After the Miami Marlins bolstered their farm system at the MLB trade deadline, the next question is how long it will take for Jonathon Long to be called up to the big leagues. 

Shortly after trading Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays for a trio of prospects, the Marlins seemed to find his replacement when they acquired Long in a trade with the Chicago Cubs for Braxton Garrett. The 24-year-old was the Cubs’ No. 10 prospect at the time of the trade after slashing .283/.364/.455 with 12 home runs and 62 RBI in 99 games with Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs drafted him in the ninth round in 2023 after hitting 26 home runs through three years at Long Beach State. He went on to appear in the Arizona Fall League in 2024 and the Spring Breakout game last year. 

First base is currently occupied by Kyle Stowers, who was an All-Star outfielder last year and one of Miami’s best bats this season. The Marlins also have much of their lineup powered by outfielders, including Owen Caissie, Griffin Conine, and Heriberto Hernandez. 

Should Long’s bat translate to the big leagues and he can make first base his, that would allow the Marlins to use the designated hitter spot to cycle their outfielders around while keeping their bats in the lineup. 

“As long as I'm consistent and play to the level that I'm capable of, I'm ready at any time to go up to the next level,” Long told MLB.com.

The Jumbo Shrimp fell 2-0 against Gwinnett on Thursday. No. 6 prospect Cam Cannarella provided Jackson’s only hit of the game. The Jumbo Shrimp are 55-54 on the season but 13-22 in the second half, leaving them barely above last place in the International League East Division, 10.5 games behind first place. 

Double-A Pensacola defeated Montgomery 4-1 off the bat of No. 16 prospect Brendan Jones, who recorded his second multi-home run game of the year. RHP Eliazar Dishmey struck out 10 over six innings for the Blue Wahoos (57-48), who remain first in the Southern League South standings with a 21-15 second-half record. 

High-A Beloit whipped out Wisconsin 5-3 off the arm of No. 19 prospect LHP Nate Payne, who struck out nine Timber Rattlers over 4.2 innings on the mound. No. 5 prospect Starlyn Caba hit his sixth home run of the season and leads the Sky Carp with 40 RBI. Both Cody Schrier and Jacob Jenkins-Cowart also homered in the contest. The Sky Carp (24-15) remain in first place in the Midwest League South. 

Josh Hogue homered twice to lead Single-A Jupiter to a 12-3 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Thursday. Echedry Vargas also hit his team-leading 16th home run of the season. The Hammerheads are spending the second half of the season prepping for the Florida State League Playoffs after clinching a first-half title.