Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Last summer, Fulton battled Nate Savino (Virginia's Potomac Falls High) for the distinction of being the top-rated prep left-hander in the 2020 class. Neither will pitch in high school this spring, however, because Savino will bypass his senior season and the Draft to enroll early at Virginia and Fulton underwent Tommy John surgery in September. The latter still could be the first prep southpaw selected in June and could sneak into the supplemental first round.

Before he got hurt at the U.S. 18-and-under national team trials in August, Fulton worked with a 90-93 mph fastball that played better than its velocity because he creates steep downhill plane with his 6-foot-6 frame and high three-quarters arm slot. He's already strong and has the room to add more muscle, so he could work in the mid-90s once he regains his health. His curveball is a legitimate plus pitch with power and depth, and he shows some feel to manipulate its break.

Fulton's changeup should be an average or better offering once he spends more time developing it. For such a tall teenager, he does a nice job of keeping his long limbs in sync and throwing strikes with his entire repertoire. After verbally committing to Vanderbilt, he officially signed with Oklahoma.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Despite blowing out his elbow at USA Baseball's 18-and-under trials in August 2019 and having Tommy John surgery a month later, Fulton rated as the consensus best prep southpaw in the 2020 Draft. The Marlins paid him accordingly, selecting him in the second round and signing him for $2.4 million, a record bonus for a high school pitcher who missed his entire senior year. A strong finish to his 2022 season in Double-A had him in position to make his big league debut in 2023, but he reinjured his elbow in May and required a second full elbow reconstruction in June, which likely will cost him all of this season.

Fulton always has stood out with a plus curveball that sat in the low-80s with downer action before he got hurt again last year, and he also has developed a slightly harder slider with similar shape. He started using the slider more toward the end of 2023, and it's just as effective as his trademark curve. He employs two versions of his fastball as well, a 93-95 mph four-seamer that reaches 97 but can get too straight and a two-seamer with less velocity and more sink.

Fulton's fading changeup is developing into an average option, though it can get too firm in the upper-80s. His stuff plays up because he uses his 6-foot-6 frame to create good extension, and he also has the body control to repeat his delivery and throw strikes. He's still a potential mid-rotation starter if he can somehow stay healthy.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45 

Fulton was the consensus best high school left-hander in the 2020 Draft despite blowing out his elbow at Team USA's 18-and-under trials in August 2019 and having Tommy John surgery a month later. His health didn’t deter the Marlins, who took him in the second round and paid him $2.4 million, a record bonus for a prep pitcher who missed his entire senior season. He reached Double-A as a 20-year-old at the end of 2022, finishing his season with 13 strikeouts in a scoreless six-inning start in the Southern League playoffs as Pensacola won the league title. But his elbow gave out again this May, requiring a second full elbow reconstruction that may sideline him for most of 2024.

His signature pitch is a plus upper-70s curveball with downer action, and Fulton's feel for spin also extends to a tighter low-80s slider that he focused on at the end of last season. He throws two versions of a fastball, a four-seamer that sits at 93-95 mph and touches 97 but gets fairly straight and a two-seamer with a little less velocity but more sink. His mid-80s changeup has modest life but shows signs of becoming an average offering. 

Fulton's ability to locate his pitches has improved as he has risen through the Minors and put his elbow reconstruction further behind him. He has fine body control for a 6-foot-6 youngster and uses his size to create good extension in his delivery. A good bet to become a No. 3 or 4 starter if he can stay healthy, he has more upside remaining if he can add life to his fastball and refine his changeup and command. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

Scouts regarded Fulton as the best prep left-hander in the 2020 Draft even though he blew out his elbow at the U.S. 18-and-under trials in August 2019 and had Tommy John surgery a month later. The Marlins took him in the second round and paid him $2.4 million, a record for a high school pitcher who missed his entire senior season. His stuff got stronger over the course of his pro debut in 2021, when he earned a promotion to High-A as a 19-year-old in August.

After working with a low-90s fastball early last season, Fulton operated more at 93-96 mph with some riding action later in the summer. His best pitch is a low-80s curveball with power and depth that absolutely destroys left-handers. He shows some feel for a sinking low-80s changeup but needs to refine it to do a better job of combating right-handers. 

