trade idea that gives the Marlins a balance of surefire big league production and upside, while positioning the Cubs to be true championship contenders in 2025. Cubs receive: Edward Cabrera and Anthony Bender Marlins receive: 2B Jefferson Rojas, RHP Jaxon Wiggins and RHP Nick Dean Part of Cabrera's appeal to the Cubs is the belief that "his stuff would play even better in front of their strong defensive group," according to Trueblood. That should apply to Anthony Bender as well. Although Bender is posting the lowest strikeout rate of his career (19.9 K%), the sinkerballer has continued inducing lots of ground balls that Gold Glovers like Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner should consistently convert into outs. Bender has gone 14 straight relief appearances without allowing a run. He is under club control through 2027 via arbitration. Instead of Caissie, Jefferson Rojas is the headliner of this trade package going back to the Marlins. Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline rate him as a Top 100 MLB prospect. The 20-year-old second baseman has already reached Double-A. In High-A in 2025, Rojas slashed .278/.379/.492 with a 138 wRC+ and .402 wOBA, posting great numbers while being one of the youngest players at that level. His bat has cooled off in a nine-game sample since being promoted (.189/.279/.270 with a 67 wRC+ and .271 wOBA). Rojas projects to stay at second base and doesn't have many tools besides his bat, but the combination of pop and approach make him a future everyday player at the major league level. OTc3NmxfWGw0TUFRPT1fQmdaWlVWY0ZWZ1FBQ0ZFRFVBQUVBUUZWQUZFRlV3SUFWRlVOVTFjRUFBUUJCd0lI.mp4.ddbde6508872ac4cbaa280a649c0cc4d.mp4 Jaxon Wiggins is a 2023 second-rounder. The 6'6", hard-throwing righty has a 2.02 ERA with a 2.58 FIP this season. His K-rate has actually increased since a midseason promotion to AA, from 29.5% to 33.3%. Wiggins is best known for his elite fastball and electric slider. Poor control held Wiggins back last season. There is also elevated injury risk—he underwent Tommy John surgery in college and has been limited to only two innings since June 20. However, he has the stuff to be a top-end rotation piece if he can handle the zone. The final piece of this deal is right-handed-pitcher Nick Dean. The 24-year-old was drafted in 2023 in the 19th round out of Maryland. Dean's numbers on the surface do not impress—5.13 ERA between A+ and AA this season—but under the hood, his outlook is much brighter with a 2.90 FIP and 21.7 K-BB%. Dean generates soft contact and gets balls on the ground. His fastball only sits low 90s, but he has a plus sweeper and solid changeup. Dean may never amount to much in the big leagues, but there is a chance the righty can be the fifth option in a rotation or at least a spot starter. View full article

