'He just keeps getting better': Javier Sanoja's ascension continues

[Nate Karzmer]

MIAMI —  "Too small." "No power." "Utility player."

Javier Sanoja has heard it all. Overlooked and undervalued as a prospect, there continued to be skepticism about Sanoja's ceiling coming off a solid rookie season in 2025. He has responded with easily the best stretch of his young career during the latter half of this season, providing value in ways that few thought possible.

Sanoja went yard for the eleventh time on Saturday afternoon in Miami's 8-3 loss to the visiting Braves. Five of those have come since the calendar flipped to September.

To put his spike of thump into perspective, Sanoja never homered more than seven times in any of his minor league seasons. In his first 111 games as a big leaguer between 2024 and 2025, he tallied seven.

"Another ball they got elevating the zone and he put a great swing on it," said Marlins manager Clayton McCullough postgame. "it was definitely improved physicality from last year to this year. He is really, really locked in on what he's firing at, particularly in early counts. His timing and his bat path is as good a place as they they've been for two years, and then also the improved decision-making early in counts, it's a big reason why the production rate came in such a positive way."

Since returning from the All-Star break, Sanoja's numbers are gaudy. A .320/.357/.507 slash line with 25 extra-base hits has flipped what was a solid second full season into a great one. In addition to the newfound pop, his 24-game on-base streak is the longest for a Miami Marlin since Jon Berti in 2022.

Also, Sanoja's trademark glove has maintained its pedigree after earning the utility National League Gold Glove a year ago. Taking on a growing role at third base, Sanoja's advanced defensive metrics have remained outstanding. A plus-5 Defensive Runs Saved and plus-6 Outs Above Average place "El Chiquito" in elite company amongst those at the hot corner.

Perhaps most exciting about Sanoja is how much more time he has to get even better. Weeks removed from his 24th birthday, Sanoja ranks second on the team in bWAR behind only Otto López. After making an unplanned transition into an everyday player this season, he's made a compelling case to be a staple of the Marlins lineup moving forward.

"He just keeps getting better," added McCullough. "And we're still seeing a very young player that is improving at the major league level in all factors...He's more than just a little player that can kind of move around."

Miami's season finale in 2026 comes your way at 3:10 pm on Sunday afternoon. Janson Junk takes the ball for McCullough in Game 162.

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[Hippyboi]

Jaavy should take over at 2B and maybe time to trade X while he still has some value to a 2B needy team

[1993 fan from start]

14 minutes ago, Hippyboi said:

Jaavy should take over at 2B and maybe time to trade X while he still has some value to a 2B needy team

I agree with that so it be forth person you give up . to keep  Sanjia around.   

cause PAULY G. be gone soon . He out options and can't go back to minors. 

[1993 fan from start]

where last night game ?   choose talk about one person over the team???

I don't think Sanoja is getting better . you also have to count how many loses Marlins have when he bats higher than 9th in the order lest I check 10 -29 .

He will fade and the amount of at bats show it 457 50 R  he need at bat to get prodution .. compare to some like Griffen Conine  280  at bats 44 R abd better hr rate 18 with better RBI RATE 42   Sanoja is the lest guy I trust with runners on . getting hot 1 month at most.  . The only one he come close to is Heriberto in At Bats 444  49 R  witch has more  power higher strikeout rate and rbi match..    Sanoja is a 2B AND SS by defensive number. .  But other play smarter and defsive wise better..    

know if Sanoja getting Runs and Rbis at less AT Bats I WOULD Agree with everyone.   

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

He's a solid contributor in key situations. Versatile. Inexpensive. Perfect Marlins player. Enjoy watching him perform.

[Hippyboi]

21 hours ago, 1993 fan from start said:

where last night game ?   choose talk about one person over the team???

I don't think Sanoja is getting better . you also have to count how many loses Marlins have when he bats higher than 9th in the order lest I check 10 -29 .

