Rookie Marsee ties Marlins' franchise record with 7-RBI outburst

CLEVELAND -- Like many rookies that came before him and will follow, Jakob Marsee debuted wearing a high jersey number.

The way Marsee has begun his Major League career, he might need to consider bucking tradition per the recommendation of his brother.

Marsee recorded his first multihomer game and drove in a franchise-high-tying seven runs as the Marlins snapped their four-game skid in Wednesday night’s 13-4 victory over the Guardians at Progressive Field.

Through his first 13 games, Marsee is batting .436/.542/.872. Miami’s No. 8 prospect is just the fifth Major Leaguer since 1995 to have an average of at least .400, an on-base percentage of at least .500 and a slugging percentage of at least .800 in a 13-game span to start a career.

The last time someone had at least seven RBIs in a game within the first 13 games of his Major League career was Hunter Renfroe, who drove in seven in his sixth game on Sept. 27, 2016.

“It's been a lot of fun,” said Marsee, who couldn’t remember tallying seven RBIs before in a game. “It's been more than I could ask for, and [I] just want to keep going and keep playing with these guys and just keep winning. That's all I really care about.”

Marsee led the Marlins’ season-high-tying outburst in front of a large contingent of family and friends seated in right field. He was born in Dearborn, Mich., which is about 164 miles from Cleveland’s ballpark, and attended Central Michigan University.

The 24-year-old Marsee’s day began with two outs in the first, when he pulled a hanging sweeper from righty Gavin Williams for a three-run homer. In his next at-bat in the third, Marsee singled to center and then stole second.

After the Guardians broke even on Gabriel Arias’ three-run tater in the fourth against righty Eury Pérez, Marsee struck again in the fifth. Facing lefty Kolby Allard, Marsee lined an inside four-seamer to right for a two-run shot.

According to Statcast, the long ball had an exit velocity of 107.6 mph -- the hardest-hit ball of Marsee’s young career.

Marsee later matched a franchise record for RBIs in a game (seven) with his two-run double to left in the sixth. The feat was last achieved by Adam Duvall on April 13, 2021, in Atlanta.

“He's on a real heater right now,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “I think it'd be hard to say you wouldn't be surprised by this type of production. It's been incredible. We're not surprised by what he's brought defensively, what he's brought on the bases, as well as the ability to make quality decisions in the batter's box. Those were things that he could really hang his hat on.

“And I think we expected to see those things. Some of the early power that he's shown has been maybe a little surprising, but a great thing. That just goes back to him putting himself in really good counts to hit and having a short swing. He's been a real boost.”

During his last at-bat in the eighth, Marsee grounded out to first to fall just short of baseball history.

Since at least 1901, Cliff Heathcote remains the only player to hit for the cycle within his first 13 career games, doing so in his sixth contest on June 13, 1918. The last Major Leaguer with a three-homer performance within his first 13 career games was Aristides Aquino, who did it in his 10th career game on Aug. 10, 2019.

“He's obviously a special player,” said fellow rookie Graham Pauley, who also went deep. “I've played with him for three, four years now. Drafted together, played with him all throughout. Guy just works hard, comes in here, works hard every day. He's the same guy every day, whether it goes well or not. Obviously, it's going really well right now. So super happy for him, and he deserves it.”

With another three extra-base hits on Wednesday, Marsee matched Agustín Ramírez’s club record with 10 extra-base hits through his first 13 career games (earlier this season). His average (.436, second), on-base percentage (.542, first), slugging percentage (.872, first) and OPS (1.414, first) are shattering franchise marks.

Marsee, who was acquired by the Marlins from the Padres in the Luis Arraez trade in May 2024, is looking like the ‘23 Arizona Fall League MVP that caught the baseball world’s attention.

“I wasn't really trying to do anything different then, like I'm not trying to now,” Marsee said. “I guess people can compare that, but to be honest, I just think I've just found myself again, just back this whole year, to be honest, and just carrying that over here, just sticking to my approach and not trying to do too much. I'm not trying to be someone that I'm not.”