Here is an overview of the top high school and college players that the Miami Marlins should consider drafting this year. Some prospect evaluations have changed since the previous big board was released in early May. The Marlins will make their first selection at No. 7 overall, then pick again at No. 43, No. 46, No. 78, No. 108 and No. 139. They have the third pick in all subsequent rounds (No. 168, No. 198, No. 228, etc.). The table below includes each prospect's age as of Sunday, their school, position(s), handedness, measurables and overall future value on a 20-80 scale. Click the hyperlinks for full-length Fish On First prospect profiles. Rank Name Age School Position Bat/Throw Height/Weight FV 1 Seth Hernandez 19 Corona HS (CA) RHP R/R 6'4"- 190 60 2 Aiva Arquette 21 Oregon State SS/3B R/R 6'4"- 220 55 3 Jamie Arnold 21 Florida State LHP L/L 6'1"- 165 55 4 Kade Anderson 21 LSU LHP L/L 6'2' - 180 55 5 Billy Carlson 18 Corona HS (CA) SS R/R 6'1"- 165 55 6 Eli Willits 17 Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK) SS S/R 6'1" - 165 55 7 Ethan Holliday 18 Stillwater HS (OK) SS/3B L/R 6'4" - 195 55 8 Marek Houston 21 Wake Forest SS R/R 6'3" - 180 55 9 Joseph "JoJo" Parker 18 Purvis HS (MS) SS/2B L/R 6'2" - 195 55 10 Liam Doyle 21 Tennessee LHP R/L 6'2" - 220 55 11 Brendan Summerhill 21 Arizona OF L/R 6'2"- 190 55 12 Gavin Kilen 21 Tennessee SS/2B L/R 5'11" - 185 50 13 Gavin Fien 18 Great Oak HS (CA) 3B/SS R/R 6'3" - 200 50 14 Ike Irish 21 Auburn C/1B L/R 6'2" - 190 50 15 Tyler Bremner 21 UC Santa Barbara RHP R/R 6'2"- 170 50 16 Kyson Witherspoon 20 Oklahoma RHP R/R 6'2" - 205 50 17 Andrew Fischer 21 Tennessee 3B/1B L/R 6'1" - 200 50 18 Gage Wood 21 Arkansas RHP R/R 6'0" - 200 50 19 Steele Hall 17 Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL) SS R/R 5'11" - 160 50 20 Josh Hammond 18 Wesleyan Christian Acad. HS (NC) 3B R/R 6'1" - 205 50 21 Patrick Forbes 21 Louisville RHP R/R 6'3" - 200 50 22 Landon Harmon 18 East Union HS (MISS) RHP R/R 6'5" - 180 50 23 Kayson Cunningham 19 Johnson HS (TX) SS/2B L/R 5'9"-170 50 24 Alex Lodise 21 Florida State INF R/R 6'1" - 190 50 25 Ethan Conrad 21 Wake Forest OF L/L 6'4" - 215 50 26 Jaden Fauske 18 Nazareth Academy HS (IL) C/OF L/R 6'1" - 195 50 27 Jace LaViolette 21 Texas A&M OF L/L 6'6"- 230 50 28 Xavier Neyens 18 Mount Vernon HS (WA) 3B L/R 6'4"- 200 50 29 A.J. Russell 21 Tennessee RHP R/R 6'6" - 225 50 30 Marcus Phillips 21 Tennessee RHP R/R 6'4"- 250 50 31 Wehiwa Aloy 21 Arkansas SS R/R 6'2" - 195 50 32 Sean Gamble 19 IMG Academy HS (FL) SS/OF L/R 6'1" - 185 50 33 Dean Curley 21 Tennessee INF R/R 6'3" - 195 50 34 Riley Quick 21 Alabama RHP R/R 6"6" - 250 50 35 Slater de Brun 18 Summit HS (OR) OF L/L 5'9" - 180 50 36 Caden Bodine 21 Coastal Carolina C S/R 5'10"-190 50 37 Chase Shores 21 LSU RHP R/R 6'8" - 250 50 38 Angel Cervantes 17 Warren HS (CA) RHP R/R 6'2" - 190 50 39 Taitn Gray 17 Dallas Center-Grimes HS (IA) OF S/R 6'4" - 220 50 40 Charles Davalan 21 Arksansas 2B L/R 5'9" - 190 50 41 Luke Stevenson 21 North Carolina C L/R 6'1" - 200 50 42 Joseph Dzierwa 21 Michigan State LHP R/L 6'7" - 180 45+ 43 Cam Cannarella 21 Clemson OF L/R 6'0"- 180 45+ 44 Devin Taylor 21 Indiana OF L/R 6'0"- 195 45+ 45 Cooper Flemming 18 Alsio Niguel HS (CA) SS L/R 6'3" - 190 45+ 46 Ryan Mitchell 18 Houston HS (TENN) SS L/R 6'0" - 175 45+ 47 Kane Kepley 21 UNC OF L/L 5'8" - 170 45+ 48 Ethan Petry 21 South Carolina OF/1B R/R 6'4" - 230 45+ 49 Jack Lafflam 18 Brophy College Prep HS (AZ) RHP R/R 6'6" - 170 45+ 50 Zach Root 21 Arkansas LHP L/L 6'1" - 175 45+ 51 Kyle Lodise 21 Georgia Tech SS R/R 5'11" - 180 45+ 52 Mason Neville 21 Oregon OF L/L 6'3" - 200 45+ 53 Daniel Pierce 18 Mill Creek HS (GA) SS R./R 6'1" - 180 45+ 54 Jack Bauer 18 