Recapping an eventful Minor League season

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 -- The Minor League season is winding down after another eventful year for the Marlins’ system.

Two affiliates will be competing in the postseason: Single-A Jupiter, which began a best-of-three series against Daytona on Tuesday, and Double-A Pensacola, which will face Biloxi on Tuesday.

A pair of Top 100 prospects (Owen Caissie and Joe Mack) impacted the big league club, while another three (Thomas White, Robby Snelling and Kevin Defrank) missed significant time due to injuries. Cam Cannarella and Brandon Compton, both selected in the 2025 Draft, broke out across three levels.

Marlins director of player development Rachel Balkovec recently caught up with MLB.com to talk about the 2026 farm system.

On why the power numbers were up

“Last year was kind of our first year, if you will, of implementing our new hitting system, and last year was a lot about plate discipline, and this phase was a lot more about bat speed. We really leaned into strength and conditioning, and really, really pushed hard on that. So, I'd like to think it's a combo of our hitting department and our strength and conditioning department working together on that.”

On some of the latest innovations

“We've done some pretty cool stuff on the baserunning, basestealing side. Last year probably broke out on the basestealing side, but this year baserunning as well. Just seeing us get to the top of some of those categories like [going] first to third. Our routes are better. Just tightening baserunning has been really good.

“Our infield and outfield defense is top across top to bottom. We've made a lot of strides in player development, and also, obviously, it doesn't hurt to trade for great players. Everything our acquisition teams have done, from amateur to international to everything. It's been a true team effort across the board to really improve the system.”

On top prospect White’s injury-impacted season possibly preventing a Major League debut in 2026

“He's got things to work on and develop, just like everyone else. We would have hoped. He would have hoped, of course. He's still young.”

On No. 9 prospect Defrank’s injury keeping him out in 2026

“Tough one for Defrank, but he's trending positively, and there's no reason to believe that he wouldn't be ready to go next year.”