Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp infielder Brayden Taylor was named the Miami Marlins’ Next Wave Defensive Player of the Month for August, the Marlins announced Sept. 4, 2026. Taylor led all Miami Marlins minor leaguers with 3.6 Outs Above Average during the month. His total ranked sixth among all Triple-A infielders in August.
Taylor contributed at three positions
Taylor played 134.0 innings across three positions during August. He appeared in nine games at second base, eight games at third base and one game at shortstop. His defensive production made him the top Miami Marlins minor league player in Outs Above Average for the month.
Taylor is a native of West Jordan, Utah, and the Miami Marlins acquired him in an Aug. 3 trade with Tampa Bay as part of the package for catcher Liam Hicks. In 22 games with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Taylor produced a .734 OPS. He also recorded one double, two triples, two home runs, seven RBIs, 20 walks, 12 runs scored and six stolen bases.
Fourth Jacksonville award winner in 2026
Taylor is the fourth Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp player to earn a Miami Marlins’ Next Wave Award in 2026. Brian Navarreto was named Fish of the Month for April, Andrew Pintar was Hitter of the Month for May and Brandon White was Pitcher of the Month for June. Former Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp player Ethan O’Donnell was named Hitter of the Month for April while playing for Double-A Pensacola.
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The team plays at VyStar Ballpark in Jacksonville, Fla. Taylor’s award adds another Miami Marlins’ Next Wave honor for the Jacksonville club in 2026.
Source: Original report