Lincoln-Way East HS (IL) LHP L/L 6'3"- 175 45+ 55 Jordan Yost 18 Sickles HS (FL) SS L/R 6'0" - 170 45+ 56 Max Belyeu 21 Texas OF L/R 6'2" - 195 45+ 57 Aaron Watson 18 Trinity Christian Acad HS (FL) RHP R/R 6'5" - 205 45+ 58 Griffin Enis 18 Cornith HS (MS) OF R/R 6'0" - 180 45+ 59 Mitch Voit 20 Michigan 2B R/R 6'0" - 200 45+ 60 Michael Winter 18 Shawnee Mission East HS (KS) RHP R/R 6'5" - 220 45+ 61 Antonio Jimenez 21 UCF SS R/R 6'1" - 200 45+ 62 Jayden Stroman 18 Patchogue-Medford HS (NY) RHP S/R 6'0" - 195 45+ 63 Landon Schaefer 18 Fayetteville HS (AR) 3B R/R 6'3" - 190 45+ 64 Tate Southisene 18 Basic HS (NV) SS/OF R/R 5'11" - 170 45+ 65 Josh Owens 18 Providence HS (TN) SS/OF L/R 6'3" - 180 45+ 66 Anthony Evanson 20 LSU RHP R/R 6'2" - 185 45+ 67 Jacob Parker 18 Purvis HS (MS) OF L/R 6'4" - 210 45+ 68 Kruz Schoolcraft 18 Sunset HS (OR) LHP/1B L/L 6'8" - 215 45+ 69 Cade Obermueller 21 Iowa LHP L/L 6'0" - 170 45+ 70 Angel Laya 18 East Lake HS (CA) OF L/R 6'3" - 190 45+ 71 Korbyn Dickerson 21 Indiana OF R/R 6'1" - 190 45+ 72 J.D. Thompson 21 Vanderbilt LHP L/L 6'0" - 190 45+ 73 Matthew Fisher 19 Memorial HS (IN) RHP R/R 6'3" - 200 45+ 74 Aiden Stillman 18 Trinity Prep HS (FL) LHP R/L 6'3" - 190 45 75 Noah Franklin 18 West Ashley HS (SC) C R/R 6'1" - 210 45 76 Malachi Witherspoon 21 Oklahoma RHP R/R 6'3" - 210 45 77 Nick Becker 18 Don Bosco Prep HS (NJ) SS R/R 6'3" - 180 45 78 Aaron Walton 21 Arizona OF R/R 6'3" - 220 45 79 Jaime Quinn-Irons 21 George Mason OF R/R 6'5" - 230 45 80 Mason Morris 21 Ole Miss RHP R/R 6'4' - 225 45 81 Jacob Morrison 21 Coastal Carolina RHP R/R 6'8" - 245 45 82 Cameron Appenzeller 18 Glenwood HS (IL) LHP L/L 6'5" - 180 45 83 Henry Godbout 21 Virginia 2B R/R 6'1" - 185 45 84 Noah Yoder 18 Atlee HS (VA) RHP R/R 6'5" - 230 45 85 Johnny Slawinski 18 Johnson City HS (TX) LHP L/L 6'3" - 185 45 86 Tim Piasentin 18 Foothills Composite HS (Alberta) 3B L/R 6'3" - 205 45 87 Matt Barr 19 Niagara County CC RHP R/R 6'6" - 195 45 88 Dax Kilby 18 Newnan HS (GA) SS L/R 6'3" - 185 45 89 Marcelo Harsch 18 Seton Hall Prep HS (NJ) RHP R/R 6'4" - 170 45 90 Brady Ebel 18 Corona HS (CA) INF L/R 6'3" - 180 45 91 Colin Yeaman 21 UC Irvine INF R/R 6'2" - 200 45 92 Ryan Wideman 21 Western Kentucky OF R/R 6'5" - 205 45 93 Dean Moss 19 IMG Academy HS (FL) OF L/R 6'0" - 175 45 94 Sam Horn 21 Missouri RHP R/R 6'4" - 220 45 95 Zane Taylor 23 UNC Willingham RHP R/R 6'0" - 200 45 96 Briggs McKenzie 18 Conrinth Holders HS (NC) LHP L/L 6'2" - 185 45 97 Jason Reitz 21 Oregon RHP R/R 6'10" - 180 45 98 Daniel Dickinson 21 LSU 2B R/R 6'0" - 180 45 99 Cal Scolari 21 San Diego RHP R/R 6''4" - 220 45 100 Brandon Compton 21 Arizona State OF L/L 6'1" - 210 45 101 Nate Snead 21 Tennessee RHP R/R 6'2" - 210 45 102 Uli Fernsler 17 Novi HS (MI) LHP L/L 6'4" - 200 45 103 Jacob McCombs 21 UC Irvine OF L/R 6'2" - 200 45 104 Micah Bucknam 21 Dallas Baptist RHP R/R 6'1" - 210 45 105 Dominick Reid 21 Abilene Christian RHP R/R 6'3" - 200 45 106 Ben Jacobs 21 Arizona State LHP L/L 6'0" - 190 45 107 Jalin Flores 22 Texas INF R/R 6'2" - 185 45 108 Kaeden Kent 21 Texas A&M 2B L/R 6'2" - 200 45 109 RJ Austin 21 Vanderbilt 2B/OF R/R 5'11" - 190 45 110 Logan Lunceford 21 Wake Forest RHP R/R 6'0" - 180 45 111 Sean Youngerman 21 Oklahoma State RHP R/R 6'3" - 220 45 112 Ethan