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    Notes about the team are posted here.

    22 rumors in this category

      Ely Sussman

      The Miami Marlins announced on Thursday that right-handed reliever Garrett Acton has been traded to the Minnesota Twins. In return, they received right-handed reliever Logan Whitaker.

      The Marlins claimed Acton off waivers from the Colorado Rockies in February and optioned him to Triple-A Jacksonville last month. Prior to being designated for assignment, he made two scoreless relief appearances for the Jumbo Shrimp, leaning almost entirely on his mid-90s four-seam fastball and high-80s slider. He spent the vast majority of 2025 (his age-27 season) with Triple-A Durham, where he performed solidly (3.68 ERA and 4.01 FIP in 58.2 IP). Acton has also made seven major league appearances (all as a reliever), posting a 10.80 ERA and 11.19 FIP in those 6 ⅔ innings pitched.

      Turning 25 next month, Whitaker split last season between High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita. He spent nearly two months on the injured list, which limited him to 38 ⅓ innings pitched (25 G/0 GS), but he was highly effective when available, posting a 2.11 ERA and 2.90 FIP. That includes a 1.21 ERA if you ignore his season debut. He also worked three scoreless innings in Grapefruit League games this spring.

      Selected in the 19th round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of North Carolina State University, Whitaker is listed at 6'6", but only gets approximately six feet of extension during his delivery. He attacks hitters using his four-seamer and changeup, with occasional sliders and cutters mixed in.

      Whitaker should be joining Double-A Pensacola's roster this weekend.

      Through six games in 2026, the Marlins bullpen has been phenomenal. It's unclear who would be first in line for a call-up in the event of injury or overuse. Left-hander Cade Gibson has looked shaky for the Jumbo Shrimp through one week of action. Right-hander Josh White has fully proven himself in the minors, but lacks MLB experience.

      Screenshot 2026-04-02 at 8.55.20 PM.png

       

      Brock Beauchamp

      How To Install On iPhone or iPad
      How To Install On Android Device

      Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace.

      What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Fish On First.

      From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser.

      Additionally, a newer, completely updated Fish On First is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users.

      With that said, here’s how you turn Fish On First into an app on your mobile device.

      How To “Install” Fish On First on iPhone or iPad Using Safari

      First, go to the home page of Fish On First at https://fishonfirst.com/.

      1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu.

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      3. Tap “View More”.
      4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”.
      5. Tap “Add”.

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      That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Fish On First app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://fishonfirst.com/notifications/options/.

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      How To “Install” Fish On First on an Android Device Using Chrome

      First, go to the home page of Fish On First at https://fishonfirst.com/.

      1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu.

      android1.jpg

      3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”.
      4. Tap “Install”.

      android2.jpg

      That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Fish On First app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://fishonfirst.com/notifications/options/.

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      Ely Sussman

      One quirk of the 2026 Miami Marlins schedule is that the organization's first minor league game begins before its major league opener. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp host the Rochester Red Wings this Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET, while first pitch of Opening Day in Miami will be approximately five minutes later.

      The Jumbo Shrimp announced their initial 30-man active roster on Wednesday afternoon. Don't get too attached to this group, though, as Triple-A rosters tend to churn constantly throughout the course of the season.

      Seven of our Fish On First Top 30 prospects have been assigned to Jacksonville as indicated in parentheses below. That's without including Maximo Acosta (FOF #15), who will likely be optioned to Triple-A once he recovers from his left oblique strain.

      Pitchers (15): Garrett Acton, Bradley Blalock, Josh Ekness (FOF #27), Dax Fulton, Braxton Garrett, Cade Gibson, Ryan Gusto, William Kempner, Zach McCambley, Patrick Monteverde, Jack Ralston, Robby Snelling (FOF #3), Jake Walkinshaw, Josh White (FOF #25), Tyler Zuber

      Catchers (3): Bennett Hostetler, Joe Mack (FOF #2), Brian Navarreto 

      Infielders (7): Jesús Bastidas, Jacob Berry, Deyvison De Los Santos (FOF #28), Nathan Martorella, Cody Morissette, Johnny Olmstead, Jared Serna  

      Outfielders (5): Kemp Alderman (FOF #10), Matthew Etzel, Daniel Johnson, Ethan O’Donnell, Andrew Pintar

      7-day IL: Evan McKendry, Jesús Tinoco, Thomas White (FOF #1)

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      Notable prospects who finished the 2025 season with the Shrimp but didn't crack this roster include right-hander Nigel Belgrave and left-hander Dale Stanavich. Expect them to start off with Double-A Pensacola.

      Pensacola's full roster will be announced next week.

      Ely Sussman

      Former Miami Marlins outfielder Avisaíl García has hung up his cleats.

