In their 33-year history, the Florida/Miami Marlins have produced four National League Rookie of the Year winners—all between 2003 and 2013. Dontrelle Willis claimed the franchise’s first in 2003, followed by rising star Hanley RamÃrez in 2006. Three years later, outfielder Chris Coghlan took home the award after hitting .321. The most recent winner was the late José Fernández, who earned 95% of first-place votes following his dominant debut season in 2013.
Several Marlins have appeared on NL ROY ballots since Fernández, including Justin Bour (2015), Brian Anderson (2018), Sixto Sánchez (2020) and Eury Pérez (2023). Three different Marlins—AgustÃn RamÃrez, Jakob Marsee and Heriberto Hernández—received votes in 2025, though none of them placed higher than sixth. The closest that the club has come to producing another winner was in 2021, when Trevor Rogers finished second to Jonathan India. All 30 award voters had Rogers on their ballots, but he received only one first-place vote.
It’s now been 12 seasons since a Marlin has captured the honor. The 2026 campaign could change that. Several top prospects with impressive track records at the upper minor league levels are expected to debut and will have ample opportunity to make their case.Â
Here are four Marlins who could contend for the next NL Rookie of the Year award.
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LHP Robby Snelling
The 39th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Snelling has developed into one of the premier left-handed pitching prospects in baseball.
Along with prospects Adam Mazur, Graham Pauley, and Jay Beshears, he was acquired from the San Diego Padres in exchange for pitchers Bryan Hoeing and Tanner Scott at the 2024 trade deadline. That year proved challenging for Snelling—he went 4-10 with a 5.15 ERA across 24 starts.
His 2025 season, however, told a completely different story. Across 25 starts between Double-A and Triple-A, Snelling posted a 9–7 record with a 2.85 ERA, striking out 166 batters in 136 innings (11.0 K/9) while holding opponents to a .222 average. His most dominant stretch came from August 7 to September 17, when he went 5–1 with a 0.86 ERA over 42 innings and struck out 58 hitters.
Fish On First’s No. 3 prospect is expected to debut early in the 2026 season (most likely during the month of May), giving him a long runway to contend for National League Rookie of the Year honors. With a fastball that sits 93–96 mph, impeccable command, and a 60-grade curveball, Snelling offers both polish and upside. The 6’3″ southpaw will play the entire season at just 22 years old. Expect him to become a mainstay in Miami’s rotation shortly.
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C Joe Mack
Joe Mack has put together back-to-back excellent all-around seasons in the upper minors at a premium defensive position and appears all but big league-ready.
In 112 games across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, Mack slashed .257/.338/.475 with 21 home runs while providing elite defense behind the plate nearly every day. Fish On First ranks him as the No. 2 prospect in the system.
For the first time in recent memory, the Marlins actually possess solid depth at catcher. AgustÃn RamÃrez, who led this year’s NL rookies in both hits and homers, is expected to enter 2026 as the primary option. Rule 5 selection Liam Hicks could also push for a roster spot after a promising rookie campaign.
By early May, Marlins fans could see a tandem of RamÃrez and Mack anchoring Miami’s catching corps for both the season and perhaps the decade, giving Mack plenty of opportunity to put himself in the NL ROY race.
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LHP Thomas White
Thomas White is widely regarded as the best left-handed pitching prospect in all of Minor League Baseball. The only reason he’s No. 3 on this list is because the 21-year-old likely won’t be a call-up candidate until at least midway through the 2026 season. Standing 6-foot-5, White features a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and reaches 100 mph, complemented by a diabolical sweeper and a devastating changeup.
The consensus No. 1 prospect in the Marlins system, White has dominated at every level since being drafted 35th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. In 45 career minor league games, he’s recorded a 2.65 ERA over 190 innings, allowing just 146 hits while striking out 272 batters.
White helped Low-A Jupiter capture its first Florida State League title in 2023, then earned Midwest Prospect of the Year honors and an invitation to the All-Star Futures Game during his first full professional season in 2024, then again in 2025.Â
To go along with the jump in velocity and movement on his pitches, however, White’s command took a step back this season, as he walked more than five batters per nine innings. He also spent part of the season working on the shape of a new cutter, which may have contributed to his control inconsistencies.
Once he reaches the big leagues in 2026, White has the chance to get off to a José Fernández-type start to his career that could be enough to earn him the franchise’s fifth Rookie of the Year award.Â
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OF Kemp AldermanÂ
The power-hitting outfielder was selected in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Despite a relatively slow finish, 2025 was a breakout season for the 23-year-old, who became one of the biggest risers in the Marlins’ system. In 130 games across Double-A and Triple-A, the right-handed slugger slashed .285/.338/.482 and led all Marlins minor leaguers with 22 home runs.
Alderman has also continued to make strides in plate discipline, trimming his strikeout rate to a near league-average 23%. He’s expected to be a non-roster invitee to big league spring training in 2026 and is on track to make his MLB debut at some point during the regular season.
Given that Miami projects to open the year with a left-handed-heavy outfield group—featuring Kyle Stowers, Jakob Marsee, and Griffin Conine—Alderman could find an opportunity sooner rather than later. If he carries his 2025 success into the majors, he has an outside shot to log enough playing time to insert himself into the Rookie of the Year conversation.
Interested in learning more about the Miami Marlins’ top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!