Frey 21 LSU OF R/R 6'6" - 225 45 113 Will Hynes 18 Lorne Park HS (ON) RHP R/R 6'2" - 180 45 114 Jack McKernan 18 Ridge Point HS (TX) LHP L/L 6'1" - 185 45 115 Pico Kohn 22 Mississippi State LHP L/L 6'4" - 200 45 116 Tre Phelps 21 Georgia 3B/OF R/R 6'3" - 210 45 117 Henry Ford 21 Virginia 1B R/R 6'5 - 220 45 118 Grant Jay 21 Dallas Baptist C R/R 5'11" - 220 45 119 Tyler Fay 21 Alabama RHP R/R 6'5" - 215 45 120 Eddie King Jr. 22 Louisville OF R/R 6'2" - 220 45 121 Griffin Hugus 21 Miami RHP R/R 6'2" - 180 45 122 Talon Haley 19 Lewisburg HS (MISS) LHP L/L 6'2" - 200 45 123 McLane Moody 18 Northside HS (AR) RHP R/R 6'7" - 200 45 124 Landyn Vidourek 21 Cincinnati OF L/R 6'1" - 190 40 125 Ryan Weingartner 21 Penn State SS R/R 5'11" - 180 40 126 Brooks Bryan 20 Troy C L/R 6'2" - 220 40 127 Reid Worley 19 Cherokee HS (GA) RHP R/R 6'2" - 180 40 128 Cody Bowker 21 Vanderbilt RHP R/R 6'1" - 210 40 129 CJ Hughes 17 Junipero Serra HS (CA) SS R/R 6'0" - 160 40 130 Bruin Agbayani 18 St.Louis HS (HI) SS L/R 6'2" - 185 40 131 Drew Faurot 21 FSU INF S/R 6'3" - 185 40 132 Gavin Turley 21 Oregon State OF R/R 6'2" - 200 40 133 Brian Curley 22 Georgia RHP R/R 5'10" - 200 40 134 Brody Walls 18 Mckinney Boyd HS (TX) RHP R/R 6'0" - 180 40 135 Will McCausland 21 Ole Miss RHP R/R 6'0" - 190 40 136 Cam Maldonado 21 Northeastern OF R/R 6'3" - 195 40 137 Anthony Pack 18 Millikan HS (CA) OF L/L 5'10" - 170 40 138 Trace Phillips 21 Middle Tennessee State RHP/1B R/R 6'3" - 185 40 139 Luke Hill 21 Ole Miss INF R/R 6'0" - 190 40 140 Kyle McCoy 21 Maryland LHP L/L 6'5" - 180 40 141 Tanner Franklin 21 Tennessee RHP R/R 6'4" - 240 40 142 John Stuetzer 18 Pope HS (GA) SS/OF R/R 5'11" - 190 40 143 Easton Carmichael 21 Oklahoma C R/R 6'1" - 190 40 144 Cameron Miller 18 Alhambra HS (CA) RHP R/R 6'2" - 180 40 145 Josiah Hartshorn 18 Orange HS (CA) OF R/L 6'2' - 185 40 146 Brock Sell 18 Tokay HS (CA) OF L/R 6'1" - 170 40 147 Mason White 21 LSU SS/2B L/R 5'9" - 170 40 148 Maximus Martin 21 Kansas State SS R/R 6'0" - 175 40 149 Drew Horn 21 Middle Tennessee State RHP R/R 5'11" - 180 40 150 Cam Tilly 21 Auburn RHP R/R 6'2" - 205 40 View full article

The Miami Marlins are just days away from a crucial MLB Draft, armed with the largest bonus pool in franchise history ($15,187,400). After collaborating on two previous Marlins mock drafts, @Hector Rodriguez and I went through the exercise separately this time, both simulating the first seven rounds for the Marlins (eight total picks). Let us know whose picks you like more. Hector Rodriguez's mock draft First Round (7th overall)—Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK) Slot value: $7,149,900 FOF draft profile With the seventh pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select shortstop Eli Willits. The Marlins select one of the most well-rounded high school prospects in this draft class. Willits is a switch-hitting middle fielder with excellent hitting tools and five-tool potential as he continues to fill out his frame. If he’s available, Willits should be the pick for the Marlins. Competitive Balance Round A (43rd overall)—Tate Southisene, SS/OF, Basic HS (NV) Slot value: $2,276,700 With the 43rd pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select shortstop/outfielder Tate Southisene. The Marlins