      Here is García's full retirement announcement, which was posted to his Instagram account on Monday:

      Today I formally announce the end of my career in Major League Baseball after 12 seasons of dedication and hard work.

      Thank you to God for the blessing of fulfilling my childhood dream—of playing baseball at its highest level.

      To my family: my eternal gratitude for your unconditional love, constant support, and sacrifices that made every step of this journey possible.

      To my agent, Gene Mato, and the Mato Sports Management team: thank you for your professional guidance, loyalty, and unwavering support throughout my career.

      To my teammates, coaches, and staff: thank you for the brotherhood, respect, and shared lessons day in and day out. These good memories will stay in my heart forever…

      To the teams that trusted me and gave me the opportunity to compete at the highest level… Thank you…

      Baseball gave me far more than I could have dreamed: achievements, experiences, and values I will carry with me always. I close this chapter with pride and gratitude, ready for new chapters in life.

      With respect and appreciation,
      Avisail Garcia

      The 34-year-old native of Anaco, Venezuela, played for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers prior to joining the Fish. With the 2021 Brewers, he set new career-highs in home runs (29) and walks (38). Starved for offense, Miami signed García to a four-year, $53 million free agent contract during the ensuing offseason, which would account for the majority of his career earnings as it turned out.

      Almost immediately, the signing looked regrettable. Limited to 153 Marlins games due to injuries, García slashed .217/.260/.322 with 13 home runs, six stolen bases and a 59 wRC+. His -1.4 fWAR is tied with Tim Anderson for the worst mark among all Marlins hitters since 2022.

      The Marlins released García on June 9, 2024. He underwent lower back surgery in October of that year in an attempt to extend his career, but never played another professional game.

      May the next chapter of García's life bring him fulfillment and success.

      Ely Sussman

      Miami Marlins prospect and Sydney Blue Sox superstar Eric Rataczak has been announced as the Australian Baseball League's Helms Award Winner, bestowed upon the league's most valuable player. In 38 regular season games, Rataczak slashed .336/.411/.571 with seven home runs and three stolen bases. He tied for the league lead with 19 extra-base hits.

      The Helms Award was voted on by ABL team representatives, officials and media members. The other award finalists were Nick Ward and Robbie Perkins, two ABL veterans in their early 30s.

      Rataczak's Blue Sox team posted the league's best regular season record, but fell in the ABL Championship Series.

      Drafted by the Marlins in 2024 out of Niagara University, Rataczak received a modest $75k signing bonus. He has appeared in 101 minor league games across three levels, slashing .238/.350/.345 with six homers, 17 steals and a 107 wRC+. The vast majority of his MiLB defensive reps have come at the corner outfield spots, but the Blue Sox used him exclusively at first base.

      Rataczak was one of 22 players in the Marlins organization who participated in fall/winter leagues during the 2025-26 offseason.

      Rataczak, who turned 25 earlier this month, will attend minor league camp this spring. He's likely to return to Double-A Pensacola, where he spent the final month of the 2025 MiLB campaign.

      Ely Sussman

      The Miami Marlins on Tuesday announced a slew of uniform number updates entering the 2026 season.

      Returning 40-man roster players: 

       

      Newly selected to 40-man roster: 

      (No word on Joe Mack, who wore No. 80 in big league camp last year)

       

      Offseason acquisitions:

      Ely Sussman

      With 10 Grapefruit League games in the books, the Miami Marlins took the first baby step toward assembling their 2026 Opening Day roster. Only 65 players remain in Marlins major league camp as of Tuesday afternoon now that pitchers Thomas White, Stephen Jones, Evan McKendry, Patrick Monteverde, Dale Stanavich and Samy Vásquez and catcher Sam Praytor have been reassigned to the minor leagues.

      White is certainly the most prominent name in this group, but his inclusion is unsurprising after suffering a right oblique strain. The 21-year-old left-hander concluded last season with Triple-A Jacksonville and he'll aim to rejoin the Jumbo Shrimp sometime in April.

      Monteverde, Stanavich and Praytor are homegrown Marlins prospects, while Jones, McKendry and Vásquez were signed to minor league free agent deals this past offseason. Vásquez in particular has been lighting up the radar gun (98.4 mph average fastball velocity), but still needs to develop better control. 

      Meanwhile, every member of the Marlins 40-man roster remains in big league camp.

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      Expect another round of cuts by the end of this week.

      Ely Sussman

      On Monday, the Miami Marlins signed Jesús Tinoco to a minor league deal. The 30-year-old right-hander spent 2025 with the Marlins, but he was squeezed off their 40-man roster after the season and elected free agency when the club outrighted him to the minors.