He will fade and the amount of at bats show it 457 50 R  he need at bat to get prodution .. compare to some like Griffen Conine  280  at bats 44 R abd better hr rate 18 with better RBI RATE 42   Sanoja is the lest guy I trust with runners on . getting hot 1 month at most.  . The only one he come close to is Heriberto in At Bats 444  49 R  witch has more  power higher strikeout rate and rbi match..    Sanoja is a 2B AND SS by defensive number. .  But other play smarter and defsive wise better..    

know if Sanoja getting Runs and Rbis at less AT Bats I WOULD Agree with everyone.   

69 rbis in 457 at bats is almost 100 over a full season. He's been hot for 2 months. He just needs to increase his walk rate to go with his low strikeout rate and he can be an 825-850 ops. Needs to stop the dumb base running, while maybe increasing the steals.

One position should help his fielding also, but he did win a gold glove last year.

[Rob V]

Trade X-Man for something good that helps us now (3B, SP, 1B) and let Javy Sanoja (our Jose Altuve) man 2B everyday for us going forward. He's shown he has more pop than X, is the better fielder with more range and just has that winning attitude we have seen in Altuve during his long run at the top. We've had too many infielders playing out of position at 3B and 1B and need to trim the fat there going forward. Norby, Jimenez and Morel are now gone due to not hitting a lick while Ex-Yankee Jared Serna (Jazz Trade) looks promising with the bat and glove as a backup for SS and 2B. De la Santos, unless he starts hitting bombs vs MLB Pitching like Bert and Conine, is probably not the answer at 1B for us to compete for the Playoffs in 2027. I would play Conine in RF everyday and drop Caissee to a platoon/back-up role due to his constant poor swing selection and too many K's. He stranded way too many guys at 3rd base with less than 2 outs to be an everyday player and must improve his hitting much like Bert did. Joe Mack is a keeper and a future extension candidate imo as we now know how hard it is to replace a JT Realmuto type of catcher. It took us all the way until now to find a comparable replacement for him after the Phils took us to the cleaners on that one, making injured Sixto Sanchez the centerpiece of what came back to us. Keep Bert, Marsee and Conine in the OF all starting everyday and slide Stowers back to 1B for his bat and backup OF along with Caissee as we all know injuries do happen and things can change quickly. Keep Gus at back-up C/DH and Navarro as back-up catcher/mentor as he's a great guy to have in the clubhouse. Starting Pitching needs some depth and we should have the young prospects returning from injuries and free agent and trade options as well. Our 2025 MVP Relief Pitcher Ronnie Heriquez will be returning from TJ surgery fully rested in 2027. He's better than all of the other relievers we used in 2026 so that's a huge addition for us without a trade. On a side note, Tampa Bay is looking like they're about to do some damage in the Playoffs after finishing in 1st place and hopefully that's where we're headed in the future. 

[Ely Sussman]

3 hours ago, Rob V said:

Trade X-Man for something good that helps us now (3B, SP, 1B) and let Javy Sanoja (our Jose Altuve) man 2B everyday for us going forward. He's shown he has more pop than X, is the better fielder with more range and just has that winning attitude we have seen in Altuve during his long run at the top.

Sanoja has been getting the Altuve comps since the minor leagues, and even with how great he played in the second half, I think that's setting him up for disappointment. Simply not on that level of offensive talent.

In a best-case scenario, he could get close to the career that Placido Polanco had. Capable of being an All-Star eventually, but not on a consistent basis.

[Rob V]

Remember Javier Sonoja is just 24 yrs old and has been up in the majors for 2 seasons now. He's already won a gold glove and in 2026 he batted .295 with 11 Hrs, 69 Rbis and a 115 wRC+ along with 3.3 War in only his 3rd major league season and first as a starter. I think comparisons to Altuve are on point and as he continues to mature and add muscle to his already strong small frame. His power numbers should continue to increase as he becomes better, especially in those hitter friendly ballparks on the road. We have a keeper here, extend that man before the Dodgers sign him and make him their next Kike!