select another well-rounded prep prospect here. He’s a very smart ballplayer who drives the ball to all fields with authority and doesn't chase many pitches out of the zone. The Nevada native is also a good athlete who can play shortstop and center field at the next level. Second Round (46th overall)—Zach Root, LHP, Arkansas Slot value: $2,128,800 With the 46th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select left-handed pitcher Zach Root. The Marlins select their first college prospect, grabbing one of the best southpaws in the SEC. The East Carolina transfer posted a 9-6 record with a 3.62 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 3.94 FIP, and 11.4 K/9 in 99 innings pitched last season. Root’s fastball sits 91-94 mph and tops out at 97 mph with some sink. However, his curveball and changeup are his best pitches and generate whiffs. Third Round (78th overall)—Daniel Dickinson, 2B, LSU Slot value: $1,043,700 With the 78th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select second baseman Daniel Dickinson. The Utah Valley transfer was one of LSU’s best hitters on their national championship-winning team. Dickinson slashed .315/.458/.525 with 75 hits, twelve home runs, 40 walks, a 136 wRC+, and a .984 OPS in his first season at LSU. Dickinson has great plate discipline and posted a 13.8 K% and 13.1 BB% for the Tigers. Fourth Round (108th overall)—Marcos Paz, RHP, Hebron HS (TX) Slot value: $708,300 With the 108th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Marcos Paz. The Texas native missed all of his senior season due to Tommy John surgery, but pitched very well at the MLB Draft Combine. Paz has a three-pitch mix, including a low-90s sinking fastball. His best pitch is his slider, which topped out at a 2,952 rpm spin rate at the Combine. Paz also has an advanced feel for his changeup and projects as a middle-of-the-rotation type arm. Fifth Round (139th overall)—Bobby Boser, 3B, Florida Slot value: $523,900 With the 139th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman Bobby Boser. The Marlins need to save some signing bonus money after selecting three prep prospects with their first five picks. Boser had a great final season at the University of Florida. He slashed .336/.437/.613 with 80 hits, twelve doubles, 18 home runs, 67 RBIs, and a 1.050 OPS last season. Boser projects best as a third baseman/second baseman, but also started at shortstop towards the end of the season. Sixth Round (168th overall)—Zane Taylor, RHP, UNC Wilmington Slot value: $397,000 With the 168th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Zane Taylor. The Marlins grab another senior who would take an underslot deal. Taylor had a tremendous senior season for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, posting an 11-2 record with a 1.98 ERA, a .181 opponent batting average, 1.0 BB/9, and 9.9 K/9 in 2025. Taylor has a low-to-mid 90s fastball and locates it well. He also has a good feel for his three secondary pitches (changeup, slider, curveball) that can generate whiffs and weak contact. Seventh Round (198th overall)—Trevor Cohen, OF, Rutgers Slot value: $309,400 With the 198th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Trevor Cohen. The Marlins grab one of the best bat-to-ball hitters in