Dax Fulton

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #9 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Fulton had a standout high school career at Mustang High and was one of the most coveted prep arms in the 2020 draft class. Fulton had Tommy John surgery as a senior and saw his draft stock slip. The Marlins called his name 40th overall in the shortened five-round draft and signed him for an over-slot $2.4 million. When healthy, Fulton has proved to be a quality starter option. After a successful first stint at Double-A Pensacola in 2022, Fulton ran up a 5.18 ERA with 19 walks in 33 innings before he had a repair procedure on his UCL in June, ending his season.
  
  Scouting Report: At 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, Fulton is an imposing figure on the mound. He has the prototypical build of a starter and has a thick lower half. His fastball sits in the 92-94 mph range and tops out at 95. It has life through the zone and generates a fair share of swing-and-miss. Fulton attacks from a high-three quarters slot and has some funk in his delivery, which allows the pitch to play up. He also features a mid-80s slider that serves as his go-to out pitch. Fulton spins his slider well and it has plenty of depth with two-plane break. Lastly, he has a high-80s changeup that flashes above-average with late fade. Fulton has above-average command and control of his arsenal, with most of his misses coming to his arm side.
  
  The Future: Getting healthy and staying healthy will be the biggest key for Fulton, who has racked up 273 strikeouts in 230 pro innings. He will likely be ready by the time spring training begins and is slated to start the season at Double-A Pensacola. The potential of a major league debut is possible in 2025 or late 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #7 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Fulton was selected in the second round of the pandemic-shortened 2020 draft knowing his development would be a slow burn. He was recovering from Tommy John surgery performed during his senior season of high school but was healthy enough to pitch during instructional league. He debuted in 2021 and split the season between both Class A levels. Fulton returned to High-A Beloit to begin 2022 and was inconsistent. He turned it on once he was promoted to Double-A Pensacola, where he was magnificent in the season's final month and during the team's run to the Southern League crown. In his only playoff start, versus Montgomery in the semifinals, Fulton went six shutout innings and allowed just a hit and a walk while fanning 13 hitters.
  
  Scouting Report: Two years removed from Tommy John surgery, Fulton is starting to resemble the pitcher the Marlins believed they were drafting. To return to form, he worked hard to get back into better shape, which helped improve his stamina and keep his stuff crisp deep into starts. Now, instead of his four-seam fastball sitting in the low 90s and tickling 94-95 mph, it sits in the mid 90s and scrapes 96-97. The Marlins also gave Fulton a two-seamer, which sits in the same range as his four-seamer. His signature offspeed pitch is a powerful 1-to-7 curveball in the high 70s that he's done a better job landing for strikes as well as burying for chases. After tinkering with a changeup grip in 2021, Fulton settled for one that gave him the movement he desired. Now, that pitch, a key to him remaining a starter, projects as a fringe-average offering and could be the key to him sticking in the rotation.
  
  The Future: The Marlins were pleased with Fulton's late-season breakout and will look for an encore in 2023, when he will likely reach Triple-A. He's got a ceiling as a back-end starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #11 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Fulton was the second of six pitchers Miami picked in the five-round 2020 draft. The selection was made with an eye toward upside considering Fulton was recovering from the Tommy John surgery he’d had during his senior season of high school. With no minor league season because of the pandemic, Fulton got on the mound at instructional league, then made his official debut in 2021 at Low-A Jupiter.
  
  Scouting Report: Fulton works primarily with a three-pitch mix of a four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup. The first two offerings were his mainstays as an amateur, while the changeup was a work in progress all year long. The fastball averaged around 93 mph and touched as high as 96 and was thrown with good angle. His curveball showed 1-to-7 break in the mid 70s and flashed solid-average depth and bite down in the zone. The changeup will be the key to whether Fulton remains a starter. Fulton used Rapsodo and Edgertronic cameras to help find a grip that got him an ideal combination of movement and velocity separation from his fastball. Fulton is also massive in stature, and scouts were concerned about the lack of athleticism they saw in his movements and wondered if they would lower his ultimate ceiling as a result.
  
  The Future: Fulton and Eury Perez moved in tandem from Low-A to High-A in 2021, and both are likely to return to the level to begin 2022. Fulton has a ceiling of a back-end starter and a floor of a bullpen arm.
  
