Marlins’ Dax Fulton Is Bigger And Better In 2022

Lefthander Dax Fulton is getting bigger, both as a person and as a prospect.

The 6-foot-7 Fulton said he has gained 15 pounds of muscle over the past season, putting him at 240. He turned 21 in October.

“Those 15 pounds have helped me hold my velocity in games longer,” Fulton said. “My velocity was sporadic (in 2021). It would be 90-93 (mph) one game and 89-92 the next.

“This year, it was more consistently 93-96, topping at 97.”

Fulton missed his senior season at Mustang (Okla.) High after he had Tommy John surgery. Miami drafted him in the second round in 2020, and he made his pro debut in 2021 with a 4.60 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 78.1 innings, most of them at Low-A Jupiter.

In 2022, Fulton pitched primarily for High-A Beloit before an Aug. 27 promotion to Double-A Pensacola, where he logged a 2.57 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in 21 innings.

In total, Fulton had a 3.80 ERA with 150 strikeouts and 42 walks in 118.1 innings.

Fulton said he cut his body-fat percentage from the low 20s in high school to 16.4%.

Besides his four-seam fastball, Fulton has a two-seam fastball at 92-94 mph, a hard changeup  at 88-91 and a curveball that he flips early in counts at 78-81 and throws harder at 84-87 when he gets two strikes.

Fulton said he has learned a lot since turning pro, including pitching up in the zone, which he initially resisted.

He has also focused more on reading swings.

“I used to pitch to my strength, which is a good thing,” he said. “But, for example, if a batter is late on your fastball, why throw him anything else?”

Fulton works out in Oklahoma City at Pitching WRX, an athletic-development center co-owned by Alex Marney and major leaguers Michael Fulmer and Jordy Mercer.

“I have a lot of strength, but I can be more mobile and limber,” Fulton said. “I’m working on being more athletic and explosive.”

Added Marney: “I don’t think Dax has hit full physical maturity yet. He’s only going to get better.”