Day 1 of the 2026 Draft included the Marlins' picks from Rounds 1-4, including Jacob Lombard at No. 14 overall. Day 2 begins Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET through the conclusion of the Draft, spanning Rounds 5-20. Stream it live on MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+ and the MLB App.
MIAMI -- After the pleasant surprise of local prep star Jacob Lombard falling to them with the 14th overall pick, the Marlins concluded Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday with four more selections.
Early on, it looked as though the Marlins might go down the route of choosing only collegiate talent the rest of the way -- much like they did last season -- by selecting Oregon State left-hander Ethan Kleinschmit, Sam Houston right-hander Ryan Peterson and Arkansas shortstop Cam Kozeal. But Frankie Piliere, vice president of amateur forecasting and player evaluation initiatives, capped the day by going with Georgia prep outfielder Wessley Roberson in the fourth round.
"Really awesome day, exciting Draft," Piliere said. "We're just getting started, but [it] started off really fun with a nice surprise of a super talented player, and [we] kind of were able to go down the list and get a lot of players that we liked. The Draft is always fun, but this was a really fun day. We feel like we brought in a bunch of new talent and a lot of different types of talent, too. So, [it’s a] really fun group. Very excited."
Ethan Kleinschmit, LHP
- Round 2, Pick 52
- Bats/throws: L/L
- School: Oregon State
- Calling Card: MLB Pipeline’s No. 69 overall prospect can fill up the strike zone with three pitches (fastball, slurvy slider and changeup). Kleinschmit, 21, became the third OSU product to be taken on Day 1 of the Draft under Piliere, joining Aiden May (second round, 2024) and Aiva Arquette (first round, '25).
- Quote: “They have really talented players,” Piliere said of the OSU program. “It's funny. We were talking about this earlier today. It happens. It's very much a coincidence. They're just a very good program. They have a lot of deep rosters over the years, and it keeps falling that way.”
Ryan Peterson, RHP
- Competitive Balance Round B, Pick 71
- Bats/throws: R/R
- School: Sam Houston
- Calling Card: The 22-year-old had one of college baseball’s best curveballs, per MLB Pipeline’s scouting report. Peterson, ranked as the No. 86 overall Draft prospect, also showcases a fastball with high spin rates that plays up with shape, deception and command.
- Quote: “We talk a lot about our ability to create shapes and velocity and create nastier stuff,” Piliere said. “Both of these guys are really great frameworks: the strikes, the deliveries, the ability to start the framework for some good shapes already. … I think both of these guys we see as huge opportunities to continue to enhance their stuff and make them better.”
More on the Marlins' 2026 Draft:
Cam Kozeal, SS
- Round 3, Pick 87
- Bats/throws: L/R
- School: Arkansas
- Calling Card: Three years ago, MLB Pipeline’s No. 115 overall Draft prospect was Nebraska’s top high schooler because of his bat-to-ball skills and high baseball IQ. The 21-year-old sacrificed some contact for power, consistently driving the ball in the air with a compact swing, and following a sound approach.
- Quote: “The thing that's really interesting about Cam that we like a lot is we think there's a lot of defensive value there, and even more to unlock,” Piliere said. “His first step to the ball is very underrated. [He’s a] very good defensive player that we think we can even help even more. That was kind of the intrigue as we talked more and more about him. The bat was good. We really like that, and we think there's a very good defensive infielder here.”
Wessley Roberson, OF
- Round 4, Pick 115
- Bats/throws: S/R
- School: Glynn Academy HS (Ga.)
- Calling Card: Roberson, considered one of the better contact hitters of LSU’s class, hails from the same prep school as Adam Wainwright. According to Piliere, the 18-year-old is a premium defensive player with barrel control.
- Quote: “You have to value the upside, the top end, when you're taking a player that young like Wessley is,” Piliere said. “While there's risk on the other end, it works both directions, and you have to really believe in how good he could end up being. Not just a solid player -- like you think it's really a big upside, and that's what we think Wessley has for all the combination of skills that I mentioned.”