For the most part, September stats should be taken with a grain of salt. Miami Marlins fans will remember Peter O’Brien in 2018 and Jonah Bride in 2024 as cautionary tales—players who enjoyed surprising success at the end of non-competitive seasons, but quickly regressed the following year. With that being said, any additional information the Marlins front office can gather is valuable as they consider offseason moves and how current big leaguers compare to top prospects who are almost ready to be promoted.

The following players in particular have something to fight for over the final 22 regular season games.

 

Agustín Ramírez

Ramírez has slumped as an all-around player to fall out of NL Rookie of the Year contention. Since last month’s memorable sweep of the New York Yankees, he is slashing .191/.289/.282/.571 with only two home runs.

However, there is still a lot of optimism about his bat moving forward. The “Gus Bus” leads off this article mainly because of his defensive struggles.

Ramírez, who hasn’t even spent the full season in MLB, leads all catchers with 15 passed balls. He has 76 stolen bases allowed with only six runners caught attempting to steal. He is also the worst-ranked backstop in terms of blocking, according to Baseball Savant.

For Ramírez to catch in a part-time role in future seasons, he must show signs of progress this month. Otherwise, the Marlins will be planning for a future where he learns a new position or focuses fully on being a designated hitter.

 

Connor Norby

Expectations were high for Connor Norby entering this season, who was looking to prove himself as an everyday player. Injuries have limited Norby to 77 games and his results have been frustrating. He’s slashing .247/.298/.373/.671 with six home runs, 31 RBI and an 85 wRC+.

Norby has been extremely aggressive at the plate, swinging at 54.3% of pitches (MLB average is 47.3%). It just isn’t working for him. His numbers have been especially bad against left-handers (.151/.279/.219/.498), so even if the Marlins used him in a platoon long term, it’s hard to feel confident in how he’d do.

Defensively, it isn’t going any better. More than a full year since converting to third base, Norby still rates poorly (-6 OAA and -9 DRS this season).

When Norby missed time this summer, Graham Pauley stepped up as a nice alternative for the Marlins at third, especially on defense. Now’s the opportunity for Norby to re-establish himself as the team’s best option. Since coming off the IL, Norby is slashing .333/.409/.500/.909 with five RBI.

 

Victor Mesa Jr.

Being under pressure is a blessing for Mesa, because at other points this season, it seemed as though he was not in the Marlins’ plans at all. The rookie has been limited to eight MLB games, slashing .182/.357/.182/.539 with one RBI.

Outfield injuries have piled up to open the door for him. Kyle Stowers is scheduled to return within the next week, but the timeline isn’t as clear for Griffin Conine, Dane Myers and Derek Hill, who are also on the IL.

In a tiny sample, the Marlins have already used Mesa at all three outfield spots. His speed and power don’t blow you away, so the team might not be as patient with him as they would with players who have louder tools. This is an important stretch for Mesa to show he’s more than a depth piece.

 

Troy Johnston/Eric Wagaman

First base has been arguably the biggest weakness for the 2025 Marlins, so expect that to be addressed this offseason. Johnston and Wagaman seem to be battling for a single spot on the 40-man roster moving forward.

Johnston got off to a slow start when called up in late July, but his numbers now look more respectable. He’s slashing .273/.314/.379/.693 with one home run, six RBI and a 92 wRC+ while splitting time between the outfield and first base.

Wagaman is slashing .237/.288/.370/.658 with nine home runs, 45 RBI and an 80 wRC+. He ranks last among active Marlins players with -0.5 fWAR this year. But he is attempting to finish on a high note. Since the beginning of August, Wagaman has an .822 OPS. He also has the ability to fill in as a corner outfielder and third baseman in emergencies.

 

Adam Mazur

We are expecting Mazur to finish up 2025 in the Marlins rotation. Through three starts, he has posted a 5.74 ERA, 4.42 FIP, 6.89 K/9 and 2.87 BB/9. He is limiting hard contact, though that hasn’t translated to overall success yet.

The pressure is lower on Mazur than the other players above because he is a pitcher—the injury rate is higher, so more opportunities will present themselves in the future regardless. That being said, a great September could put him in the mix for a 2026 Opening Day rotation spot.