As is typical with pitchers in their first season back on the mound after elbow reconstruction, Fulton's ability to locate his pitches fluctuated last year. He has good body control for a tall youngster and repeats his athletic delivery well, so he should have at least average control and command once he's full developed. If he has more velocity in his tank and can improve his changeup, he could develop into a No. 2 starter. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

The Marlins not only claimed the first pitcher drafted in 2020, Max Meyer at No. 3 overall, but they also got the consensus best prep left-hander available when they pounced on Fulton in the second round. He injured his elbow at the U.S. 18-and-under trials in August 2019 and had Tommy John surgery a month later. He still signed for $2.4 million, a record for a high school pitcher who had lost his senior season to injury, and spent time at Miami's alternate site and instructional league program. 

Fulton can make hitters look bad with a plus curveball that combines power (climbing into the low 80s) and depth, and he also has the aptitude to vary its shape as he desires. Before his elbow gave out, he had a 90-93 mph fastball that played better than its velocity because of the steep downhill plane he creates with his 6-foot-6 frame and high three-quarters arm slot. With his projectable frame and the tendency of pitchers to gain velocity after completing the arduous rehab from elbow reconstruction, he could work in the mid-90s once he's fully healthy. 

Fulton didn't require a changeup much as an amateur but his shows the makings of an average third pitch. More advanced than a typical tall teenager, he keeps his long limbs in sync, repeats his athletic delivery and throws strikes with all of his offerings. A potential No. 2 starter, he offers more upside than Braxton Garrett and Trevor Rogers, fellow southpaws whom the Marlins drafted out of high school in the first round.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

Fulton and Nate Savino (Potomac Falls, Va., High) established themselves as the best lefties in the 2020 prep class last summer, but neither threw a pitch in a high school game this spring. Fulton injured his elbow at the U.S. 18-and-under trials last August and had Tommy John surgery a month later, while Savino bypassed his senior season and the Draft when he enrolled early at Virginia. The Marlins snapped up Fulton with their second-round pick and paid him $2.4 million, a record bonus for a prep pitcher who missed his senior season due to injury. 

Fulton's best offering is a legitimate plus curveball with power and depth, and he shows the aptitude to vary its shape. Before he got hurt, he worked with a 90-93 mph fastball that played better than its velocity because of the steep downhill plane he creates with his 6-foot-6 build and high three-quarters arm slot. Given the projection remaining in his frame and the tendency of pitchers to throw harder once they complete the arduous rehab process following elbow reconstruction, he could have a mid-90s heater once he returns to full health. 

Though Fulton hasn't had much need for a changeup to this point, his should become at least an average offering once he spends more time working on it. Unlike many tall teenagers, he already does a nice job of keeping his long limbs in sync and throws strikes with his entire arsenal. He'll need time to develop but has a higher ceiling than Braxton Garrett and Trevor Rogers, Marlins southpaw prospects selected in the first round. 

Awards

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2022

FSL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
08/08/2021

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/19/2024	Miami Marlins selected the contract of LHP Dax Fulton from Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
	11/02/2024	Pensacola Blue Wahoos activated LHP Dax Fulton from the 60-day injured list.
	03/21/2024	Pensacola Blue Wahoos placed LHP Dax Fulton on the 60-day injured list.
	11/05/2023	Pensacola Blue Wahoos activated LHP Dax Fulton.
	06/16/2023	LHP Dax Fulton roster status changed by Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
	05/18/2023	Pensacola Blue Wahoos placed LHP Dax Fulton on the 7-day injured list.
	05/18/2023	Pensacola Blue Wahoos placed LHP Dax Fulton on the 7-day injured list.
	01/25/2023	Miami Marlins invited non-roster LHP Dax Fulton to spring training.
	01/25/2023	LHP Dax Fulton roster status changed by Miami Marlins.
	08/25/2022	LHP Dax Fulton assigned to Pensacola Blue Wahoos from Beloit Sky Carp.
	08/25/2022	Pensacola Blue Wahoos activated LHP Dax Fulton.
	08/17/2021	LHP Dax Fulton and assigned to Beloit Sky Carp from Jupiter Hammerheads.
	05/03/2021	LHP Dax Fulton assigned to Jupiter Hammerheads from GCL Marlins.
	04/25/2021	Marlins Organization activated LHP Dax Fulton. ABS test.
	09/29/2020	LHP Dax Fulton assigned to GCL Marlins from Marlins Alternate Training Site.
	07/23/2020	LHP Dax Fulton assigned to GCL Marlins.
	07/22/2020	Miami Marlins signed LHP Daxton Fulton.
	08/08/2019	LHP Daxton Fulton assigned to PG West.