Pitchers and catchers report today. So before I relish in the return of baseball and take whatever comes, I figure I'd get my hopes for the season well documented. Here goes:

         1. Aggressive Call Ups

I’m looking at you, Robby Snelling, Joe Mack, Josh White (and yes, Thomas White, too.)

Remember when Jose Fernandez made the leap from High A to the majors? That was fun. Peter Bendix & Co seem to favor a more cautious approach. Spring training will tell whether their practices border on manipulation.

I hope the likes of Janson Junk and Chris Paddack don’t get too long a leash in blocking the emergence of what could be a two-headed, left-handed monster for years to come in Snelling and Thomas White.

I hope that Augustin Ramirez isn’t forced to allow his offensive value to pass between his shin guards.

Clayton McCullough says the word of the year is “urgency”. If that’s true, let’s not block guys who have nothing left to prove.

My wild card prediction: Dillon Lewis gets a cup of coffee sometime late in 2026.

2. Three starting pitchers log 130 IP.

Last year this number sat at two. Sandy pitched 174 innings, and Edward Cabrera barely cleared 130. Look, I know the days of needing a staff full of workhorses is largely antiquated in the bullpen and 6-man rotation era. Depth is everything when it comes to the fickle world of pitching. But still, if the Marlins aspire to compete with the likes of the Phillies and Cubs, they’re going to need more out of the rotation. The Phillies were seven Tijuan Walker innings away from having five starters reach 130 innings. And all were healthily above average. The cubs had four such pitchers.

         3. A Right-Handed Hitter meets the following criteria: 120 games played, OPS+ over 100

Augustin Ramirez was the closest to meeting this seemingly arbitrary benchmark last year. He fell short with 92 OPS+. He’ll be the most likely to do it in 2026, some kind of rebirth from Christopher Morel or Connor Norby notwithstanding. Not having a consistent right-handed threat in the lineup is the kind of weakness that can creep up on a team’s postseason aspirations.

4. Caisie & Stowers “Strawberry Lemonade” combine for 50 bombs.

I’m working on the nickname. Maybe one will naturally emerge. Whatever we call them, this feels like a lot to ask,  given Stowers' history and Caisie’s complete lack of big-league experience. Both should get the opportunity to play most days this season. It felt like everything went right for Stowers last year, aside from the injuries, and he ended up with 25 bombs. If the two can hit 50, I think that bodes well for the team’s offense.

5. Eury Perez gets the Sandy Treatment.  

I saw some iPhone footage in a post from Kevin Barral (was it him? I think so) of Eury looking heavier and throwing absolutely effortless gas. It was all I needed to see. Extend this man. Do it before opening day. As drawn out as the will they/won’t they trade Sandy thing has been, I don’t see them re-upping on his next contract. That money would be wiser to spend on someone like Eury, who is much younger and has the chance to be even better. Though I’ll go on record and say that I’m in favor of extending Sandy, too. I’m just not completely delusional.

What do you want to see in 2026?