college baseball. Cohen is a .338 hitter and had an 8% strikeout rate in his three seasons at Rutgers. Cohen slashed .387/.460/.523 with 91 hits, 24 doubles, two home runs, 36 RBIs, 30 walks, a 134 wRC+, and .983 OPS. Cohen projects as a left fielder at the next level. Sean McCormack's mock draft First Round (7th overall)—Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (CA) Slot value: $7,149,900 FOF draft profile With the seventh pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select shortstop Billy Carlson. The Marlins grab the best prep shortstop defender in the draft and one of the highest-regarded prospects overall. Carlson is silky smooth at short with a great arm. He combines this with great athleticism and an advanced approach and contact rates for his age. Scouts believe as Carlson matures with age, he will fill out physically and tap into game power. Competitive Balance Round A (43rd overall)—Dean Curley, INF, Tennessee Slot value: $2,276,700 With the 43rd pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select infielder Dean Curley. The Marlins select one of the highest-upside college infield prospects in the draft. In 2025, Curley posted a .966 OPS in SEC play, pairing that with elite swing decisions—chasing only 16.6% of the time—and a 80% contact rate. Curley posted a max exit velocity of 112 mph in 2025 and looks to hit for power going forward, having a total of 14 home runs this season. In the field, Curley played a nearly even mix of SS, 2B, and 3B, although many project him at the hot corner in the pros. Second Round (46th overall)—Angel Laya, OF, Eastlake HS (CA) Slot value: $2,128,800 With the 46th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select prep high schooler Angel Laya. The Marlins select one of the highest-rated high school outfielders in the draft. At the plate, Laya displays an advanced approach and makes great contact, posting a 92% contact rate in games where Trackman data was collected, and he has flashed plus EVs. In the field, Laya has a plus-plus arm and looks to be able to stick in center field. Third Round (78th overall)—Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State Slot value: $1,043,700 With the 78th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select Michigan State lefty Joseph Dzierwa. With this pick, the Marlins select one of the best Big Ten pitchers in the draft. Dzierwa is a large man, standing at 6'8". Atypical for pitchers with his height, he shows great command and lacks top-notch velo, though there is reason to believe he could eventually train to throw harder in the pros. Dzierwa's changeup is among the better ones in the class. Fourth Round (108th overall)—Jake Cook, OF, Southern Mississippi Slot value: $708,300 With the 108th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select Southern Mississippi outfielder Jake Cook. One of the fastest runners in this year's class, Cook projects to have elite speed and top-notch outfield defense in center field. Cook posted a .350/.436/.468 slash line this season and walked 31 times compared to 19 strikeouts. He does not have standout power, but his pure athleticism has teams showing interest in the Mississippi native. Fifth Round (139th overall)—Mason Morris, RHP, Ole Miss Slot value: $523,900 