The Rule 5 draft will take place on December 10 in Orlando, Florida. The Miami Marlins usually participate in the major league phase of the draft, but that seems rather unlikely this time around. They are set to pick 12th in the draft—compared to third the year before—and it’s harder to justify carrying a rookie on the roster all season when there are expectations of the team being competitive in 2026. Also, they don’t even have an opening on the 40-man roster—a move would need to be made before the draft begins.
With that being said, catcher Liam Hicks proved to be a nice pickup in the 2024 draft and the Marlins are starting to show an ability to develop under-the-radar players who didn’t reach their potential with their previous organizations. We are preparing for the possibility that they may still take a chance on somebody with the right upside and roster role.
Below are 10 unprotected players who the Marlins should be considering in the major league portion of the draft.
Pitchers
RHP Blake Burkhalter (Atlanta Braves)
The majority of Rule 5 picks are pitchers, so we will begin with them.
Burkhalter may be one of the first names off the board this year, before the Marlins are even on the clock. Taken with the 76th pick of the 2022 MLB Draft, the righty reached the Triple-A level in 2025, posting a 3.77 ERA, 4.82 FIP, 6.68 K/9 and 4.65 BB/9 in 31 innings pitched. Overall on the season, he had a 3.32 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 7.69 K/9 and 3.93 BB/9 in 32 appearances (16 starts) and 103 innings.
Ranked 11th among Braves prospects per MLB Pipeline, Burkhalter could bolster the bullpen with his strong fastball/cutter combo, along with a low-80s curveball and occasional changeup.
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Upgrading the bullpen is one of the Marlins’ top priorities heading into 2026. In addition to bringing in a veteran reliever, it wouldn’t hurt to give Burkhalter an opportunity to see what he can show during spring training.
LHP Hayden Mullins (Boston Red Sox)
Mullins, who is 25 years old, spent the 2025 season between High-A and Double-A, posting a 2.21 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 10.89 K/9 and 4.51 BB/9 through 101 ⅔ innings pitched. His arsenal consists of a fastball, slider, cutter and changeup. The slider seems to be his best pitch, per FanGraphs, with a 60-grade future value and 55-grade current value.
It is a bit risky to select a prospect with no AAA experience. However, that did not scare the Marlins away from picking Hicks when he was in that situation last year.
RHP Griff McGarry (Philadelphia Phillies)
McGarry spent most of the season in AA, but was then promoted to AAA. Between both levels, he posted a 3.44 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 13.34 K/9 and 5.27 BB/9.
He has been a strikeout machine throughout his professional career thanks to a 60-grade slider and overpowering fastball. McGarry is very tough for right-handed batters to hit, and that should carry over to the majors.
Clearly, the issue is control.
LHP Dalton Rogers (Boston Red Sox)
Another lefty in the Boston system, Dalton Rogers was a third-round pick in 2022 out of Southern Mississippi. He had a breakthrough year in 2025 after previously being stuck at the High-A level. In 105 innings pitched, Rogers finished with a 3.09 ERA, 3.03 FIP, and 15% K-BB%, almost all of that coming against AA competition.
Rogers has electric stuff, but will need to control it better if he wants to stick as a starter. With an over-the-top fastball, sweeper, and lofty curveball, he should reliably miss bats if turned into a reliever.
RHP Alaska Abney (Cleveland Guardians)
Perhaps the most unique player on this list is Guardians submariner Alaska Abney. Pure deception and grit are the name of the game for Abney, who was a 15th-rounder in 2021.
Abney spent the majority of the 2025 season rehabbing from a shoulder injury, but he finished strong. In his 20 ⅓ innings at AA, he had a 1.44 ERA, 3.12 FIP, and 23.4% K-BB%. Unlike the couple pitchers mentioned before him, he locates with precision and issued only two walks.
The Marlins bullpen hasn’t had an arm angle like this since Adam Cimber.
RHP RJ Petit (Detroit Tigers)
Petit had an extremely successful 2025 season. Between Double-A and Triple-A, he posted a 2.44 ERA, 2.94 FIP, and 21.3% K-BB%.
One tall glass of water, Petit stands at 6’8”, 300 pounds. Those unique physical characteristics contributed to the excellent results on his slider and sinker.
With the way he commands the zone, limits damage, and strikes hitters out, it would be a surprise if none of the teams picking before the Marlins took a shot on Petit.
Position Players
OF Kyler Fedko (Minnesota Twins)
Last season, Fedko broke out, slashing .258/.367/.487/.855 with 28 home runs, 82 RBI and a 131 wRC+. For such a power-heavy profile, the right-handed bat only struck out 21.2% of the time and walked 14.0% of the time.
There isn’t much of a need for an outfielder in Miami, but the 2021 12th-rounder would provide some versatility having been used part-time at first base over the last two years.
1B/C Creed Willems (Baltimore Orioles)
In AA with the Orioles, Willems slashed .253/.338/.441/.779 with 16 home runs, 59 RBI and a 117 wRC+. He is even more familiar with first base than Fedko, including 29 starts there in 2025.
On the other hand, at only 22 years old, it would be a huge adjustment for Willems to face MLB pitching right now.
INF Austin Gauthier (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Gauthier, a former undrafted free agent, stands out for his plate approach, contact, and defense. In a full season at Triple-A, he posted a slash line of .259/.404/.354, with a wRC+ of 108 and .364 wOBA. Gauthier walked as many times as he struck out with a chase rate of 17.5% and whiff rate of 20.4%.
Gauthier’s average launch angle is extremely low at three degrees, hence his 54% ground ball rate. He does have decent exit velocities, suggesting that if a team could increase his pulled fly ball rate, they could find themselves a diamond in the rough.
OF Yohendrick Piñango (Toronto Blue Jays)
Yohendrick Piñango is a true data darling with elite EVs. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Piñango slashed .258/.361/.430, with a wRC+ of 122 and .362 wOBA. He gives scouts a lot to dream on as well with his strong frame and sweet lefty swing.
The downside of Piñango is his lack of defensive ability—he’ll probably be limited to left field in MLB.
The 23-year-old has two weeks left to raise his profile in the Venezuelan Winter League. He homered Tuesday in his first game with Cardenales de Lara.