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Fulton spins gem to send Pensacola to Southern League finals (Sept. 23)
With a trip to the finals on the line, Dax Fulton left it all out on the field.
The Marlins’ eighth-ranked prospect turned in the best start of his career, striking out a pro-best 13 across six innings of one-hit ball to set up Pensacola for its first trip to the Southern League Championship Series since 2017. Norel Gonzalez plated the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-out single.
It was a pitchers’ duel throughout the contest. While Fulton racked up the K's, neither team was able to get anything going offensively. Montgomery threatened early when the first two reached base in the second frame on a single and a walk, but Fulton proceeded to retire the next 15 Biscuits in a row, whiffing 11. Full story ?
Nu?ez lifts Double-A Pensacola to victory (Sept. 22)
Nasim Nu?ez (Miami's No. 24 prospect) knocked the go-ahead homer in the eighth inning of Pensacola's 6-5 comeback victory over the Montgomery Biscuits on Thursday night. The Blue Wahoos rallied from a five-run deficit to force a decisive Game 3 in the Division Series. It marked the first homer at the Double-A level for Nu?ez, who has 70 stolen bases this season between High-A Beloit and Pensacola. --?Christina De Nicola
Salas, Mack, Mesa Jr. among Marlins prospects headed for AFL (Sept. 16)
Jose Salas, ranked as Miami's No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline, No. 9 catcher Joe Mack and No. 15 outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. headline the Marlins’ crop headed to the Arizona Fall League. Often, teams will send highly touted prospects who slumped following a promotion within the Minors to the AFL for further seasoning. Salas (High-A), Mack (Single-A) and Mesa Jr. (High-A) all fit that bill this season. Right-handers Tyler Eckberg and Holt Jones, and lefties Justin Fall and Chandler Jozwiak will join them on the Mesa squad, which this year will be comprised of Marlins, A’s, Cubs, Rays and Yankees prospects. -- Joe Trezza
Watson named FSL Player of the Week (Sept. 12)
No. 7 prospect Kahlil Watson led the Florida State League with 15 total bases and tied for the league lead with seven hits to close out Single-A Jupiter's season. He hit .304 with one homer and four RBIs in the final series. The 19-year-old, who was briefly demoted to the Florida Complex League earlier in 2022, clubbed a team-high nine homers but posted a 35.5 percent strikeout rate at Jupiter.
Pérez begins rehab assignment (Sept. 10)
Top prospect Eury Pérez struck out four batters across two scoreless innings for Single-A Jupiter in his return to the mound. He allowed just one single across 30 pitches (22 strikes). The 19-year-old right-hander had last pitched on Aug. 5 for Double-A Pensacola.?-- Christina De Nicola
Watson, Berry go deep; Milbrandt debuts (Sept. 9)
Playing for Single-A Jupiter, Khalil Watson (Miami's No. 7 prospect) homered and tripled, while Jacob Berry (No. 3) knocked his third homer and walked. Right-hander Karson Milbrandt, whom Miami selected in the third round of July's MLB Draft, went two innings in his professional debut. He ranks No. 17 in the Marlins' system.?-- Christina De Nicola
Berry's three hits, three RBIs lead Hammerheads (Sept. 8)
Two hitless games? Not a problem for Jacob Berry, who is finishing his professional debut on a high note.
The No. 3 Marlins prospect notched his fourth three-hit contest, doubling twice and driving in three runs to lead Single-A Jupiter past visiting Lakeland, 7-3. Berry, who was hitting .179 on Aug. 13, has raised his average to .270 and his OPS to .730 in 30 games with the Hammerheads.
Selected sixth overall in this year's Draft, the 21-year-old has eight extra-base hits and 22 RBIs in the Florida State League, including five in his past five games. -- Michael Avallone
Watson sets career high for hits (Sept. 4)
Kahlil Watson (Miami's No. 7 prospect) tripled and had three singles for the first four-hit game of his professional career. He hit leadoff and started at shortstop in Single-A Jupiter's 8-3 loss. Watson has a hit in nine of his past 12 games.
Fulton continues to dominate on mound (Sept. 2)
Left-hander Dax Fulton (Miami's No. 9 prospect) struck out eight batters across six innings in Double-A Pensacola's 4-0 victory. Fulton, who was named the Marlins' Minor Leaguer of the Month for August (1.71 ERA), allowed just an infield hit in his latest start.
Johnston has extra effort for Triple-A Jacksonville (Aug. 30)
It was a career night for Troy Johnston, who homered twice and doubled to power Triple-A Jacksonville's 7-6 victory over Gwinnett at Coolray Field.
The 22nd-ranked Marlins prospect doubled and scored in the second before launching a solo blast to left-center in the fourth. Two innings later, the 25-year-old sent another moonshot to center for his third dinger with the Jumbo Shrimp in seven games.
In 92 total games this season, Johnston is batting .291/.360/.469 with 13 homers, one triple, 22 doubles, 35 walks, 53 RBIs and 46 runs scored. -- Rob Terranova
Berry homers in four-RBI effort (Aug. 24)
After a slow start to his professional career, Jacob Berry is finding his footing. The sixth overall pick of the 2022 Draft belted a homer and drove in four runs in Single-A Jupiter’s 9-3, seven-inning victory over Daytona.
The Marlins’ No. 3 prospect (MLB No. 52) swatted the fourth pitch he saw in the top of the first for a two-run homer to right field, driving in No. 7 prospect Kahlil Watson after his leadoff single. It was Berry’s second long ball in his first 23 games, but he wasn’t done yet. The switch-hitter lofted a sacrifice fly to left in the following frame and was plunked with the bases loaded in the third to bring in another run. He smacked his third double of the year to center to lead off the fifth and came around to score on a fielder’s choice.
The 21-year-old is batting .254/.349/.380 with five extra-base hits, six walks and 15 RBIs in 19 games with the Hammerheads. -- Stephanie Sheehan
Pettitte earns first pro win as part of no-hitter (Aug. 20)
Although he had no idea what he'd accomplished until he got word during his post-outing routine, left-hander Jared Pettitte -- son of Yankees legend Andy Pettitte -- was part of a four-pitcher no-hitter while on a rehab assignment with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins. The lefty worked two perfect frames out of the bullpen and wound up with his first professional victory. Full story ?
Conine homers twice (Aug. 13)
Griffin Conine (Miami's No. 24 prospect) recorded his second two-homer game of the season in Double-A Pensacola's 10-2 victory. The 25-year-old outfielder left the ballpark -- literally -- with both shots. Conine finished tied for second in the Minors with 36 homers in 2021. He has 19 this season. -- Christina De Nicola