The Miami Marlins made Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette their first-round draft selection on Sunday.

The Marlins picked the 6-foot-5, 220-pound shortstop from Hawaii with the seventh-overall pick, making Arquette the first college position player drafted in the 2025 MLB Draft. Arquette’s selection makes him the 14th Beaver in Oregon State baseball history to be picked in the first round, as well as the third in the last four years.

Here’s everything the newest Miami Marlin said after being drafted. Questions have been edited for brevity and clarity.

What do you think you’ll provide the Miami Marlins with most and why do you think they chose you No. 7 overall?

Arquette: I think I just love to play the game, you know? (Playing sports has) always been a passion, so to just continue on and play baseball further on was a goal of mine. I love to compete and (I love) winning. I think thats the main thing, I’m a competitor.

You were also a talented basketball and football player in high school, what made you choose baseball?

Arquette: Baseball just stuck out. I don’t know how, but I just wanted to continue (my baseball journey) and continue to on and follow my dream.

Can you describe the feeling of today? Where are you at, how did you find out the Marlins were interested and what are your emotions like?

Arquette: I’m at my home in Hawaii with my close friends and family. We’re just all grateful, you know, to be drafted by the Marlins and just so excited to get my career started. I knew (the Marlins were drafting me) when everyone else knew, you know? I’m just grateful.

How would you describe your college season this year at Oregon State?

Arquette: When I transferred to Oregon State, this was honestly the goal and the plan all along — to compete at the highest level possible and go to Omaha with my brothers on that team. Doing it as a team, with my coaches developing me and the team, the goal for all of us was to go to Omaha (and the College World Series). And I knew going to Omaha that everything would work out.

Who was your favorite MLB player growing up?

Arquette: Growing up as a young kid, I loved (former St. Louis Cardinals shortstop) Ozzy Smith. Ozzy Smith was one of my idols. I just love watching the game now.

What was the biggest adjustment you made this past year at Oregon State and is there a big-leaguer you model your game after?

Arquette: I think for me, I kind of want to bring up my walks and cut down my strikeout-to-walk ratio. I worked on that, I did it, and just kind of wanted to hit the ball hard.

(Comparison-wise), you know, (Texas Rangers shortstop) Corey Seager, (Minnesota Twins shortstop) Carlos Correa, (Cincinnati Reds shortstop) Elly De La Cruz. Just those big guys (at shortstop) and how they move.

You’re the third first-round pick from Oregon State in the last four years and the second-straight Beaver to be selected as the top college position player. What does that mean to you?

Arquette: It’s so special, you know? Obviously Bazzana last year, you know, playing against him was a treat in itself. But, you know, getting drafted in the first round and being from Oregon State, its truly special, the rich tradition (and) rich program history over there. That’s why I decided to go there, to win and to be part of that for a year. So it was truly a blessing to be a part of Beaver Nation.

What excites you about joining the Marlins organization?

Arquette: I’m just excited to get to work, you know? Just excited to continue playing the game I love and just continuing my development. Just excited to play again, you know? It’s been a few weeks since I played, so can’t wait to get back on the field.

You’re not the first professional baseball player in your family, correct?

Arquette: My great-grandfather played for the San Francisco Seals back in the day. He passed away when I was younger, so I didn’t really get a chance to talk to him about it. But I’ve heard a lot of stories from my grandma.

Once I got drafted, she told me, “He’s smiling up there,” so, I’m just happy. Just happy I can do it for my family.

What’s been your favorite baseball memory so far?

Arquette: I think Omaha is too easy, so I’ll go back to Cooperstown (and the Little League World Series) with my Hawaii boys on the same team. (We were) 11- to 12-years-old, that was a great time. Seeing the hall of fame and what can be done (by others in this sport) and in the future. That was definitely a core memory.