Three Hammerheads Selected as 2026 Post-Season All-Stars in the Florida State League

JUPITER, FL – As part of Minor League Baseball’s announcement, three Jupiter Hammerheads were selected to the Florida State League 2026 Post-Season All-Star Team. Echedry Vargas was named an all-star at first base and also was named the Florida State League Most Valuable Player after finishing with the FSL Triple Crown and a record-setting season for the Hammerheads. Julio Mendez Jr. and Manuel Genao were both named all-stars as starting pitchers.

During his MVP campaign, Vargas had a record setting year for Jupiter in which he won the FSL Triple Crown leading the league in home runs (27), RBI (94) and batting average (.323) as well as led the league in slugging percentage (.611) and OPS (.983). Vargas’ 27 home runs set a new Jupiter franchise record for home runs in a single season surpassing Marcell Ozuna’s 24 home runs set in 2012. Overall, the 21-year-old Dominican Republic native hit .323/.372/.611/.982 at the plate across 103 games during the regular season in which he played first base, second base, shortstop, and third base for the Hammerheads. Vargas was acquired by the Marlins organization from the Texas Rangers organization on December 11, 2024 along with Maximo Acosta and Brayan Mendoza in exchange for Jake Burger.

Mendez Jr. had a stellar campaign with Jupiter prior to his promotion to Class-A Advanced Beloit on July 17. In 17 appearances and 14 starts for Jupiter, Mendez Jr. finished with a 7-0 record and a 2.89 ERA. In 71 2/3 innings pitched, the 21-year-old southpaw recorded 99 strikeouts which led the league at the time. The Venezuelan native capped his Jupiter tenure with one of the best starts of his career on July 10 against St. Lucie when he tossed seven shutout innings with 10 strikeouts while only allowing three hits and three walks. Mendez Jr. was signed by the Marlins organization on June 1, 2022 out of Venezuela.

Genao was one of the most consistent pitchers for Jupiter this season. Across 26 appearances and 21 starts, Genao recorded a 4-5 record with a 3.67 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 108 innings pitched. Earlier this season, the 20-year-old right-hander took home Florida State League Pitcher of the Month in May after he finished with a 2.96 ERA across 29 2/3 innings in 5 starts, highlighted by his performance against Daytona on May 24 in which he went six innings, allowed only one run, and struck out a career-high 10 batters. Genao was signed as an international free agent by the Marlins organization on January 15, 2023 out of the Dominican Republic.

The Jupiter Hammerheads are one win away from winning the Florida State League Championship Series against the Tampa Tarpons. Game two takes place on Tuesday, September 15 with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

About Jupiter Stadium, LTD:

Opening in 1998, the 110-acre complex/stadium is specially designed to house two Major League and two Minor League Baseball Teams. The stadium is home to the Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals for Spring Training. The Florida State League’s Jupiter Hammerheads (Class A Affiliate of the Miami Marlins) and Palm Beach Cardinals (Class A Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals) make their home at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium from April through September. Branded as “America’s Busiest Ballpark,” this year-round facility can accommodate everything from birthday parties to corporate outings to tournaments, while never forgetting that every fan is our most important priority.