Pauley Comes Up Huge When Marlins Needed Him Most

Graham Pauley would be the first to tell you that 2026 hasn't been his most successful season.

But when the Miami Marlins needed him most Tuesday in a crucial series against the Kansas City Royals to open September, Pauley delivered.

In Miami’s 6-3 win, which saw the Marlins take a 6-0 lead, Pauley arguably played his best game of the season, going 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, four RBIs and a triple.

It was the kind of performance Pauley has been searching for throughout a difficult and inconsistent year.

The 25-year-old entered the season hoping to establish himself at the major league level, but instead found himself bouncing between Miami and Triple-A Jacksonville.

Pauley was added to the Marlins' 40-man roster, only to eventually return to the Jumbo Shrimp as he worked to find his swing and regain the consistency that had made him one of the organization's intriguing young hitters.

He was recalled from Triple-A on Tuesday as rosters expanded entering the final month of the season.

The back-and-forth can be difficult for any player, particularly one trying to establish himself in the majors.

He hit .224 in 62 games for the Marlins in 2024, his first season with the team, and batted below .200 for much of this season.

That made Tuesday's performance even more significant.

Miami entered play Tuesday four games behind the National League’s final Wild Card spot, but Pauley, who started at third base, got the scoring started.

He was one of the biggest reasons the Marlins jumped out to an early lead against Kansas City.

His two-run homer provided an early offensive spark, while his triple and another key hit helped Miami keep pressure on the Royals, who are playing spoiler over the final few weeks.

For a player who has experienced plenty of uncertainty this season, it was a reminder of what Pauley can do when everything comes together. His teammates certainly gave him plenty of praise after the final out was recorded.

The club also gained a game and a half in the standings over the past two days, with Miami now just 2 1/2 games back after the Padres fell Wednesday afternoon.

The Marlins don't need Pauley to erase everything that happened earlier this season.

They need him to build on nights like Tuesday. His performance against Kansas City won’t suddenly change the story of his 2026 season, but it could change the direction of it.

After spending much of the year living out of a suitcase while moving between Miami and Jacksonville, Pauley finally had a night when everything clicked.