Marlins address catching problem, with Joe Mack replacing Agustín Ramírez

[Ely Sussman]

The Miami Marlins are addressing an immediate weakness by promoting somebody who they hope will prove to be a long-term building block. Catcher Joe Mack is being recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville, as first reported by Craig Mish of Marlins.TV following Sunday's loss. The corresponding roster move will be optioning Agustín Ramírez to Jacksonville. The Marlins won't be announcing the move until Monday.

Mack was the 31st overall pick of the 2021 MLB Draft. It wasn't until the 2024 season that he began emerging as an impact player in their farm system. Now ranked third on the Fish On First Top 30, he has spent more than a full year at Triple-A. In those 123 games, he is slashing .249/.334/.444 with 21 home runs and nine stolen bases.

But the 23-year-old projects to be even more valuable on defense. Minor League Baseball's 2024 Gold Glove award winner at catcher, Mack possesses a plus-plus arm and at least average ability as a receiver, blocker and framer. In 23 games at catcher this season, he has a 29% caught stealing rate (the International League average is 22%). Without Mack's services, the Marlins have allowed an MLB-high 42 steals. They also were the league's worst in that department in 2025.

Not only does Mack stand out among Marlins position player talent, he's ranked 50th overall on Baseball America's Top 100 MLB prospects list, 54th on MLB Pipeline's and 37th on Just Baseball's.

Meanwhile, second-year backstop Liam Hicks has dramatically boosted his stock, emerging as the Marlins' leading run producer. Mack figures to start the majority of games behind the plate moving forward, but Hicks should get ample playing time at designated hitter and first base while still catching about twice per week.

Although demoting Ramírez is entirely justified, the timing of this move came as a surprise because the Marlins had been continuing to give him regular reps. Playing in 31 of a possible 34 games, the "Gus Bus" is slashing .239/.328/.358 (86 wRC+). He has homered only twice despite being gifted with elite raw power.

Ramírez is a horrible defensive catcher and he has been since the moment the Marlins acquired him in 2024. The organization has stubbornly kept his full focus on that position rather than attempting to create some versatility with work at first base or the corner outfield spots. That makes him an awkward fit for their active roster now that Mack has been deemed fully ready.

Ramírez entered this year with all three of his minor league options intact.

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[UKPhil]

At last!!! I'm sure Agustin is a lovely guy and kind to children and animals, but to any admirer of defensive skills, at catcher he is an abomination.

I have been longing for Mack's arrival in Miami since realising during Spring Training that Gus's hard work during the winter had borne no real fruit