Why this Marlins prospect hasn't pitched since mid-May
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CHICAGO -- The Marlins are waiting on a final medical opinion for No. 4 prospect Dax Fulton, who hasn't taken the mound since May 11 due to a left elbow UCL issue.
Fulton, who was pitching at Double-A Pensacola, had posted a 5.18 ERA in seven games (six starts) for the Blue Wahoos in 2023. His last outing, however, was arguably his best. He matched or bested season highs for strikeouts (nine), walks (one) and innings (5 2/3) while giving up three runs.
It looked like the 21-year-old left-hander was returning to the form he found during an 11-game stretch from July 8-Sept. 16, 2022, with High-A Beloit and Double-A Pensacola, during which he compiled a 2.35 ERA. Fulton finished his '22 season with a scoreless 13-strikeout, six-inning start in the Southern League playoffs. Unfortunately for Fulton, this injury sprung up on him in mid-May.
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Three years ago, the Oklahoma-born Fulton was the consensus best prep southpaw in the 2020 Draft despite blowing out his elbow at Team USA's 18U trials in August '19 and having Tommy John surgery a month later. The Marlins took him in the second round, paying him $2.4 million -- a record bonus for a high school pitcher who missed his entire senior season.
Here's how Marlins prospects are doing at the Minor League affiliates:
Triple-A Jacksonville: Xavier Edwards (No. 12)
Edwards went deep for the first time this season on Sunday, belting a two-run homer in the first game of a doubleheader against Nashville. The 23-year-old, who made his MLB debut last month, entered the series finale with more walks (20) than strikeouts (10) at the Triple-A level.
Double-A Pensacola: Dalvy Rosario (Not ranked)
The 22-year-old outfielder received a promotion from Beloit to Pensacola to fill a position of need on Friday, and hours later he knocked a walk-off shot for the Blue Wahoos. Rosario followed that up with a three-run tater as part of a seven-run eighth inning on Saturday.
High-A Beloit: Jacob Berry (No. 3)
Berry, 22, started at first base for the first time in his professional career on Thursday. He also appeared at first and third on Friday. When Miami selected Berry sixth overall, there were questions as to where he would wind up playing defensively, with MLB Pipeline's scouting report bringing up the possibility of first base.
Single-A Jupiter: Jake Eder (No. 5)
The 24-year-old southpaw made his second rehab start for the Hammerheads on Saturday, giving up one run on four hits across four innings and 56 pitches. He struck out three, walked one and hit another. Eder underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2021, then sustained a stress fracture in his left foot that set him back this past Spring Training.