Ike Buxton

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #26 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: After being selected in the 15th round of the 2022 draft, Buxton had an impressive first full professional season in 2023 in which he spent time with Low-A Jupiter and High-A Beloit before finishing the season with Double-A Pensacola. Across three levels, he compiled a 2.45 ERA with 73 strikeouts to 43 walks in 77 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Buxton has a durable build with plenty of physicality in his lower half. He has an abbreviated arm action and attacks hitters from a low three-quarters slot and low release height. Buxton has a true four-pitch mix and features a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, slider, and changeup. He relies heavily on his fastball, a pitch he threw 57% of the time in 2023. Both his four and two-seam heaters sit in the 92-95 MPH range and feature life through the zone. His two-seamer has plenty of armside run and bears in on the hands of righthanded hitters, while his four-seam fastball has more carry and is most effective when located at the top of the zone. Buxton’s low-80s slider has tons of tight, late sweeping action. Its miss rate in 2023 was an impressive 45% and held opposing hitters to a .219 average. He also throws a potentially plus mid-80s changeup that flashes both late tumbling life and fade to his armside. It plays well against lefthanded hitters and in 2023 opposing hitters hit just .087 against it.
  
  The Future: While it does make the most sense for Buxton to begin the 2024 season with High-A Beloit, he will likely only make a handful of starts before being promoted back to Double-A Pensacola. With how quickly he has been ascending through the system, Buxton could be on track to make his Triple-A debut before the season ends.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45