Brandon Compton’s 2026 season put him in rare company across the minors, and it was enough to make him the Marlins’ Minor League Player of the Year.
The 22-year-old left-handed hitter was one of only 10 players in the minor leagues to reach at least 35 home runs in a year packed with power. Compton finished with 35 homers while climbing from High-A Beloit to Double-A Pensacola and then Triple-A Jacksonville, turning in a season that made the organization’s second-round investment look sharp.
He hit .271/.411/.572 in 124 games, adding 27 doubles and 27 stolen bases to the power output. That production came after a winding path to this point.
A native of Arizona, Compton went undrafted out of high school, when he was mostly known as a left-handed pitcher. He then went to Arizona State and missed all of 2023 while recovering from elbow surgery.
The power was already showing up before the Marlins took him. Compton hit 14 home runs in 2024 and was the Pac-12 Conference freshman/newcomer of the year. He wasn’t quite as productive in 2025, but Miami liked him enough to take him in the second round and sign him for $2 million.
This year also started with a setback. Compton suffered a hamate injury on his right hand early in spring training, but he got back in time for Opening Day and had to make adjustments along the way.
“It’s been a journey,” Compton said.
He explained the changes he made after the injury.
“After the injury, I had to re-learn my swing on the fly through trial and error,” Compton said. “I got taller in my stance, loading earlier and fixing my bat path so that it’s more direct. I’m now able to hit velo and see spin well.”
At 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, Compton gets big power out of a compact, crouched setup.
There are still questions on the defensive side. He mainly played left field, then started getting looks at first base later in the season. Compton said his arm has more in it than people realize, noting that he was clocked at 95 mph off the mound after elbow surgery.
“Defense is an area I’m working to improve on,” Compton said, “but I’ve got some speed and agility. I believe I can get better.”
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