With the 139th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select Ole Miss right-handed pitcher Mason Morris. The SEC product has spent his college career in the bullpen, but projects to be able to move into the rotation in the pros. Morris has a fastball that touches 99 mph with 18 inches of vert, and a power slurve that got 43% whiff in 2025. He also uses a cutter that sits 92. Morris brings a powerful stride and electric arm to the Marlins farm system. Sixth Round (168th overall)—Will Hynes, RHP, Lorne Park HS (ON) Slot value: $397,000 With the 168th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select Will Hynes, a right-handed pitcher from Ontario, Canada. Hynes is following in the footsteps of fellow Ontarians who were recently drafted, such as Jonah Tong (Mets) and Josiah Romeo (Athletics). Hynes brings a advanced feel for pitching, a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a sweeper which has gotten scouts' attention. He is one of the younger players in the draft class, having just turned 18 on Monday. With a strong commitment to Wake Forest, the Marlins would most likely overslot this pick using savings from prior selections. Seventh Round (198th overall)—Jacob Morrison, RHP, Coastal Carolina Slot value: $309,400 With the 198th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select Jacob Morrison, a right-handed pitcher from Coastal Carolina University. The 6'8" righty has one of the better fastballs in the class and great feel to spin the baseball. Morrison is a north-south pitching archetype, which pairs perfectly with his over-the-top release point. He has a four-seam fastball, 12-6 curve, cutter and a fringy changeup in his arsenal. Morrison pitched 107 innings in 2025, posting a 2.42 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9. This is one of the more proven starters in the draft. 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Kicking off a week of comprehensive 2025 MLB Draft coverage at Fish On First, here is an updated mock draft that goes through the entire first round as well as prospect promotion incentive picks, free agent compensation picks and Competitive Balance Round A. The biggest riser when comparing this to March's mock is LSU's Kade Anderson, who I previously forecasted to fall outside of the first round. The biggest faller is Tennessee's Dean Curley (previously mocked to go No. 10). The seventh and 43rd overall selections belong to the Miami Marlins. I have them using both picks on California prep prospects: right-hander Seth Hernandez from Corona High School and shortstop Cooper Flemming from Aliso Niguel High School. Pick Team Player Position Bat/Throw Age School 1 Nationals Eli Willits SS S/R 17 Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK) 2 Angels Kade Anderson LHP L/L 21 LSU 3 Mariners Jamie Arnold LHP L/L 21 Florida State 4 Rockies Ethan Holliday SS/3B L/R 18 Stillwater HS (OK) 5 Cardinals Billy Carlson SS R/R 18 Corona HS (CA) 6 Pirates Aiva Arquette SS/3B R/R 21 Oregon State 7 Marlins Seth Hernandez RHP R/R 19 Corona HS (CA) 8 Blue Jays Jojo Parker SS L/R 18 Purvis HS (MS) 9 Reds Ike Irish C/1B L/R 21 Auburn 10 White Sox Marek Houston SS R/R 21 Wake Forest 11 Athletics Tyler Bremner RHP R/R 21 UC Santa Barbara 12 Rangers Liam Doyle LHP