PENSACOLA — Miami Marlins Double-A slugger Brandon Compton, a 22-year-old former two-way prospect, clubbed 12 home runs in July to set a Pensacola Blue Wahoos single-month franchise record and earn the organization’s Next Wave Awards Hitter of the Month honors.
The 12-homer month was the most by a Marlins Double-A player in a single month since at least 2005. Entering Saturday, the 6-foot-1 left-handed hitter had gone deep 15 times in 32 games at Pensacola, compiling a 1.223 OPS.
“Honestly, this is probably the best I’ve hit in like a stretch of time in my life,” Compton said. “It’s definitely fun, and at the plate, I’m just keeping it simple, feeling relaxed, and I’ve been able to stick to the same routine and drills and feels throughout that course of time in the cage and through drill work. It’s just been feeling good and trying to be consistent and make good swing decisions.”
Compton’s breakout came after a grueling start to his first professional season. A hamate injury sustained the first week of early camp limited his buildup, and from April 2 through June 3 he hit just .180/.415/.302 with six doubles, one triple and three homers across 42 games. A six-game stint in Quad Cities from June 9-14 as a member of High-A Beloit proved a turning point. During his downtime, Compton focused on lifting and nutrition alongside roommate Aiva Arquette, the Marlins’ No. 3 prospect and seventh overall pick in last year’s draft, who was also rehabbing from surgery.
The power surge has roots in Compton’s unusual path. He attended Arizona State as a two-way player but underwent Tommy John surgery before his freshman year. In 2023, limited to hitting while rehabbing in the Northwoods League, Compton slugged 13 homers and posted a .985 OPS in 60 games — production that ended any thought of returning to the mound. The Marlins selected him in the second round of the 2025 draft.
According to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report, Compton possesses incredible raw strength out of a crouched stance. In July he ranked in Double-A’s 100th percentile with a 64.4% hard-hit percentage on batted balls with 95-plus mph exit velocity. Areas for growth include handling 95-plus mph fastballs and sliders more consistently and improving zone control — one of the Marlins’ core developmental tenets. Defensively, Compton profiles as a left fielder, though a future at first base remains possible.
“I didn’t really have too many goals,” Compton said. “I guess the goal was to get to Double-A. That was kind of a goal. But other than that, just being able to compete, find a good routine that I’m able to stick with, and just do the best I can each and every pitch. There’s so many opportunities throughout the season to get stuff done. So, just not missing those and being prepared for it.”
“I just want to be as consistent as I can,” Compton added. “Obviously, I’ve had a good stretch so far, and I’d like to continue just trying to win each day, win each pitch. That just comes down to the process and the goals I create throughout it. It’s making the adjustments when needed. The game always calls for it. Just being ready and working on myself and just trying to improve in any way I can.”
Compton and the Blue Wahoos continue their Double-A Southern League schedule at Pensacola’s Blue Wahoos Stadium through the remainder of the regular season.