Top Marlins prospects Robby Snelling, Joe Mack among 2025 spring training non-roster invitees

Ely Sussman · January 26, 2025

There will be dozens of new faces in Jupiter who weren't even with the Marlins organization at this time a year ago.

This week, select Miami Marlins minor leaguers received invitations to participate in major league spring training, which officially begins for pitchers and catchers on February 12 in Jupiter, Florida. Fish On First's Alex Carver has confirmed most of those names in advance of the team's announcement.

As a refresher, the Marlins made minor league free agent signings earlier this offseason to bolster the organization's depth. OF Heriberto Hernández (previously with the Tampa Bay Rays), RHP Robinson Piña (Phillies), LHP John Rooney (Dodgers), UTIL Ronny Simon (Rays) and RHP Freddy Tarnok (Phillies) will all be in camp.

That still leaves ample room for prospects who were already in Miami's farm system.

Per sources, catchers Joe Mack and Ryan Ignoffo are NRIs for the first time in their professional careers. Both are coming off excellent statistical seasons in 2024, garnering team MVP honors for Double-A Pensacola and Low-A Jupiter, respectively. Mack, who slashed .252/.338/.468 and led Marlins minor leaguers with 24 home runs and 33 runners caught stealing, is ranked 11th on our Fish On First Top 30 list. Although Ignoffo doesn't have any pro experience above the High-A level yet, he's already 24 years old and has raked everywhere he's been—his 133 wRC+ since 2023 is second-best among Marlins minor leaguers (min. 500 PA).

LHP Dale Stanavich is another first-time NRI, Kyle Adams of The Daily Gazette reports. Stanavich was quietly one of MiLB's most dominant relievers during the second half of last season, allowing only two earned runs (0.64 ERA) from July onward. He struck out 40.7% of the left-handed batters he faced overall. His fastball tops out at 98 mph.

Released by the Milwaukee Brewers last summer, LHP Justin King also posted gaudy strikeout numbers after signing with the Fish. His Arizona Fall League stint was shortened due to injury. The 27-year-old reliever has a 4.74 ERA across 76 career minor league innings.

Just drafted by the Marlins in 2023, RHP Josh Ekness is being invited to camp as well, per sources. He ascended from Low-A to Double-A last season, posting a 1.91 ERA, 3.12 FIP and .164 BAA along the way. Like Stanavich and King, Ekness is being developed exclusively for a bullpen role.

LHP Robby Snelling was in big league camp with the San Diego Padres in 2024. This time around, he's much closer to becoming a big leaguer himself. Considered a consensus Top 100 MLB prospect a year ago, Snelling was slumping prior to the trade deadline, but steadied himself upon joining the Marlins org (3.64 ERA, 2.92 FIP, .224 BAA in 42.0 IP). The 21-year-old is No. 6 on our FOF Top 30.

Three unranked prospects with previous NRI experience, OF Jacob Berry, 1B Troy Johnston and LHP Patrick Monteverde, have been invited again, per sources. A former first-round draft pick, Berry has transitioned to right field and showed promising bat-to-ball skills during a late-season opportunity at Triple-A. Johnston and Monteverde were the Marlins' 2023 Minor League Player of the Year and Minor League Pitcher of the Year, respectively.

These NRIs will compete against Miami's 40-man roster members for Opening Day jobs. Keep in mind that Eury Pérez (Tommy John surgery) and Braxton Garrett (UCL revision surgery) are still recovering from surgeries. They can be placed on the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man for deserving NRIs.

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