Former Jumbo Shrimp reliever Ralston makes MLB debut
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp right-handed pitcher Jack Ralston made his major league debut on Sunday for the Miami Marlins in their game against the Washington Nationals at loanDepot park. Ralston tossed two scoreless relief innings in Miami’s 6-2 win over Washington on Sunday afternoon while recording a
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp right-handed pitcher Jack Ralston made his major league debut on Sunday for the Miami Marlins in their game against the Washington Nationals at loanDepot park.
Ralston tossed two scoreless relief innings in Miami’s 6-2 win over Washington on Sunday afternoon while recording a pair of strikeouts. He punched out Nasim Nunez in the top of the seventh inning for his first career strikeout.
A Valencia, Calif., native who just turned 29 years old on August 13, Ralston had appeared in 39 games this season for Jacksonville. He posted a 1.66 ERA and .157 BAA in 59.2 innings with a 31.1 percent strikeout rate. His 75 strikeouts are second-most among International League relievers.
Ralston was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of UCLA. He spent the first six years of his professional career in the Cardinals system and quickly convered to a relief role after spending his first post-draft season as a starter.
Ralston split 2025 between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis and recorded a 3.61 ERA, 28 percent strikeout rate and .248 BAA in 57.1 innings pitched. He signed a minor league deal with the Marlins following the season.
Ralston is the 12th Jacksonville alumnus to debut in the major leagues during the 2026 season, following infielder Deyvison De Los Santos (March 29, Marlins) and right-handers Matt Pushard (March 29, St. Louis Cardinals) and Josh Ekness (May 3, Marlins), catcher Joe Mack (May 4, Marlins), right-hander William Kempner (May 5, Marlins) and left-handers Dax Fulton (May 6, Marlins) and Robby Snelling (May 8, Marlins), right-handers Josh White (May 31, Marlins), Zach McCambley (June 3, Cincinnati Reds), Woo-Suk Go (July 9, Minnesota Twins) and left-hander Jefry Yan (August 5, New York Mets). A total of 1,068 players have played both for Jacksonville and in the major leagues. The history of Minor League Baseball in Jacksonville dates back to 1904.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The 2025 International League and Triple-A National Champions, the Jumbo Shrimp call VyStar Ballpark home for baseball but also a wide variety of additional community focused events with a goal of providing Affordable, Family, FUN to Northeast Florida. Winners of many marketing and sales awards and recognition since the team was rebranded prior to the 2017 season, the Jumbo Shrimp continually lead the state of Florida in attendance across all minor league professional sports organizations.