JUPITER, Fla. -- The youngest player on the Marlins’ Rookie-level Gulf Coast League roster, outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. already is establishing himself hitting second in the lineup.

Mesa Jr. usually has an at-bat or two by the time his older brother, Victor Victor Mesa, arrives at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex, the Spring Training home of the Marlins.

Mesa plays for Class A Advanced Jupiter, where he handles center field and regularly hits leadoff.

For now, the brothers are two of the more high-profile prospects in the Marlins’ system, with each progressing at his own pace. In the future, they could be teammates in Miami, hitting first and second in the order.

“We signed both of them with the expectation that they're both going to help us win games at the Major League level,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. “One guy is in Rookie ball, and the other is in the Florida State League. But I wouldn't put it past either of them [being teammates on the Marlins]. Both of them are talented young men.”

According to MLB Pipeline, Mesa is Miami’s No. 3 prospect, and Mesa Jr. is No. 29.

The only time in Marlins history that brothers were teammates was for a brief span in 2015 -- infielder Donovan Solano and his brother, catcher Jhonatan Solano. That same year, Justin Upton and B.J. Upton played together on the Padres.

Last offseason, the Mesa brothers were two of the most coveted free agents on the international market. After defecting from Cuba, they eventually were cleared to be free agents, and they came as a package deal for the Marlins, signing in October.

Mesa, who turns 23 on Saturday, signed for $5.25 million, and Mesa Jr., who is 17, came to terms for $1 million.

Their journey to the United States and eventual signing prevented them from playing organized baseball for more than a year. Now they are halfway through their first seasons of professional ball, and they are acclimating to playing every day while adjusting to a new country.

“It’s been all about adapting to professional baseball,” Mesa said through an interpreter. “Acting like a professional. Picking up a routine. All of that comes with professional baseball and what is expected of me being here with the Marlins. I understand what’s expected.”

The sons of Victor Mesa, a legendary player and manager in Cuba, Victor Victor and Victor Jr. carry high expectations -- especially playing in Miami, which has a large Cuban community. Marlins Park is located in the Little Havana section of Miami.

“Being the sons of a famous Cuban baseball player, there's a lot of pressure,” Hill said. “The one thing we recognized when we got to visit with them is they are very comfortable in their own skins. They're comfortable with who they are and what they want their individual legacies to be. They're going to go out and make their own names.”

Mesa Jr. is more outgoing, while Mesa is more reserved. Both are living in the team hotel in the Jupiter area, and they see each other daily, offering advice and input.

“This is really not normal, us being together in one place, because he’s older,” Mesa Jr. said in Spanish. “But we’re here in Jupiter, and we keep in contact. We talk every day. We ask ourselves how we are doing and just give each other some [pointers].”

On the field, Mesa is starting to pick things up after a slow start. In 13 games in July, he’s hitting .327 with a .351 on-base percentage. For the season, he has a slash line of .248/.295/.284 with five doubles, three triples, 20 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.

Mesa has yet to homer, but power isn’t yet a big part of his game. He’s highly athletic, plays plus defense in center field and has the overall tool set, according to scouts, to be a big league regular. It’s a matter of him tapping into his full potential.

“I’m far from what the Marlins want from me right now,” Mesa said. “But I think I’m getting close to it. It’s all a work in progress. As long as we keep putting the work in and keep putting in the effort, we should be able to reach a mutual goal.”

A right-handed hitter, Mesa makes steady contact, shown by his 11.9 percent strikeout rate.

“I know I can be a better baseball player than I am now,” Mesa said. “With time, I’ll get there, for sure.”

Mesa Jr., who bats left-handed, turns 18 on Sept. 8. Despite being one of -- if not the -- youngest players in the GCL, he’s hitting .250 with a .342 on-base percentage.

“We’re always expecting the biggest from everything,” Mesa Jr. said. “This is what I’ve expected. So far, it’s going well for me.

“That’s what it’s all about, trying to get ahead of the game and playing against guys who are maybe better than you. That helps you get better offensively, defensively and in all aspects.”

With another half season of baseball to be played, the Marlins are not rushing either Mesa’s development.

“There's no pressure for them to show that they can play in the big leagues right now,” said Fernando Seguignol, the Marlins' director of international operations. “It's more about getting their at-bats and reps under their belt. Eventually, they will be where they need to be. We're just happy with what they're doing right now.”