The Miami Marlins brought in 21 players through the 2026 MLB Draft, but the early pro-ball rollout has been slower than usual. As of Tuesday, only three members of the class have appeared for Marlins minor league affiliates, and Fish On First has learned that none of the pitchers are expected to take the mound in minor league games until 2027.
The early spotlight has landed on the position players who have already gotten their feet wet in Low-A Jupiter. Jacob Lombard, the club’s first-round pick, has settled in quickly with the Hammerheads and looks like an above-average hitter through his first 14 games.
He’s batting .241/.382/.407 with 13 hits, three home runs, 12 RBIs, 10 walks, 11 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a .789 OPS. Jupiter has used Lombard as its primary shortstop, though he has also made one start at second base in each series.
Another early look has come from Eric Guevara, who has opened his pro career in encouraging fashion. In eight Low-A games, he has posted a .292/.414/.542 line with seven hits, two home runs, six RBIs, five walks, seven runs scored, two stolen bases and a .956 OPS.
Guevara has done that while working at a platoon disadvantage, with only one plate appearance against left-handed pitching. Drafted as a shortstop, he has been stationed at third base for now.
Cam Kozeal is the third Marlins draftee with game action so far, though his numbers haven’t changed since last week because he’s on the injured list. In 10 games with the Hammerheads, he has hit .214/.313/.405 with nine hits, two doubles, two home runs, three RBIs, six walks, six runs scored and a .718 OPS.
The rest of the class is still waiting for its first official games. Ethan Kleinschmit, Ryan Peterson, Wessley Roberson, Trey Beard, Cole Selvig, Rintaro Sasaki, Nic Tolbert, Zach Peters, Fabio Bundi, Bane Barker, Connor Benge, Tyler Kapa, Colin Linder, Porter Buursema, Duke McCarron, Jatniel McCloud, Jackson Mitchell and Joey Lawson have yet to appear in MiLB competition.
In Other News...
Marlins Front Office Shakeup Just Raised A Bigger Question About Their Future
The Marlins have made a sweeping change in the way they evaluate talent, firing their entire pro scouting department as part of a front-office overhaul. It is a move that fits the modern direction of the sport, where more clubs are leaning on video and data-heavy processes to help shape roster decisions, and it arrives while Miami is still sitting third in the NL East and hanging around the playoff race.
Even with the team in contention, the shakeup suggests the Marlins are looking well beyond the next series and into the way they want to operate going forward. The shift toward a more video-driven approach may streamline how the club gathers information, but it also raises a bigger question about how much of the old-school scouting infrastructure survives as Miami tries to build its future. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Prospects Fighting For A Crucial Extra Development Opportunity
The Arizona Fall League is about to provide another stretch of live-game work for a handful of Marlins prospects, with the season set to begin Oct. 3 and Miamis assigned players landing with the Glendale Desert Dogs. So far, Aiva Arquette and Emmett Olson have been confirmed among the group, which is expected to include seven or eight players overall once the final delegation is set.
For a farm system always trying to squeeze more development out of every available inning, the assignment matters most for the players who need extra reps after missing time during the season. The roster could still shift if injuries crop up, but the broader goal is already clear: give Miamis young talent a chance to keep playing, keep adjusting and make up for the innings they lost along the way. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Suddenly Face Another Bullpen Question They Really Didn't Need
Pete Fairbanks leaving the game against the Boston Red Sox with nerve irritation is the kind of development the Marlins could have done without, especially with the bullpen already under pressure to hold together. Miami had just welcomed Kyle Stowers back, which at least gave the roster a small lift, but the relief corps remains a spot where one setback can quickly become two.
Fairbanks is scheduled for a recheck, and until there is more clarity, Miami has to prepare as if it may be without another late-inning option. If that happens, the workload would shift to other arms such as Michael Petersen and Tyler Zuber, and the Marlins will be left trying to patch innings while waiting to see how long this latest concern lingers. [Read more 🡒]