![\"Miami](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3_Marlins_vs_Colorado_Gallery_MJO.JPG\" "\\"Miami")
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Miami Marlins third baseman Javier Sanoja (8), center fielder Jakob Marsee (87) and left fielder Griffin Conine (18) celebrate after they defeated the Colorado Rockies in their MLB game at loanDepot park on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Miami, Fla.<\/p>\n
Photo by Matias J. Ocner<\/p>\n
mocner@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
The end of the Miami Marlins\u2019 2025 season showed the promise that lies in the organization\u2019s future. It\u2019s the sprouting seed close Peter Bendix planted two-and-a-half years ago when he took over as the club\u2019s president of baseball operations. He came in with the intention of rebuilding the organization\u2019s infrastructure, investing at the ground level and having that work show over time at the big-league level.<\/p>\n
The results showed in an aggressive finish to the season, one in which they missed the playoffs but were in contention to reach the postseason until the dying days of the campaign.<\/p>\n
His hope is that was merely just the start of the story, the germination of what\u2019s to come for this club in the present and beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not even close to being finished,\u201d Bendix said Friday. \u201cWe know that there\u2019s a lot of room for improvement individually and as a team. We have to keep that scrappy underdog mentality, the idea that we never give up and the idea that we still have a long way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
That mentality was on display in Miami\u2019s 2-1 Opening Day win over the Colorado Rockies, a gritty win that featured a stellar start from ace Sandy Alcantara, timely hitting and strong defense \u2014 the backbone of any successful team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did enough,\u201d infielder Connor Norby said.<\/p>\n
![\"Miami](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/39_Marlins_vs_Colorado_Gallery_MJO.JPG\" "\\"39_Marlins_vs_Colorado_Gallery_MJO.JPG\\"")
Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough (86) greets his teammates during the opening ceremonies of their MLB game against the Colorado Rockies at loanDepot park on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
And it was enough to continue early optimism for what the Marlins hope will be a breakthrough season, their second under manager Clayton McCullough.<\/p>\n
Expectations externally are low for Miami, an annual theme for this team. Fangraphs had the Marlins projected to win 76.1 games, the seventh-lowest in MLB. Their playoff odds? 9.5%, sixth-lowest among 30 teams.<\/p>\n
Internally, however, the Marlins believe they have something that can be special.<\/p>\n
But for it to happen, it\u2019s going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to turn that belief into results.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a chance to really pitch at a high level and play good defense and offensively be opportunistic,\u201d McCullough said. \u201cThat\u2019s what it\u2019s going to take. I\u2019m looking every night for 26 guys to find a way to best maximize our entire roster, whether that\u2019s pinch-hitting, defense, certainly the guys out of the bullpen who are available that night. It takes a lot to win a major-league game. Our guys appreciate that and understand that.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur guys are always up for the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Miami](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/20_Marlins_vs_Colorado_Gallery_MJO.JPG\" "\\"20_Marlins_vs_Colorado_Gallery_MJO.JPG\\"")
Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of their MLB game at loanDepot park on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
Friday was a prime example of that all-in approach that will be needed.<\/p>\n
Alcantara threw seven strong innings, giving up just one unearned run while striking out five on just 73 pitches.<\/p>\n
The bottom of the lineup produced both of Miami\u2019s runs in the second inning, with an Owen Caissie double to left-center field driving in Xavier Edwards and a Javier Sanoja single down the left-field line scoring Caissie.<\/p>\n
The defense made its share of plays \u2014 a throw from right fielder Austin Slater to gun down a runner at home in the fourth, a diving grab from shortstop Otto Lopez to stop a ball from going into the outfield with the bases loaded to hold the Rockies to just one run, catcher Agustin Ramirez throwing out a runner attempting to steal in the seventh.<\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t have to be fancy. It doesn\u2019t have to be highlight-reel worthy. It doesn\u2019t have to be monstrous moments.<\/p>\n
If the final score of the game is in their favor, the Marlins will take it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a long season,\u201d Alcantara said, \u201cand it\u2019s better when you start winning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miami showed last year that it can win with the roster it currently has, regardless of its payroll (the Marlins are last in the league with a $73 million payroll). They are pushing infrastructure, player development and innovation.<\/p>\n
After taking time to get that work started, results began to show.<\/p>\n
Miami finished the 2025 season winning 54 of its final 96 games \u2014 a .563 win percentage over the final 60% of its schedule \u2014 to end the season with a 79-83 record and be in the race for a playoff spot going into the final week of the season.<\/p>\n
It set the foundation for what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n
But Bendix knows it has to be just that \u2014 the foundation.<\/p>\n
The planted seed needs to continue to be sowed if they want to reap the hopeful benefits when this is all said and done.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an opportunity,\u201d Bendix said. \u201cEverybody here has an opportunity. They\u2019re going to get a chance to show us what they can do. We\u2019re going to do everything we possibly can to put them in position to succeed, and then it\u2019s on them to take advantage of that opportunity, just like a lot of guys did last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friday was the first step in continuing that process into 2026.<\/p>\n