The Miami Marlins added another intriguing piece to their pitching pipeline this week, officially signing 17-year-old right-hander Yanixan Resendiz out of Mexico. It’s a move that fits right in with Miami’s long-term strategy: stockpiling young, high-upside arms with the kind of raw tools that development staffs love to mold.
At 6-foot-4 and already touching 91 mph with his fastball, Resendiz brings a tantalizing combination of size, arm strength, and projection. He’s still just a teenager, but the physical foundation is there-and that’s exactly what caught the Marlins’ attention during the early stages of the 2026 international signing period, which opened on January 15. Miami committed a portion of its international bonus pool to lock in the young righty, signaling how highly they value his potential.
This isn’t just about a radar gun reading or a tall frame-it’s about what Resendiz could become. The Marlins have shown a clear preference for pitchers who haven’t hit their ceiling yet but show the traits that can lead to big jumps in velocity and command as they mature.
Resendiz checks those boxes. He’s a projection play, but one with real upside.
Photos from the signing ceremony show Resendiz proudly donning a Marlins jersey at the AI Elite Academia facility in Mexico, a moment that marks the beginning of his professional journey. The signing was also made official on MLB’s international transaction register, confirming his place in Miami’s 2026 international class.
For now, Resendiz is expected to start his pro career at the rookie level, where the Marlins will carefully manage his innings and focus on building out his frame and refining his mechanics. He’s not on the 40-man roster, and he’s still years away from sniffing the big leagues, but that’s par for the course with international signings of this nature. What matters most right now is the foundation-and Resendiz has one that’s worth betting on.
This signing continues a trend for Miami: investing in international arms with projectable traits and a long runway for development. It’s a strategy rooted in patience and upside, and if Resendiz develops the way the Marlins hope, he could eventually become part of the next wave of homegrown pitching talent in South Florida.
For a franchise that has long leaned on pitching depth as its identity, adding a talent like Resendiz is another step in reinforcing that core philosophy.