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #12 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Fulton was considered one of the top high school lefthanders in the 2020 draft class, but he hurt his elbow trying out for USA Baseball's 18U national team and had Tommy John surgery that wiped out his senior year. The Marlins still drafted him 40th overall and signed him for $2.4 million to pass up an Oklahoma commitment. Fulton began throwing bullpens in the fall and returned to the mound in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: With a tall and athletic frame, Fulton is a consistent strike-thrower with his threepitch mix. His fastball sits 89-93 mph and should tick up as he continues to rehab. The gem of his arsenal is a plus, high-spin curveball he can throw with power and depth. Fulton doesn't use his mid-80s changeup often, but he shows some feel for the offering and it projects as an average pitch. His delivery and arm action looked solid during his rehab work in the fall, providing optimism he'll stay healthy.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fulton has the highest upside of any lefthander in the Marlins' system. He'll make his pro debut in 2021 and try to build innings.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #52 prospect in 2020 draft
  The 2020 prep lefthander class looked exceptionally strong last summer with Virginia lefthander Nate Savino and Fulton in the mix. But the demographic took big hits when the former enrolled early at Virginia and the latter suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery and ended his high school career. When healthy, Fulton had legitimate first-round chances as a super projectable, 6-foot-6, 225-pound lefthander with a big breaking ball. While Matthew Liberatore was more advanced at the same time, some scouts have drawn comparisons with the two because of those elements. Over the summer, Fulton’s fastball mostly ranged from 89-93 mph out of a clean, three-quarters arm action. His breaking ball is a big, deep bender in the mid-to-upper 70s with terrific spin and depth. At the Area Code Games, Fulton posted spin rates in the 2,600 rpm range and the pitch looked like a future plus offering. It’s particularly tough on lefthanded hitters thanks to the angle Fulton creates in his delivery. He showed solid feel to land the pitch despite its movement, and at the Perfect Game All-American Classic he landed three in a row to Florida outfielder Zac Veen to strike him out looking. In addition to his fastball and curveball, Fulton occasionally showed a mid-80s change, though he needs to develop more feel for that pitch. Scouts were impressed with the progress that Fulton was making throughout the summer before he got injured, as he had a lot of moving parts in his delivery that he cleaned up and also improved the consistency of his curveball. His draft status is now clouded because of his injury, though a team could still buy into his upside enough to take him on day one. If not, he will head to Oklahoma, where he could re-establish his first-round potential in 2023.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Fulton was selected in the second round of the pandemic-shortened 2020 draft knowing his development would be a slow burn. He was recovering from Tommy John surgery performed during his senior season of high school but was healthy enough to pitch during instructional league. He debuted in 2021 and split the season between both Class A levels. Fulton returned to High-A Beloit to begin 2022 and was inconsistent. He turned it on once he was promoted to Double-A Pensacola, where he was magnificent in the season's final month and during the team's run to the Southern League crown. In his only playoff start, versus Montgomery in the semifinals, Fulton went six shutout innings and allowed just a hit and a walk while fanning 13 hitters.
  
  Scouting Report: Two years removed from Tommy John surgery, Fulton is starting to resemble the pitcher the Marlins believed they were drafting. To return to form, he worked hard to get back into better shape, which helped improve his stamina and keep his stuff crisp deep into starts. Now, instead of his four-seam fastball sitting in the low 90s and tickling 94-95 mph, it sits in the mid 90s and scrapes 96-97. The Marlins also gave Fulton a two-seamer, which sits in the same range as his four-seamer. His signature offspeed pitch is a powerful 1-to-7 curveball in the high 70s that he's done a better job landing for strikes as well as burying for chases. After tinkering with a changeup grip in 2021, Fulton settled for one that gave him the movement he desired. Now, that pitch, a key to him remaining a starter, projects as a fringe-average offering and could be the key to him sticking in the rotation.
  
  The Future: The Marlins were pleased with Fulton's late-season breakout and will look for an encore in 2023, when he will likely reach Triple-A. He's got a ceiling as a back-end starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Fulton was selected in the second round of the pandemic-shortened 2020 draft knowing his development would be a slow burn. He was recovering from Tommy John surgery performed during his senior season of high school but was healthy enough to pitch during instructional league. He debuted in 2021 and split the season between both Class A levels. Fulton returned to High-A Beloit to begin 2022 and was inconsistent. He turned it on once he was promoted to Double-A Pensacola, where he was magnificent in the season's final month and during the team's run to the Southern League crown. In his only playoff start, versus Montgomery in the semifinals, Fulton went six shutout innings and allowed just a hit and a walk while fanning 13 hitters.
  
  Scouting Report: Two years removed from Tommy John surgery, Fulton is starting to resemble the pitcher the Marlins believed they were drafting. To return to form, he worked hard to get back into better shape, which helped improve his stamina and keep his stuff crisp deep into starts. Now, instead of his four-seam fastball sitting in the low 90s and tickling 94-95 mph, it sits in the mid 90s and scrapes 96-97. The Marlins also gave Fulton a two-seamer, which sits in the same range as his four-seamer. His signature offspeed pitch is a powerful 1-to-7 curveball in the high 70s that he's done a better job landing for strikes as well as burying for chases. After tinkering with a changeup grip in 2021, Fulton settled for one that gave him the movement he desired. Now, that pitch, a key to him remaining a starter, projects as a fringe-average offering and could be the key to him sticking in the rotation.
  
  The Future: The Marlins were pleased with Fulton's late-season breakout and will look for an encore in 2023, when he will likely reach Triple-A. He's got a ceiling as a back-end starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Fulton was the second of six pitchers Miami picked in the five-round 2020 draft. The selection was made with an eye toward upside considering Fulton was recovering from the Tommy John surgery he&#39d had during his senior season of high school. With no minor league season because of the pandemic, Fulton got on the mound at instructional league, then made his official debut in 2021 at Low-A Jupiter.
  
