What to expect from first wave of 2025 Marlins minor league signings

[Kevin Barral]

While the Marlins have yet to add any experienced major leaguers since the offseason began, these three minor leaguers will reportedly be at big league camp. What could they bring to Miami over the course of the 2025 season?

The 2024 Miami Marlins had a record-setting season in terms of total players used. It was a painful reminder that depth is extremely important.

Every offseason, MLB teams load up on depth by signing free agents to minor league deals and bringing them to spring training as non-roster invitees. Even if they do not fit on the team's Opening Day roster, they could provide value as the year goes on.

Let's dive into the first three NRIs that the Marlins have reportedly signed heading into 2025: Ronny Simon, Heriberto Hernández and Robinson Piña.

 

Ronny Simon

Simon was the first minor league signing that the Marlins made, as reported by Aram Leighton of Just Baseball.

He began his pro career in 2018 with the Chicago Cubs. After putting up great numbers in the Dominican Summer League, Simon was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in November 2020 as a player to be named later in exchange for Andrew Chafin. The following year, Simon was on the move once again and sent to the Tampa Bay Rays in a swap for Jordan Luplow.

In 2024, Simon slashed .283/.356/.429/.785 with 10 home runs, 56 RBI and a 106 wRC+ at the AAA level.

Defensively, Simon has played a little bit of everywhere, with his primary home being at second base. He is someone who will provide Vidal Bruján some competition this upcoming spring. Like Bruján, Simon is a switch-hitter. The numbers on each side of the plate are similar as well, with a .786 OPS as a lefty and .781 OPS as a righty.

Where Simon may have the slight advantage is in the power department. With AAA Durham this season, he hit four balls that traveled at least 400 feet including a 415-foot home run.

The 24-year-old only struck out 18.8% of the time, which was 22nd-lowest in the International League. Simon's patience is also something that stands out. He walked 8.9% of the time in 2024 and his career walk rate in the minors is even higher than that. He also makes great contact on pitches outside the strike zone. 

Outside of affiliated ball, Simon was named the LIDOM MVP for the 2023-24 season and is currently slashing .229/.311/.333/.644 with 10 RBI in the 2024-25 season.

 

Heriberto Hernández

Another former Ray, this signing was reported by Aram Leighton as well.

A few months older than Simon, Hernández was also traded following success at the lower minor league levels. He was involved in a six-player deal in December 2020 that sent him from the Texas Rangers to Tampa Bay. He and Simon were MiLB teammates during each of the last three seasons.

Entering 2023, Hernández ranked 18th on Baseball America's Rays Top 30 prospects list. In 2024, he slashed .234/.344/.496/.839 with 23 home runs and 60 RBI between AA and AAA. What stood out was his second-half stretch, posting a .583 SLG in 40 games played after the All-Star break.

The power potential for Hernández is impressive, reaching a max exit velocity of 110.4 mph in Durham. The main concern is his high strikeout percentage, which has slowly improved, but was still at 27.3% in 2024. Too often, he guesses in two-strike counts and goes down looking when he doesn't get the pitch he was expecting. Perhaps the Marlins can help him with that approach.

Before becoming a full-time corner outfielder, Hernández saw time at first base and even catcher. He will likely need to prove himself more at the AAA level before being a serious call-up candidate, but if he produces, there should be opportunities available in the unproven Marlins outfield mix.

 

Robinson Piña

Piña could be making spot starts for the 2025 Marlins when their rotation depth is eventually put to the test. He has a four-pitch mix: sinker, slider, split-change and four-seamer.

He showed nice control for the Philadelphia Phillies AA/AAA affiliates (27 walks in 129 ⅓ innings pitched) and that has continued in winter ball. Locating his pitches is important for Piña considering his fastball averages only 92 mph.

Piña will probably be stretched out as a starter for the Marlins in spring training, but it wouldn't be surprising if he eventually transitions to being a reliever. While he limited right-handed batters to a .557 OPS this season, lefties crushed him for a .957 OPS.

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[THOMAS JOSEPH]

Reading this article and Alex Carver's this week, I had two diverse thoughts. 

The first was a kind of exuberance that a new era for the Marlins has begun in earnest - comprehensive and strategic. It's heady, adventurous. After the Reconquista, Spain's monarchs realized the country needed hope and lofty goals. These required risk-taking and some fresh blood. Hyperbolic, yes! And that's what we need to start off the Bendix Era.

On the other end of things, I continue to sense a "de-Americanization" of baseball. I know there has long been concern that black Americans were (had already?) moved to football and basketball. Is the future the Caribbean baseball factory with more Japanese and Korean players in the mix? Are there ramifications or should we consider roster restrictions like the CFL has for non-Canadians to protect the erstwhile National Pastime? 

[rurrusuno]

We've got nothing to lose, so let's see what they've got in terms of talent. I'm not yet sold on Vidal Brujan so Ronny Simon should provide some competition. Heriberto Hernandez could be a player to watch since he has the power potential we're lacking. My guess is that Robinson Pina will be the first to be called up since he's nearly big league ready and has a 4-pitch mix.

[1993 fan from start]

Robinson Piña' inning pitch over 610 in life . should have good idea what going on on the mound.  No control issue .and already Locating his pitches.  is a good pickup any day.  unless he has a pitch mlb hitter can hit. witch i have not heard of yet. 

[Slacker Mills]

Kevin, are the Marlin new manager and bench coach fluent in Spanish? Didn't see that in any news article. If so, great. If not, WTH! What kind of team culture would that promote?