Can these 4 Marlins hitters make late push for Opening Day roster spots?

[Kevin Barral]

These dark horse candidates are seemingly on the outside looking in at the Opening Day roster, but they've performed well enough to stick around big league camp with less than two weeks of spring training remaining.

Several rounds of cuts have already occurred, but the Miami Marlins are still a long way away from finalizing their 26-man active roster for the regular season. With Opening Day 14 days away, we take a look at some names on the position player side who have impressed this spring and whether they have a path to cracking the roster.

 

Graham Pauley

Pauley, acquired in the Tanner Scott/Bryan Hoeing trade, has been a nice surprise through nine games played. He's slashing .318/.400/.364/.764 with four RBI. Pauley has been primarily at third base this spring and plays the position solidly. He's also somewhat of a utility man with plenty of recent experience at first base, second base and left field. Pauley is already on the 40-man roster and played briefly in the majors with the San Diego Padres in 2024.

The Marlins likely need to make a choice between Pauley and Eric Wagaman for this part-time role.

Will he make the team? I'll go with yes. Pauley can help the team right now in more ways than Wagaman can. The two of them can always switch places if Pauley repeats last year's early-season struggles (.125/.125/.313/.438 and 46.9 K% in 13 G).

 

Agustín Ramírez

Ramírez has shown that his approach is major league-ready. He's walked four times against only two strikeouts in 20 plate appearances. He's posted a .350 on-base percentage and has some of the hardest-hit balls this spring. Defensively, he has cut down on his mistakes as a receiver and blocker.

Although he is also on the 40-man, Ramírez has no MLB service time yet. It is in the Marlins' best interest long term to delay his call-up by a couple weeks to guarantee that their club control of him goes through the 2031 season.

Will he make the team? Ramírez will be a big leaguer at some point in 2025, but I find it hard to believe that it will be on March 27. Veteran catcher Nick Fortes will be backed up by Rule 5 selection Liam Hicks, who has impressed as well and cannot be optioned to the minor leagues. Expect Ramírez to be sent down to Triple-A Jacksonville very soon.

 

Ronny Simon

A minor league free agent signing who's in camp as a non-roster invitee, Simon has been great through ten games played. He has seen almost all of his reps at second base and right field this spring, but he's versatile enough to play almost any position if needed. Offensively, he's slashing .286/.474/.357/.831 with two RBI.

Simon is on the outside looking in because of Javier Sanoja. The reigning Marlins Minor League Player of the Year is on the 40-man and proved himself as an elite contact hitter in AAA.

Will he make the team? It depends on how the Marlins want to develop Sanoja—are they satisfied with him as a utility player or confident that he can turn into something more down the road by getting everyday at-bats in Jacksonville? The most likely outcome is Sanoja goes to Miami and Simon to Jacksonville, but it's too close to call at the moment.

 

Albert Almora Jr.

Almora was having a very quiet spring up until his four-hit game on March 10 against the Washington Nationals. He is likely the best defensive center fielder on the Marlins, but has only started once there in the Grapefruit League, with Derek Hill and Jesús Sánchez splitting up most of the playing time.

Almora hasn't been in the majors since 2022.

Will he make the team? I would lean toward Almora accepting a Triple-A assignment just like he did with the Arizona Diamondbacks last year and waiting his turn until the outfield is less crowded.

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[rurrusuno]

I agree with Pauley making the team and Ramirez making the team in a few weeks. The other two, not yet.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

I hope the record-setting number of players used because of all the trades and injuries isn't eclipsed, but the roster's bound to be more fluid than most teams. With the young composition and competitiveness at some positions apparent, we should welcome the opportunities as much as the players will.