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The Marlins, who played the Israeli World Baseball Classic team on Tuesday and took Wednesday off, have begun to gain clarity on several percolating roster and lineup issues.<\/p>\n
Keeping in mind that it\u2019s too soon to form any definitive conclusions from limited spring work, here are 10 takeaways from the Marlins\u2019 first 10 spring training games against big-league opponents, with Miami at 4-6 heading into Thursday\u2019s 1:10 p.m. game against Houston in Jupiter:<\/p>\n
\u25aa Max Meyer and Braxton Garrett have emerged as heavy favorites for the final two rotation spots behind Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez and Chris Paddack.<\/p>\n
Meyer, who missed the final 3 \u00bd months last season because of a hip injury, is back to full strength and has one strikeout in one scoreless inning this spring.<\/p>\n
Garrett, who hadn\u2019t pitched since elbow surgery in December 2024, allowed two runs in one inning of his spring debut last week and pitched two scoreless innings (without allowing a hit) against Israel.<\/p>\n
If either can go only five innings early in the season, the Marlins have very good depth among long relievers (Tyler Phillips and Janson Junk; and Ryan Gusto if he starts pitching better). Junk has been sidelined this spring with an ankle sprain but is scheduled to pitch on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u25aa The Marlins are giving Christopher Morel every chance to win the first base job, but he\u2019s not exactly putting a stranglehold on the position.<\/p>\n
Morel is 3 for 13 (two singles and a triple) with no walks and four strikeouts; defensively, he has two errors while playing first base for the first time as a professional.<\/p>\n
The Marlins\u2019 one-year, $2 million gamble on Morel (who hit .219, 11 homers, 33 RBI in 105 games for the Rays last season) seemed dubious, because he hasn\u2019t hit big-league pitching with any kind of effectiveness since batting .247, with 26 homers and 70 RBI, for the Cubs in 2023.<\/p>\n
The view here is that the Marlins should have bypassed Morel and kept Troy Johnston, who hit .271 (.331 on base), with four homers and 13 RBI in 44 at-bats for the Marlins last season. Miami designated him for assignment; he\u2019s 5 for 21 with the Rockies this spring.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Agustin Ramirez and Liam Hicks figure to begin the season as the Marlins\u2019 catchers, but Joe Mack is pushing them.<\/p>\n
While Ramirez is off to an 0 for 14 start (with six strikeouts) at the plate and remains a work in progress defensively, Mack \u2014 who is rated the sport\u2019s No. 62 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline \u2014 has impressed everyone with a grand slam (he\u2019s 3 for 12) and an eyebrow-raising, successful 87 mph first-base pickoff in a game this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a special play, the arm strength going down to your knees,\u201d manager Clayton McCullough said of the pick off. \u201cHe can really throw.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Ramirez and Hicks playing in the WBC, \u201cJoe is going to get regular playing time and get starts behind the plate,\u201d McCullough said.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Outfielder Owen Caissie struggled before leaving to play for Canada in the WBC.<\/p>\n
The hope is that Caissie, the top Cubs prospect acquired in the Edward Cabrera deal this past offseason, can seize a starting job immediately.<\/p>\n
But he\u2019s 1 for 9 (a single) with six strikeouts and will need a strong close to spring training to play ahead of Griffin Conine (who remains an option at first base) and Heriberto Hernandez.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Two key components of the Marlins\u2019 future remain out.<\/p>\n
Outfielder Kyle Stowers, who has been sidelined with a hamstring strain, will get live at-bats on the back fields and start a running progression in the next few days.<\/p>\n
Left-handed pitcher Thomas White, MLB.com\u2019s No. 17 overall prospect, is sidelined for the remainder of spring with an oblique strain.<\/p>\n
\u25aa The Marlins are working with Paddack to get him back on track after he allowed an American League-leading 94 runs last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cChris was incredibly open-minded [to changes],\u201d McCullough said. \u201cHis willingness to continue to throw the breaking ball, use the entire mix [is important]. He\u2019s working on the sweeper with our guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
The results have been encouraging; he has logged three scoreless innings this spring, with two hits allowed and four strikeouts.<\/p>\n
\u25aa The third base battle remains wide open.<\/p>\n
With Graham Pauley sidelined by a hamstring injury, Connor Norby failed to take full advantage, going 2 for 13 with six strikeouts.<\/p>\n
Now Pauley is healthy enough to play as a designated hitter but not quite ready to play in the field. A highly skilled defender, Pauley must prove he can hit consistently to start more than a few times a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Graham was very good for us [offensively in August], he was controlling the strike zone and was less [often] pulling ground balls and fly balls the other way,\u201d McCullough said. \u201cHis swing and timing are in a good place.\u201d<\/p>\n
The left-handed Pauley and right-handed Norby could end up splitting time at third. Max Acosta has had a good spring but figures to begin the season at Triple A if Norby and Pauley are healthy.<\/p>\n
\u25aa The flyer on Esteury Ruiz hasn\u2019t yet paid dividends.<\/p>\n
The speedy outfielder is 0 for 10, with three walks, three strikeouts and two steals.<\/p>\n
Ruiz, acquired from the Dodgers in the offseason for minor-league pitching prospect Adriano Marrero, is best known for setting the American League rookie record for stolen bases in a season, with 67, for Oakland in 2023. That surpassed Kenny Lofton\u2019s previous record of 62, set in 1992.<\/p>\n
Ruiz has stolen 77 bases in 96 attempts in the big leagues, but his inability to get on base consistently (.296 career OBA) has prevented him from establishing a big-league foothold since his rookie season.<\/p>\n
This spring, Ruiz, Ramirez and Jacob Berry (0 for 10) are the only Marlins who have gone hitless in at least 10 at-bats.<\/p>\n
\u25aa It\u2019s early, but several young pitchers have impressed.<\/p>\n
That includes right-hander Adam Mazur (three scoreless innings; could get a promotion if the Marlins lose two starting pitchers to injuries), left-hander Dax Fulton (three scoreless innings as he tries to establish himself as a potential future rotation candidate after two serious elbow injuries) and Karson Milbrandt (who jumped from 21st to 10th on MLB Pipeline\u2019s Marlins prospect list this week).<\/p>\n
\u25aa It\u2019s early, but several young position players have impressed.<\/p>\n
That includes center fielder Jakob Marsee (4 for 9 with four walks after last year\u2019s excellent rookie season); first base prospect Deyvison De Los Santos (4 for 11; will try to prove in Jacksonville that he\u2019s worthy of a promotion this season); Mack; Hicks (last year\u2019s Rule 5 success story is 4 for 9 this spring); outfielders Andrew Pintar and Kemp Alderman and infielder Jared Serna.<\/p>\n
This story was originally published March 4, 2026 at 1:30 PM.<\/p>\n