Miami Marlins Take Big HS Left-Hander in Second Round

With the Miami Marlins second round pick, going 40th overall off the board, lefty starter Daxton Fulton out of Mustang HS.

Fulton is tied with 11th overall selection Garrett Crochet (Chicago White Sox, by way of the University of Tennessee) as the tallest player yet selected, at six-foot six. There are a lot of questions surrounding Fulton as to his durability going forward, as he underwent Tommy John Surgery on his throwing arm this past September.

Fulton pitches out of a high-three-quarters slot, and generates a serious downward plane on his fastball that sits from 90-to-93 on the radar gun. His arsenal already boasts a plus-curveball and a changeup that’s rated as average or better. At only 18-years-of-age, Fulton may yet hit another growth spurt and commensurate jump in ability.

Fulton initially issued a verbal commitment to join the Vanderbilt Commodores before signing officially with the University of Oklahoma. Taken 40th overall equates to a $1,860,000 bonus, making it likely he’ll forgo the Sooners as well.

Here’s Fulton pre-surgery pitching at Perfect Game last year. Video is courtesy of 2080 baseball.

More from Marlins Draft

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• Meet the 2022 Miami Marlins Draft Picks
• Miami Marlins draft preview: Brooks Lee
• Miami Marlins draft preview: Jackson Holliday

The Miami Marlins opened their 2020 draft yesterday by taking Max Meyer out of the University of Minnesota with the third overall choice. Taking pitchers with the first two picks of the draft isn’t exactly unprecedented for the Marlins, but it is uncommon. The last time they spent their first two picks on pitchers was 2011, when they chose lefty Adam Conley in the second round, following right-hander Jose Fernandez taken 14th off the board in the first.

Where do they go from here? No telling, but I’ll bet they use their competitive balance round pick on a fielder. Thanks for reading.