The Miami Marlins selected 3B/1B Jacob Berry with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. The once No.1 prospect out of LSU now finds himself back at home playing in the Arizona Fall League.
Between numerous injuries and struggles at the plate, the switch-hitting Berry joined the Arizona Fall League’s Peoria Javelinas, hoping to carry some momentum into next season.
A slow start to an injury-shortened season caused Berry to not post the kind of numbers last year that he knows he is capable of.
“I just got off to a little bit of a slow start the first couple months. I’ve learned a lot this year from Spring Training all the way to Beloit, Wisconsin to Pensacola, Florida,” Berry said. “I’ve tried to take this year as a learning experience, my first full year was not what I expected it to be. It’s a part of the journey.”
Between A/A+/AA affiliates this past season he hit .233/.284/.388 with a 21 percent whiff rate.
Compared to his final season at LSU, he hit .370/.464/.630 with a 9 percent whiff rate.
Originally from Queen Creek, being home in Arizona and getting back to playing good baseball in front of friends and family has made this experience even more special for Berry.
“It’s been amazing, you know? Just being home has been amazing to me,” Berry said after batting practice on Thursday. “My uncle and grandpa have been able to come down and watch games.”
Berry has had a positive Fall League experience so far.
“I’m feeling wonderful, just really grateful for the opportunity to be here,” Berry said. “Being around a great group of guys, it’s been amazing.”
He is indeed part of a group of great guys on a Javelinas team that features Catcher Harry Ford (SEA No. 2), SS/2B Ryan Bliss (SEA No.14), and OF Jakob Marsee (SD No. 12) who currently leads the Fall League hitting .420.
In 14 games, Berry is batting .281/.349/.456 with two home runs and five RBI. Of all third baseman, he is second in batting average (.281), third in hits (16), and fourth in OPS (.805).
Most recently, he went 2/4 on Thursday night hitting his second home run.
With less than two weeks left in the Arizona Fall League, Berry aims to finish strong and hopes to have more consistent play in the upcoming 2024 season.
Berry will enter Spring Training as the Miami Marlins No. 4 prospect.
