Offishial News: Derek Hill's return makes Marlins roster even deeper

Ely Sussman · June 30, 2025

The Miami Marlins just wrapped up their best month of the past two seasons and they did it while essentially playing a man down. Throughout June, their active roster consisted of 12 position players with meaningful roles and also Jack Winkler. The right-handed-hitting infielder only stepped to the plate 11 total times, reaching base safely once. His lone complete game was a loss on June 18. Winkler was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday.

Fully recovered from a left wrist sprain, Derek Hill will be replacing Winkler, Fish On First's Kevin Barral reports. I won't be exaggerating the impact of somebody with a career 75 wRC+ who was striking out more often than ever prior to his injury, but Hill will help in certain situations. Miscast as Miami's primary center fielder earlier in the season, he fits much better as Dane Myers' backup at the position. Hill is the fastest player on the Marlins and capable of making loud contact against left-handers. This is in addition to being a plus defender.

Fans are always eager to complain about injuries depleting their team's roster, but rarely savor when that luck turns around. With the exception of Griffin Conine, every major league-caliber Marlins position player is now healthy at the same time. That gives them a meaningful advantage over most opponents. Don't take it for granted.

Down on the farm, the Marlins will be represented in the upcoming Futures Game by their top two prospects, Thomas White and Joe Mack. White was also one of the organization's Futures Game reps last year. The prospect showcase takes place at Truist Field on July 12. Robby Snelling (Pensacola), Jake Brooks (Beloit) and Dameivi Tineo (Jupiter) received Pitcher of the Week honors in the Southern League, Midwest League and Florida State League, respectively. FCL Marlins won, 7-5. DSL Marlins won, 7-3. DSL Miami won, 8-5. Luis Arana (2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 SB) continues to be a bat-to-ball sensation. He has struck out only once in 82 plate appearances this season.

More Marlins news and content below:

🔷 Record-wise, the Marlins are exactly where the 2024 Detroit Tigers were through 82 games played. Those Tigers, famously, sold off several accomplished veterans at the trade deadline and still earned a postseason berth. I wrote about why that will be tough to duplicate.

🔷 Ten different FOF staffers gave their perspectives on the first half of the season in our latest roundtable.

🔷 On this day in 2015, Justin Bour crushed a three-run walk-off home run. That came in the midst of a stretch where Bour went yard in four consecutive games.

🔷 True to his nature, president of baseball operations Peter Bendix mostly stuck to platitudes in a one-on-one conversation with Christina De Nicola of MLB.com about the 2025 Marlins. He did, however, single out Rule 5 Draft pick Liam Hicks as the "most pleasant surprise" of the season. Hicks is legitimately on pace for the best rookie campaign in recent memory from a Rule 5 catcher.

🔷 The Prediction Time leaderboard has been updated through the first 27 series. Become a SuperSub and we'll keep track of your predictions all season long!

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🔷 Wilyer Abreu hit a grand slam and an inside-the-park homer in the same game. With another scoreless start on Monday, Zack Wheeler took over the National League lead in strikeouts and the MLB lead in pitching bWAR. Losers of 13 of their last 16 games, the New York Mets have been plummeting in the standings. Surging in the other direction, the Houston Astros have won 14 out of 18, but star shortstop Jeremy Peña has landed on the IL with a rib fracture.

🔷 Today's MLB game: the Marlins (probable starter RHP Edward Cabrera) are back home to begin a new series against the Minnesota Twins (RHP Joe Ryan). Old friend Jonah Bride was just designated for assignment on Sunday, so he will not be involved. The Marlins have a 43.7% chance to win, per FanGraphs. If they prevail, it would give them the franchise's longest win streak since 2008! Full organizational schedule below.

🔷 Prior to the game, Fish On First LIVE will preview the Twins series beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET. FOF LIVE is presented by About The Fans. Check out our new merchandise collection (coupon code fof10 for 10% off).

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