Jakob Marsee might not have been a household name coming out of college, but he’s quickly becoming one to watch in Miami.
The 23-year-old outfielder didn’t come up through a blue-blood baseball program-he played his college ball at Central Michigan and sharpened his skills in the Northwoods League, far from the spotlight of the SEC or Pac-12. But talent finds a way to rise, and the San Diego Padres saw enough in Marsee to take him in the sixth round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Fast forward a couple of years, and he’s now part of the Miami Marlins' future after being included in the trade that sent All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez to San Diego.
That deal brought Marsee, along with Dillon Head, Nathan Martorella, and Woo-suk Go, to South Florida. And it didn’t take long for Marsee to make his presence felt.
After getting the call-up in August, Marsee played in 55 games for the Marlins and made the most of the opportunity. He slashed .292/.363/.478, drove in 33 runs, hit five homers, and swiped 14 bags. That kind of production earned him National League Rookie of the Month honors for August-and it wasn’t just the bat doing the talking.
Defensively, Marsee was just as sharp. He posted 4 Outs Above Average (OAA) in limited time-an elite pace that, over a full season, would put him in the conversation as one of the top defensive outfielders in the game. He showed range, instincts, and a knack for positioning that you don’t often see from a rookie.
Now, with Marsee entering his first full season, the question naturally shifts to the long term. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand recently pointed to Marsee as a prime candidate for an early contract extension. And he’s not wrong.
There’s no urgency from a control standpoint-Marsee is under team control for six more seasons. But we’ve seen plenty of small-market clubs get proactive with young talent, locking in players early to create cost certainty for the team while giving the player some financial security. It’s a strategy that’s worked well for organizations like the Rays, Guardians, and Braves over the years.
Marsee’s 842 OPS and 1.9 bWAR in just 55 games show the kind of upside that front offices dream about. He’s not just a flash in the pan-he’s a well-rounded player who contributes on both sides of the ball and plays with a maturity beyond his years.
For the Marlins, this could be the perfect time to strike. Locking up Marsee now could save them serious money down the line if he continues on this trajectory. And for Marsee, an early extension would offer stability while still allowing him to hit free agency in his prime.
It’s still early in his career, but Jakob Marsee is already giving the Marlins something to build around. If they believe he’s the real deal-and all signs point that way-getting ahead of the curve with an extension might just be the smart play.