Get to know the Marlins' ‘22 first-round pick

This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

When the Marlins selected LSU's Jacob Berry with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, it fell in line with the organization's more recent emphasis on acquiring contact-oriented batters.

Berry, who turned 22 on Friday, held his own during his pro debut at Single-A Jupiter last year, but the switch-hitter has gotten off to a slow start at High-A Beloit following his first Spring Training. He hasn't played since April 28 because of a right middle finger sprain, but the organization expects him to be a full-go next week.

In this latest prospect Q&A, get to know Berry on and off the field:

MLB.com: You once told Marlins Radio that whether you're at third, first, wherever, you know your bat will play. You seem like a quiet guy. Where does that inner confidence come from?

Berry: I'm a quiet guy. I'm still the new guy, so trying to figure everything out. That's something I always believe in: My bat is something that's always going to play, doesn't matter if it's first base, third base, left field, right field, DH. That's something that's always going to play, in my opinion, and something that I know is going to be my steady. It's going to be consistent, and it's never going to change for me.

MLB.com: Last year was probably your first year playing year-round like that -- going to college, the Draft, then straight to the Minor Leagues. How was that for your body?

Berry: I had a couple of knicks and knacks in college, obviously. I loved playing every day. It's the best thing ever. You have a bad day, you're playing again. You have a good day, you're playing the next day. It's like the best feeling in the world to be honest with you. I just enjoy it. Every day is a new opportunity to go out there and prove yourself. If you have a bad day, well, you've got to get over it and play again tomorrow. That's something that I think is a really cool opportunity, which a lot of guys have and which I'm going to have this year. So I'm looking forward to it.

MLB.com: Your dad was drafted. What was it like, that dynamic of him experiencing what you're going through? How has that helped you?

Berry: Everything he said has been 100% true, which is crazy. I love my dad to death, but it's like -- you don't really believe something until you go through it. I've [gone] through everything he told me, and I've just kind of called him after everything's happened -- from high school to college, college, pro ball, all the transitions and everything, all the in-betweens. Everything has been true. It's been cool to lean on him and get some advice from him, because he's been through this whole process. It's pretty cool to kind of share it with him as well.

MLB.com: You're from Arizona. Have you been to the Grand Canyon, and if so, how many times?

Berry: I grew up actually in northern Arizona in Page, Ariz., and I went to the Grand Canyon quite a bit when I was a kid. We used to go camping right there along the Grand Canyon, and it's just beautiful. We used to go on hikes as a family, ATV riding, everything like that. It's just a beautiful place, and it's really easy to disconnect and just be with your family and just enjoy the moment and the area. So that's something that I love to do.

MLB.com: What would be your karaoke song if you were forced to go up there?

Berry: I had to do this my freshman year of college in front of [everyone]. At that time, it was a country song; probably it would be another country song just because I know most of the words to that.

MLB.com: What artists are we thinking?

Berry: Right now, I still listen to a lot of the old country artists like Alan Jackson, George Strait. I love those guys. Morgan Wallen seems like he puts out a new song every other month, so it's hard to keep up with him. But a lot of good artists. Him and Luke Combs would probably be the ones to go to.

MLB.com: If you weren't playing baseball, what would you be doing?

Berry: I would probably be finishing up my degree right now. That, or I would maybe have a fishing boat somewhere. I don't know. One of the two. I'd probably have to finish my degree and then own a company.

MLB.com: What was your degree?

Berry: I'm still working on a business degree right now at LSU. I'm still taking classes and working towards that. A little under two years [left] since I went to school [for] two years. Took a couple classes in the fall.

MLB.com: So business, fishing boat...

Berry: I just like fishing. On the border between Arizona and Utah is Lake Powell. I grew up on Lake Powell, so that'd be a fun place to go to retire at some point.