Why aren't Marlins calling up Deyvison De Los Santos?

[Ely Sussman]

When Deyvison De Los Santos joined the Miami Marlins organization in July 2024, he was mashing in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League and on his way to leading Minor League Baseball in home runs. There was, quite understandably, speculation that he could be a regular in the Marlins major league lineup by the end of that season.

Instead, fast-forward more than two full years later, De Los Santos has played a grand total of three MLB games. How is that possible?

No question, De Los Santos should be looking in the mirror before pointing fingers at anybody else. His overall production has plummeted compared to what he achieved at age 21, with a drop-off in game power and a troubling tendency to chase pitches out of the strike zone, which opponents have exploited. He arrived with some potential defensive versatility to play either first base or third base, but has failed to become a viable option at the latter. Peaking at No. 3 on the Fish On First Top 30 prospects list, he's no longer ranked at all.

De Los Santos has been an afterthought for months since a couple brief stints on Miami's active roster in March/April. However, he's gradually shown legitimate signs of development.

In 92 Triple-A games this season, De Los Santos is slashing .276/.339/.480 with 17 home runs and 17 stolen bases. His wRC+ with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp from 2024-25 was merely 86 (with 100 representing league average), but that has surged to a 113 wRC+ in 2026. His current 19.6% strikeout rate is the lowest that he has ever posted in a minor league campaign.

June 21 is a key date to circle for De Los Santos. It was coincidentally his 23rd birthday, but more relevant from a baseball career perspective, that was when the Marlins designated Christopher Morel for assignment. A veteran right-handed hitter with a similar offensive profile, Morel was essentially blocking him. Removing that obstacle has brought out the best in De Los Santos—in 37 games since then, his slash line has risen to .295/.370/.550, including nine homers.

The Marlins are currently in desperate need of De Los Santos' skill set. While Kyle Stowers recuperates from a hamstring strain, they have a void at first base. The position primarily belongs to Griffin Conine in the meantime, who certainly has the bat to fit there, but lacks the defensive experience and instincts. Leo Jiménez and Graham Pauley—with a combined slugging percentage below .300 in the majors—are getting the rest of the reps.

Respectfully, none of those guys are consistently making picks like this:

UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE pic.twitter.com/Tv4uDzGycl

— Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (@JaxShrimp) August 15, 2026

I won't make the case that De Los Santos should play every day, but he should be a featured piece of their offense against left-handed pitching. This article actually evolved from what was originally a grim analysis of Jiménez, who has produced -0.6 fWAR for the Marlins with an absymal 57 wRC+ vs. LHP despite holding the platoon advantage. De Los Santos is more qualified for a roster spot than either him or honorary assistant coach Brian Navarreto, who has taken a grand total of 23 plate appearances over the last two months.

MLB rosters expand on September 1, at which point the Marlins will be calling up an extra position player. De Los Santos is a leading candidate to be promoted then, but they're playing games now with direct NL Wild Card ramifications, following Sunday's series finale in Cincinnati with a three-game set hosting the Philadelphia Phillies. For whatever reason, they're taking the field for these critical matchups without maximizing the talent on their roster.

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[Shawn]

All I want to know is why we are still carry 3 catchers. Navarrrto has not even played in over a week. If anyone can explain this to me I’m all ears. I’m also at a lost to why santos hasn’t been called up or Long, but the 3 catchers is the most aggravating to me right now. 

[Robert Hanson]

Would love to see Deyvison get a shot. 
    If he does get called up, IMO he would/should play regularly and it seems like the Marlins don’t think he’s ready, just yet. 
   Is Deyvison better off playing regularly in Jville or platooning in Miami?  Apparently the Marlins think he’s better off playing regularly. 
   He’s still young. Younger than Mack & Caissie. It’s taken Stowers & Conine until their mid to late 20’s ages to get any traction in MLB, so there’s still time for him.

[1993 fan from start]

De Los Santos couple brief stints on Miami's active roster  And that is that.   I would rather see someone more deserving. During a playoff run like  Kemp Alderman.  who are the marlins choose over him..  Agustin or Maximo Acosta

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

Yes, surely the roster expansion will include De los Santos., whether Stowers has returned or not. A month of evaluative action is paramount for planning or trade value. As I am in the 2027-lost-or-significantly-truncated" camp, September becomes even more important for both the team and the player's career, to my mind.

[1993 fan from start]

2 hours ago, Shawn said:

All I want to know is why we are still carry 3 catchers. Navarrrto has not even played in over a week. If anyone can explain this to me I’m all ears. I’m also at a lost to why santos hasn’t been called up or Long, but the 3 catchers is the most aggravating to me right now. 

maybe the higher ups and manger . don't look at Agustin as a catcher.  Maybe just dh.. and putting him in  couple inning  as catcher don't count.   I would rather see Navarrrto cause of era of catcher. good example Victor Vodnik first game with marlins was catch by Agustin and second was catch by Navarrrto. which went much smoother.

Don't forget it will be like this next season . till one is traded.  but agree with you.

[Hippyboi]

Agreed. Navarrto is needed, because you can't trust Gus behind the plate in a playoff chase. 

Jiminez should have been dumped months ago. Pauley I gave a longer leash, but I think he needs to go as well. Long, De Los Santos, Alderman - anybody else would be an upgrade.

[Ely Sussman]

3 hours ago, Shawn said:

All I want to know is why we are still carry 3 catchers.

My theory on that is being careful with Mack's workload. He has already set a new career high for innings caught in a season with still another 6 weeks left. Navarreto plays sparingly, but maybe just enough to make a difference in the team's mind, and significantly better defense from him than what they'd get with Gus as the only other catching option.

I disagree with them regardless.

[Ely Sussman]

1 hour ago, Hippyboi said:

Agreed. Navarrto is needed, because you can't trust Gus behind the plate in a playoff chase. 

That's why the treatment of Gus still confuses me, because everybody agrees he can't be trusted, yet they continue to insist on him as a catcher. Even with 1B so open right now, McCullough made it clear he isn't in the mix for that.

Marlins are not even trying to set him up for success or restore trade value, just using him in a smaller version of the role he originally had to begin the season.

[Ely Sussman]

1 hour ago, 1993 fan from start said:

De Los Santos couple brief stints on Miami's active roster  And that is that.   I would rather see someone more deserving. During a playoff run like  Kemp Alderman

Alderman chose a bad time to slump. There was a lot to like about his season until the All-Star break. Has not looked MLB ready since then.