R/L 21 Tennessee 13 Giants Kayson Cunningham SS/2B L/R 19 Johnson HS (TX) 14 Rays Steele Hall SS R/R 17 Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL) 15 Red Sox Gavin Kilen SS/2B L/R 21 Tennessee 16 Twins Jace LaViolette CF L/L 21 Texas A&M 17 Cubs Kyson Witherspoon RHP R/R 20 Oklahoma 18 Diamondbacks Xavier Neyens 3B L/R 18 Mount Vernon HS (WA) 19 Orioles Brendan Summerhill CF L/R 21 Arizona 20 Brewers Caden Bodine C S/R 21 Coastal Carolina 21 Astros Andrew Fischer 3B/1B L/R 21 Tennessee 22 Braves Gage Wood RHP R/R 21 Arkansas 23 Royals Cam Cannarella CF L/R 21 Clemson 24 Tigers Slater de Brun CF L/R 18 Summit HS (OR) 25 Padres Josh Hammond SS R/R 18 Wesleyan Christian Acad. HS (NC) 26 Phillies Sean Gamble SS/CF L/R 19 IMG Academy HS (FL) 27 Guardians Jaden Fauske OF L/R 18 Nazareth Academy HS (IL) 28 Royals Wehiwa Aloy SS R/R 21 Arkansas 29 Diamondbacks Riley Quick RHP R/R 21 Alabama 30 Orioles Alex Lodise INF R/R 21 Florida State 31 Orioles Patrick Forbes RHP R/R 21 Louisville 32 Brewers Angel Cervantes RHP R/R 17 Warren HS (CA) 33 Red Sox Gavin Fien SS/3B R/R 18 Great Oak HS (CA) 34 Tigers Daniel Pierce SS R/R 18 Mill Creek HS (GA) 35 Mariners Ethan Conrad OF L/L 21 Wake Forest 36 Twins Landon Harmon RHP R/R 18 East Union HS (MS) 37 Orioles Charles Davalan 2B/OF L/R 21 Arkansas 38 Mets Tate Southisene SS R/R 18 Basic HS (NV) 39 Yankees AJ Russell RHP R/R 21 Tennessee 40 Dodgers Kruz Schoolcraft LHP/1B L/L 18 Sunset HS (OR) 41 Dodgers Ryan Mitchell SS L/R 18 Houston HS (TN) 42 Rays Luke Stevenson C L/R 21 North Carolina 43 Marlins Cooper Flemming SS L/R 18 Aliso Niguel HS (CA) Seth Hernandez Early in the draft process, Hernandez separated himself as the top prep pitching prospect in the 2025 class. At 6’4” and 190 pounds, he has the ideal pitching frame with room to fill it out with more muscle. Hernandez has a four-pitch mix. His fastball sits 96-98 mph and was clocked at 100 mph last summer. It has an above-average spin rate and explodes out of his hand. The changeup might be Hernandez’s best pitch. His curveball has a true 12-6 break and he also uses a sharp slider. The high-ceiling right-hander has good control and fills up the strike zone, but he will need to fine-tune the command of his secondary pitches. Hernandez is signed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University. Cooper Flemming Flemming has risen up public big boards following strong performances in the spring. A lanky teenager standing at 6'3", he has shown an impressive ability to make consistent contact, posting a 89% contact rate in games where Trackman data was collected. He's been posting exit velocities north of 100 mph already and it's reasonable to project a significant increase in that area as he matures. With a smooth swing and quiet load from the left side, Flemming is able to stay on time and on plane with pitches while generating good bat speed. In the field, Flemming has the tools to stick at short with a very strong arm and quick feet. Third base would be his potential fallback position. He is an average to above-average runner on the bases. Another Vandy commit, Flemming will require a seven-figure bonus to forgo college, but he should be willing to settle for less than this pick's $2,276,700 slot value. View full article