It was a unique year for the Miami Marlins, who used all of their 2025 MLB Draft selections on college players. With many of the draftees set to make their professional debuts any day now, I’ve highlighted the five best picks that the Marlins made, based on value or sheer player evaluation. 

 

1. SS/3B Aiva Arquette (Round 1)

The Marlins’ first selection of the draft may have been one of the better value selections in the whole draft. Aiva Arquette who ranked second on the Fish On First big board, and the top rated college bat in the draft by most insiders and scouts. Arquette is a lanky shortstop who most likely will move over to 3rd base as his career continues. 

With the bat Arquette possess real 60-grade pop, the Hawaiian native does have above-average amount of chase in his profile, but is able to mitigate the aggressive approach with his long arms and great hand-eye coordination to make contact in all quadrants of the zone. Arquette has a expected of .570 and higher vs fastballs 93+ or more and slugs well vs off-speed.

The first-rounder has shown few holes in his hitting at the college level. He’ll have a chance to through the minors in a way that has become increasingly common across baseball, but rare for Marlins prospects. 

 

2. INF Drew Faurot (Round 4)

Drew Faurot was the second of three Florida State teammates selected by the Marlins. Faurot, who ranked 131st on the FOF big board, brings infield pop and good infield defense. 

In 2025, Faurot slugged .564 with 16 home runs. He is a power threat from both sides of the plate, with a bit better feel from the left side. After swing mechanic changes, Faurot was able to put together the best season of his college career with the Noles. 

What makes Faurot stand out as a prospect is the projection as a legitimate powerful, bat-first infielder in the pros. He must refine his approach throughout the minor leagues—he did major damage vs fastballs, but lacked the ability to make contact with offspeed. 

 

3. LHP Joey Volini (Round 6)

The final Nole selected is the big 6’4″ lefty. Joey Volini in 2025 had a 3.50 ERA, 10.8 K/9, and a 2.6 BB/9 in 87.1 IP. Volini fills up the strike zone and has multiple solid offspeed offerings. His fastball is not electric, but the deception and size of Volini makes it play up. The pitchability is present.

Volini has the upside of a No. 4/No. 5 starter in the big leagues if the Marlins are able to squeeze extra velocity out of his fastball.

 

4. UTIL Jake McCutcheon (Round 10)

Missouri Valley Conference product Jake McCutcheon found his power stroke this season. In his first two years of college ball, McCutcheon never hit more than one home run in a season; this year, he hit 15. The lefty had a slash line of .358/.444/.647. 

Where on the diamond McCutcheon plays is a different story. He may stick in the infield at second base, or move to a corner outfield spot. Either way, the Marlins acquired a potential under-the-radar bat with utility upside in the 10th round.  

 

5. LHP RJ Shunck (Round 16)

The Marlins in the 16th round selected Toledo’s RJ Shunck. Another tall lefty, Shunck is the tallest player the Marlins selected, standing at 6’7″. Spending most of his 2025 season working out the bullpen, Shunck may have a future starting role in the Marlins org. The Ohio native would need to add additional pitches to his arsenal, which currently consists of a sinker, slider, and occasionally a cutter.

There is big stuff with Shunck. If he is unable to put it all together as a starter, he could fly through the minor leagues as a reliever.Â