As the Miami Marlins welcomed 20 new members to the organization following the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the club held a week-long draft camp in Miami. As part of a unique experience, the draftees participated in workouts at loanDepot park and visited various spots around Miami, while staying in a house together.

“The concept of this camp came about from us collectively talking about our experiences onboarding players with organizations,” said Rachel Balkovec, Marlins Director of Player Development. “We wanted to harness all the excitement that comes with being drafted and joining an organization. The goal was to create an environment for the draftees to connect with each other, enter the organization as a team, and feel like they’re really teammates.”

The consensus among the draftees was that the camp accomplished exactly that.

“This camp has been unbelievable,” said Carter Johnson, the No. 56 overall pick. “They’re giving us a taste of pro ball before we really get thrown into it, and I think that’s something really special for us to all meet each other and get comfortable.”

“It’s been an amazing experience,” said Aiden May, the No. 70 overall pick. “Hearing around from some of my buddies who’ve gotten drafted, they’re not doing anything like this. This is a great experience, and the guys have bonded really well. We’re getting a lot of good work in, which is the big thing. A lot of heavy lifts and workouts, and everything’s just been fantastic so far.”

An integral part of the bonding process was the group sharing an Airbnb for the camp’s duration.

“It’s been hilarious,” said PJ Morlando, the No. 16 overall pick. “You’d think we’re a team of comedians. It’s one of those experiences that I feel like nobody else gets to have. We all have the same dreams and goals, and everybody is a great human, so to put us in one house together, you can just imagine all of the fun we have together.”

On Morlando’s characterization of the group, May added, “I’d say that’s a pretty good description. I’d also put in there that we’re guys that are getting after it. We’re joking around and having fun, but we’re working hard, and I think that’s the best blend. It’s been a very fun experience and really valuable as well.”

Those descriptions match what Balkovec and her team envisioned when originally coming up with the camp’s concept.

“It was meant to be a phenomenal experience, where it’s fun, but they’re also working really hard together and developing friendships,” she said. “We wanted to create a team environment.”

In addition to sharing a house and working out together, the group also checked out Miami’s world-renowned culinary scene. Now, the draftees are all in on the city’s food hype.

Johnson went as far as to say that his “favorite part about Miami has been the food.”

Marlins 2003 World Series champion Juan Pierre, who assisted with one of the workouts at the ballpark, firmly believes that the draftees experiencing all of what Miami and being a Marlin has to offer will set them up for success.

“This is awesome,” said Pierre. “To be on this field, I think it’s tremendous for them to get a little taste of what it’s like and get instruction. It gives them something to shoot for as they go through their Minor League journey. This will help them out big time, even just going into the clubhouse and seeing it all. When I was coming up, you just had a fantasy of what it looked like, but they actually know now.”

Along with giving them an idea of what to aspire for, the camp also began to instill a sense of pride in the draftees.

“I had never been to loanDepot park before,” said Morlando. “This place is awesome. I think now that we get to say we’re in the organization and get to claim a field, every single time we walk in here is a little bit more special. I would say my favorite part about Miami is this stadium.”