MIAMI -- The Marlins are heading into the 2026 MLB Draft with a spot that can turn chaotic in a hurry.
Picking 14th on Saturday, they’re far enough down the board that the names they covet may already be gone - or they may be sitting there longer than expected. That uncertainty is exactly what vice president of amateur forecasting and player evaluation initiatives Frankie Piliere says makes this year interesting.
“The fun part when you pick 14th is, you don't really know what's going to come your way, but especially this year,” Piliere said. “I think there's not a lot of clarity at the top.
I feel like I've said that before, but this year in particular is that way. It's still a talented group.
Sometimes when people hear lack of clarity at the top, they think it's because it's not talented. There's plenty of talent, it's just really hard to separate the guys this year.
There's a bunch of guys that are qualified to go in the first 10-20 picks.”
The Marlins will make five selections on Day 1: 14, 52, 71, 87 and 115. Their bonus pool allotment is $11,960,100.
That uncertainty is familiar territory for Miami. A year ago, the club didn’t know who would be available at No. 7 until the draft got closer.
Aiva Arquette, the consensus top collegiate position player in last year’s class, ended up falling to them. He was Miami’s top pick, though his pro season is now on hold because of a left thumb injury.
Before that setback, the 22-year-old hit .240/.297/.462 with seven doubles, two triples, nine homers, 36 RBIs and 12 steals in 41 games between High-A Beloit and Double-A Pensacola.
The next wave of the Marlins’ draft class has already started to show up. Cam Cannarella, taken 43rd overall, has become the organization’s breakout 2025 pick.
Even after a left wrist fracture cost him time, the 22-year-old has backed up the scouting report with elite defense and some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the Draft. As of Sunday, he was hitting .360/.442/.599 across the same two levels as Arquette, and he has gone to another level at Double-A with eight homers in 28 games.
Piliere said this year’s class looks balanced, with college talent at the top and plenty of prep depth behind it. The Marlins’ staff will spend the final stretch before the draft sorting through how to separate the players on the board.
For college bats, the club leans on how those skills have translated in recent drafts. Swing decisions, power and contact ability are the traits Miami believes carry forward.
MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis recently identified several college hitters the Marlins are targeting: University of Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, LSU outfielder Derek Curiel, TCU outfielder Sawyer Strosnider, University of Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia and Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese.
There are arms in the mix as well, including Coastal Carolina right-hander Cameron Flukey and Tennessee right-hander Tegan Kuhns. California prep two-way player Jared Grindlinger is another name to watch.
Still, Piliere said Miami’s approach doesn’t change much from year to year.
“I don't think most people believe it when I say it, but it is truly best available, like it is every year at every time,” Piliere said. “We drafted all college players last year, because it's how the board fell.
It could be different this year. It could be very different.
It just depends how the board falls.
“I think every year when we build up a board, there are high school players, there are college pitchers, there are college bats. But if those guys get picked before you go, what you have next is who you take, and we're pretty strict about our board, and we stick to our board.”
Miami worked out more than 300 prospects before the draft, with more emphasis than ever on defense and speed.
Piliere also pointed to the organization’s development track record, highlighting Triple-A infielder Gage Miller and Double-A outfielder Fenwick Trimble. Both were part of the 2024 Draft class, Piliere’s first with the Marlins. Miller, a third-round pick, entered Monday with a .895 combined OPS, while Trimble, a fourth-round pick, had an .820 OPS.
“You look around baseball fields, there are third-, fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, seventh-rounders all over the field, and sometimes lower,” Piliere said. “I look at no matter where we pick, we have a good shot at getting good players.
“They're available if you stay disciplined in the Draft. They sneak in, they fly under the radar.
But those are really good players. And after the first round, everyone kind of forgets where you pick.
Everyone's kind of almost on equal footing, and if you stay disciplined, there's really good players available, no matter where you pick.”
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