How a former two-way prospect became the hottest bat in the Marlins' farm

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.

MIAMI – Marlins No. 11 prospect Brandon Compton is known for his exit velocities and head-turning power.

But there’s an alternate timeline where Compton is a pitcher and not a feared slugger.

Compton, who attended Arizona State to be a two-way player, underwent Tommy John surgery over the summer leading up to his freshman year. In 2023, when Compton could only hit while rehabbing his arm in the Northwoods League, he slugged 13 homers and recorded a .985 OPS in 60 games. That type of production put an end to any thought of pitching again.

Now 22, Compton is on a crazy tear.

Entering Saturday, Compton had gone deep 15 times in 32 games at Double-A Pensacola, putting together an otherworldly 1.223 OPS and garnering Hitter of the Month honors in the Marlins’ Next Wave Awards. His 12 home runs in July set a Blue Wahoos single-month franchise record and were the most by a Marlins Double-A player in a month since at least 2005.

“Honestly, this is probably the best I've hit in like a stretch of time in my life,” Compton said. “It’s definitely fun, and at the plate, I'm just keeping it simple, feeling relaxed, and I've been able to stick to the same routine and drills and feels throughout that course of time in the cage and through drill work. It’s just been feeling good and trying to be consistent and make good swing decisions.”

Things clicked for 2025 second-rounder Compton, who sustained a hamate injury the first week of early camp, while in Quad Cities from June 9-14 as a member of High-A Beloit.

Since Compton wasn’t able to get on the field much, he focused on lifting and nutrition. Marlins No. 3 prospect Aiva Arquette, whom the Marlins selected seventh overall in last year’s Draft, was coming back from surgery like roommate Compton.

Without a normal buildup, Compton saw weak results early on. From April 2-June 3, he hit .180/.415/.302 with six doubles, one triple and three homers in 42 games. The following day, he tallied his first career three-hit performance. It clearly took time to feel comfortable at the plate following the missed time.

“I didn't really have too many goals,” Compton said. “I just wanted to do my best. It's my first year in pro ball. I guess the goal was to get to Double-A. That was kind of a goal. But other than that, just being able to compete, find a good routine that I'm able to stick with, and just do the best I can each and every pitch. There's so many opportunities throughout the season to get stuff done. So, just not missing those and being prepared for it.”

According to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report, the 6-foot-1 left-handed-hitting Compton has incredible raw strength out of a crouched stance. In July, for example, he ranked in Double-A’s 100th percentile with a 64.4% hard-hit percentage (95-plus mph exit velocity).

Controlling the zone better -- one of the Marlins’ core tenets -- is something Compton is trying to improve upon in order to unlock that power more consistently. Another opportunity for growth in his game will be the ability to connect on 95-plus mph velocity and sliders. Compton has been able to hit fastballs better this year by getting on top of and through them.

On defense, Compton profiles as a left fielder, working on getting better reads and jumps. There’s a potential future at first base, though he has yet to field grounders there.

“I just want to be as consistent as I can,” Compton said. “Obviously, I've had a good stretch so far, and I'd like to continue just trying to win each day, win each pitch. That just comes down to the process and the goals I create throughout it. It's making the adjustments when needed. The game always calls for it. Just being ready and working on myself and just trying to improve in any way I can.”