  Scouting Report: Fulton works primarily with a three-pitch mix of a four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup. The first two offerings were his mainstays as an amateur, while the changeup was a work in progress all year long. The fastball averaged around 93 mph and touched as high as 96 and was thrown with good angle. His curveball showed 1-to-7 break in the mid 70s and flashed solid-average depth and bite down in the zone. The changeup will be the key to whether Fulton remains a starter. Fulton used Rapsodo and Edgertronic cameras to help find a grip that got him an ideal combination of movement and velocity separation from his fastball. Fulton is also massive in stature, and scouts were concerned about the lack of athleticism they saw in his movements and wondered if they would lower his ultimate ceiling as a result.
  
  The Future: Fulton and Eury Perez moved in tandem from Low-A to High-A in 2021, and both are likely to return to the level to begin 2022. Fulton has a ceiling of a back-end starter and a floor of a bullpen arm.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Fulton was the second of six pitchers Miami picked in the five-round 2020 draft. The selection was made with an eye toward upside considering Fulton was recovering from the Tommy John surgery he’d had during his senior season of high school. With no minor league season because of the pandemic, Fulton got on the mound at instructional league, then made his official debut in 2021 at Low-A Jupiter.
  
  Scouting Report: Fulton works primarily with a three-pitch mix of a four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup. The first two offerings were his mainstays as an amateur, while the changeup was a work in progress all year long. The fastball averaged around 93 mph and touched as high as 96 and was thrown with good angle. His curveball showed 1-to-7 break in the mid 70s and flashed solid-average depth and bite down in the zone. The changeup will be the key to whether Fulton remains a starter. Fulton used Rapsodo and Edgertronic cameras to help find a grip that got him an ideal combination of movement and velocity separation from his fastball. Fulton is also massive in stature, and scouts were concerned about the lack of athleticism they saw in his movements and wondered if they would lower his ultimate ceiling as a result.
  
  The Future: Fulton and Eury Perez moved in tandem from Low-A to High-A in 2021, and both are likely to return to the level to begin 2022. Fulton has a ceiling of a back-end starter and a floor of a bullpen arm.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Fulton was considered one of the top high school lefthanders in the 2020 draft class, but he hurt his elbow trying out for USA Baseball's 18U national team and had Tommy John surgery that wiped out his senior year. The Marlins still drafted him 40th overall and signed him for $2.4 million to pass up an Oklahoma commitment. Fulton began throwing bullpens in the fall and returned to the mound in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: With a tall and athletic frame, Fulton is a consistent strike-thrower with his threepitch mix. His fastball sits 89-93 mph and should tick up as he continues to rehab. The gem of his arsenal is a plus, high-spin curveball he can throw with power and depth. Fulton doesn't use his mid-80s changeup often, but he shows some feel for the offering and it projects as an average pitch. His delivery and arm action looked solid during his rehab work in the fall, providing optimism he'll stay healthy.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fulton has the highest upside of any lefthander in the Marlins' system. He'll make his pro debut in 2021 and try to build innings.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Fulton was considered one of the top high school lefthanders in the 2020 draft class, but he hurt his elbow trying out for USA Baseball's 18U national team and had Tommy John surgery that wiped out his senior year. The Marlins still drafted him 40th overall and signed him for $2.4 million to pass up an Oklahoma commitment. Fulton began throwing bullpens in the fall and returned to the mound in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: With a tall and athletic frame, Fulton is a consistent strike-thrower with his threepitch mix. His fastball sits 89-93 mph and should tick up as he continues to rehab. The gem of his arsenal is a plus, high-spin curveball he can throw with power and depth. Fulton doesn't use his mid-80s changeup often, but he shows some feel for the offering and it projects as an average pitch. His delivery and arm action looked solid during his rehab work in the fall, providing optimism he'll stay healthy.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fulton has the highest upside of any lefthander in the Marlins' system. He'll make his pro debut in 2021 and try to build innings.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Fulton was considered one of the top high school lefthanders in the 2020 draft class, but he hurt his elbow trying out for USA Baseball's 18U national team and had Tommy John surgery that wiped out his senior year. The Marlins still drafted him 40th overall and signed him for $2.4 million to pass up an Oklahoma commitment. Fulton began throwing bullpens in the fall and returned to the mound in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: With a tall and athletic frame, Fulton is a consistent strike-thrower with his threepitch mix. His fastball sits 89-93 mph and should tick up as he continues to rehab. The gem of his arsenal is a plus, high-spin curveball he can throw with power and depth. Fulton doesn't use his mid-80s changeup often, but he shows some feel for the offering and it projects as an average pitch. His delivery and arm action looked solid during his rehab work in the fall, providing optimism he'll stay healthy.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fulton has the highest upside of any lefthander in the Marlins' system. He'll make his pro debut in 2021 and try to build innings.