MIAMI – The Miami Marlins today acquired Minor League prospects right-handed pitcher Jacob Kisting, shortstop Adrian Santana, and infielder Brayden Taylor from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for catcher Liam Hicks.
Kisting, 23, is ranked as the Rays’ No. 26 prospect by MLB Pipeline and leads the organization with a 1.67 ERA (16 ER/86.0 IP), .180 opponents’ AVG (57x316), and 0.87 WHIP in 18 games (16 starts) with High-A Bowling Green during his first season with Tampa Bay. The 6-foot-5 right-hander has issued 18 walks against 96 strikeouts, ranking second among Rays’ farmhands with a 28.5 percent strikeout rate and fifth with a 5.3 percent walk rate.
Acquired by Tampa Bay via trade in November 2025, the Madison, Wis., native made his professional debut with the Minnesota Twins organization last year, posting a 5-5 record and 3.79 ERA (31 ER/73.2 IP) with 23 walks and 77 strikeouts in 30 games (five starts) between Single-A Cedar Rapids and High-A Fort Myers. Kisting was originally selected by Minnesota in the 14th round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Bradley University (Peoria, Ill.).
Santana, 21, is ranked as the Rays’ No. 27 prospect by MLB Pipeline and is slashing .316/.381/.400 (68x215) with 40 runs, seven doubles, one triple, three home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 stolen bases in 51 games with High-A Bowling Green this season. The 5-foot-11 switch-hitter has walked 19 times against 23 strikeouts (9.5 percent strikeout rate) and ranking third on the Hot Rods in stolen bases. In 45 games (44 starts) at shortstop, he owns a .994 fielding percentage (1 E/179 TC).
Born in Hialeah, Fla., Santana was selected by Tampa Bay in the CB-A round (31st overall) of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.). He has hit .262 (275x1049) with a .656 OPS in 256 career Minor League games with the Rays organization from 2023-26.
Taylor, 24, is ranked as the Rays’ No. 16 prospect by MLB Pipeline and is slashing .284/.384/.513 (91x320) with 59 runs, 16 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs, and 56 RBI in 88 games with Double-A Montgomery this season. The left-handed hitting infielder has drawn 51 walks against 87 strikeouts, posting a 13.4 walk percentage and 22.9 strikeout percentage in his fourth Minor League season.
A native of West Jordan, Utah, Taylor was selected 19th overall by Tampa Bay in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, Texas). In 335 career Minor League games with the Rays organization (2023-26), he has hit .235 (283x1205) with a .784 OPS, 61 doubles, 16 triples, 50 home runs, 176 RBI and 77 stolen bases. He earned South Atlantic League Postseason All-Star honors and recognition on Baseball America's High-A All-Star Team in 2024 after recording career highs with 27 doubles and 20 home runs at High-A Bowling Green and later was named to the 2025 Arizona Fall League Rising Stars team after posting an .872 OPS in 16 games with the Mesa Solar Sox.
Hicks, 27, slashed .282/.363/.432 (100x354) in 101 games with Miami this season, setting career highs in hits, runs (54), home runs (14), and RBI (62). He has drawn 40 walks against 39 strikeouts, ranking fourth among qualified MLB hitters with a 10.9 whiff percentage and a 9.5 strikeout percentage, per Baseball Savant. A 2025 Rule 5 Draft selection by Miami, Hicks combined to hit .265 (182x686) with a .746 OPS in 220 games over two seasons with the Marlins (2025-26). The Toronto, Ontario, native was originally selected by Texas in the ninth round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of Arkansas State (Jonesboro, Ark.).
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