JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp right-handed pitcher Josh Ekness made his major league debut on Sunday for the Miami Marlins in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at loadDepot park.
A 24-year-old from The Woodlands, Texas, Ekness needed only seven pitches to get through a perfect eighth inning of Miami’s 7-2 loss to Philadelphia. He notched one lineout and a pair of ground outs.
Ekness was originally selected by the Marlins in the 12th round of the 2023 draft out of the University of Houston. He broke out during the 2024 season, posting a 1.91 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 66.0 innings over 48 games between Low-A Jupiter, High-A Beloit and Double-A Pensacola. Ekness began the 2025 campaign with Pensacola, going 4-1 with a 2.73 ERA and 66 strikeouts over 52.2 innings in 43 games before earning a promotion at the end of the season to Jacksonville, where he made three appearances.
The 2026 season saw Ekness break Spring Training with the Jumbo Shrimp. Over nine appearances before his promotion, he struck out 21 against six walks in 12.2 innings.
Ekness is the third Jacksonville alumnus to debut in the major leagues during the 2026 season, following infielder Deyvison De Los Santos (March 29, Marlins) and right-hander Matt Pushard (March 29, St. Louis Cardinals). A total of 1,059 players have played both for Jacksonville and in the major leagues. The history of Minor League Baseball in Jacksonville dates back to 1904.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The 2025 International League and Triple-A National Champions, the Jumbo Shrimp call VyStar Ballpark home for baseball but also a wide variety of additional community focused events with a goal of providing Affordable, Family, FUN to Northeast Florida. Winners of many marketing and sales awards and recognition since the team was rebranded prior to the 2017 season, the Jumbo Shrimp continually lead the state of Florida in attendance across all minor league professional sports organizations.