MIAMI – Marlins No. 11 prospect Brandon Compton is known for his exit velocities and head-turning power. But there’s an alternate timeline where Compton is a pitcher and not a feared slugger. Compton, who attended Arizona State to be a two-way player, underwent Tommy John surgery over the summer leading up to his freshman year. In 2023 when Compton could only hit while rehabbing his arm in the Northwoods League, he slugged 13 homers and recorded a .985 OPS in 60 games. That type of production put an end to any thought of pitching again. Now 22, Compton is on a crazy tear. Entering Saturday, Compton had gone deep 15 times in 30 games at Double-A Pensacola, putting together an otherworldly 1.246 OPS and garnering Hitter of the Month honors in the Marlins’ Next Wave Awards. His 12 home runs in July set a Blue Wahoos single-month franchise record and were the most by a Marlins Double-A player in a month since at least 2005. “Honestly, this is probably the best I've hit in like a stretch of time in my life,” Compton said. “It’s definitely fun, and at the plate, I'm just keeping it simple, feeling relaxed, and I've been able to stick to the same routine and drills and feels throughout that course of time in the cage and through drill work. It’s just been feeling good and trying to be consistent and make good swing decisions.” |
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Things clicked for 2025 second-rounder Compton, who sustained a hamate injury the first week of early camp, while in Quad Cities from June 9-14 as a member of High-A Beloit. Since Compton wasn’t able to get on the field much, he focused on lifting and nutrition. Marlins No. 3 prospect Aiva Arquette, whom the Marlins selected seventh overall in last year’s Draft, was coming back from surgery like roommate Compton. Without a normal buildup, Compton saw weak results early on. From April 2-June 3, he hit .180/.415/.302 with six doubles, one triple and three homers in 42 games. The following day, he tallied his first career three-hit performance. It clearly took time to feel comfortable at the plate following the missed time. “I didn't really have too many goals,” Compton said. “I just wanted to do my best. It's my first year in pro ball. I guess the goal was to get to Double-A. That was kind of a goal. But other than that, just being able to compete, find a good routine that I'm able to stick with, and just do the best I can each and every pitch. There's so many opportunities throughout the season to get stuff done. So, just not missing those and being prepared for it.” |
According to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report, the 6-foot-1 left-handed-hitting Compton has incredible raw strength out of a crouched stance. In July, for example, he ranked in Double-A’s 100th percentile with a 64.4 percent hard-hit percentage (95-plus mph exit velocity). Controlling the zone better – one of the Marlins’ core tenets – is something Compton is trying to improve upon in order to unlock that power more consistently. Another opportunity for growth in his game will be the ability to connect on 95-plus mph velocity and sliders. Compton has been able to hit fastballs better this year by getting on top of and through them. On defense, Compton profiles as a left fielder, working on getting better reads and jumps. There’s a potential future at first base, though he has yet to field grounders there. “I just want to be as consistent as I can,” Compton said. “Obviously, I've had a good stretch so far, and I'd like to continue just trying to win each day, win each pitch. That just comes down to the process and the goals I create throughout it. It's making the adjustments when needed. The game always calls for it. Just being ready and working on myself and just trying to improve in any way I can.” |
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The Marlins announced July’s Next Wave Award winners, which recognizes the top performers across the organization’s Minor League affiliates whose achievements reflect the club’s core player development priorities. RHP Holt Jones: Pitcher of the Month Jones ranked third among Marlins Minor Leaguers with a 1.77 fielding independent pitching (FIP) over 16 1/3 innings with the Blue Wahoos. In eight appearances, he struck out 23 batters compared to eight walks. The 27-year-old Jones also owned the highest first-pitch strike percentage (72.1 percent) among Marlins farmhands. OF Brendan Jones: Defensive Player of the Month Jones (No. 18 prospect) recorded 1.6 outs above average in 136 innings with Double-A, appearing in eight games (seven starts) in center field, five games (five starts) in left and four games (four starts) in right. The 24-year-old Jones, who also led all defenders with 1.5 runs above average (RAA), became the first Marlins player to garner Next Wave Awards in multiple months this season (Baserunner of the Month Award in May). He was promoted to Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday. OF Colby Shade: Baserunner of the Month Shade, 24, went 16-for-16 in stolen-base attempts, ranking fourth among all full-season Minor Leaguers and first within the Marlins’ organization. He was also successful in all seven attempts of stealing third base -- tied for the most steals of third among Minor League players at full-season affiliates. C Wilson Weber: Fish of the Month The award recognizes the player who best embodies what it means to be an outstanding teammate within the organization. |
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