      Overall, Tinoco has spent parts of three seasons with Miami (2020, 2024-25). Across 51 total innings pitched (44 G/0 GS), he has posted a 2.98 FIP (3.00 ERA) with a 22.3 K% and 8.3 BB%. He set a career-high with four saves last year.

      A trade deadline day waiver claim in 2024, Tinoco was arguably the best arm in the Marlins bullpen down the stretch of that 100-loss season. He never looked quite right in 2025, though. On June 6, the Marlins placed him on the injured list with a right forearm strain. In early September, he underwent a hybrid UCL reconstruction and flexor tendon surgery.

      If Tinoco's rehab progresses normally, he should be cleared to begin a throwing program at some point during spring training. However, it's unlikely that he'll make any MLB appearances in 2026. Former teammate Declan Cronin, who had his own elbow surgery in September, signed a two-year minor league deal with the Texas Rangers in anticipation of being full-go for 2027. Tinoco's contract is probably structured similarly.

      Ely Sussman

      The Miami Marlins have signed outfielder Daniel Johnson to a minor league deal for the 2026 season, Johnson announced Friday on social media. It includes an invite to spring training.

      Drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2016, Johnson has spent time with six different MLB organizations, most recently the Baltimore Orioles, who outrighted him to the minors at the start of this offseason. The 30-year-old California native is a lifetime .196/.243/.322 hitter (53 wRC+) in 67 career games at the big league level. He's a plus runner who can contribute at all three outfield positions.

      Johnson just finished playing winter ball with Mexico's Naranjeros de Hermosillo. 

       

      It is hard enough for NRIs to crack an Opening Day roster under normal conditions and Johnson faces a particularly steep uphill battle. Following this week's acquisition of Owen Caissie, the Marlins are loaded with left-handed-hitting outfielders. Expect him to begin the season with Triple-A Jacksonville.

      In addition to Johnson, the Marlins have also signed Jesús Bastidas, Evan McKendry, Brian Navarreto, Jack Ralston, Samuel Vásquez and Tyler Zuber to minor league deals this offseason.

      Ely Sussman

      The Miami Marlins have signed right-hander Jack Ralston to a minor league deal. It only appeared on Miami's transaction log this weekend, but Ralston joined the organization officially back on December 16.

      Ralston was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals out of UCLA in 2019 and has spent his entire professional career with them until now. Although successful as a starter during his draft year, the seventh-rounder was quickly converted to a reliever. Last season, all 38 of his appearances came out of the bullpen. Splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, he posted a 3.61 ERA, 28.0 K% and .248 BAA in 57 ⅓ innings pitched. His sky-high 16.7% walk rate held him back from earning a call-up. The Cardinals also declined to select him to their 40-man roster after the season, so he departed as a minor league free agent.

      Based on 14 innings of Triple-A data, Ralston's fastball averages 93.4 mph. His go-to secondary pitch is a low-80s splitter. The 6'6" righty also has a cutter and a slider in his arsenal.

      At the age of 28 with such recent experience at the AAA level, Ralston is almost assured of attending big league spring training as a non-roster invitee, but Fish On First is unable to confirm that at the moment.

      In addition to Ralston, the Marlins have also signed Jesús Bastidas, Evan McKendry, Brian Navarreto, Samuel Vásquez and Tyler Zuber to minor league deals this offseason.

      Ely Sussman

      Dismissed by the Miami Marlins at the end of the 2024 season, Jeff Schwarz filed a civil complaint against his former employer in Palm Beach County Circuit Court on Thursday. Schwarz, who was 60 years old when the Marlins dismissed him, alleges that he was the victim of age discrimination. He's seeking "in excess of $50,000" through this lawsuit.

      It's unclear exactly when Schwarz was originally hired by the Marlins, but the photo above is from 2004. Across several different stints with the organization, his various roles included Triple-A pitching coach, Gulf Coast League pitching coach, pitching coordinator and (most recently) rehabilitation pitching coach. Quite frankly, I wasn't aware of his existence until learning of this legal action and therefore don't have any insight into the quality of his coaching.

      Schwarz's lawsuit references both president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and director of player development Rachel Balkovec, both of whom are in their 30s. Balkovec delivered the news of his termination, allegedly attributing the decision to "cleaning house" rather than job performance.

      Schwarz attempts to establish that there was a pattern of discrimination on the basis of age in violation of the Florida Civil Rights Act. In total, 11 Marlins coaches who were at least 46 years old got canned in October 2024 despite being "eminently qualified for their position," he claims. That group included Triple-A Jacksonville manager Daren Brown, High-A Beloit manager Billy Gardner and minor league pitching coordinator Scott Aldred.

      Schwarz feels that he is entitled to compensation for "extreme emotional distress, mental pain and suffering, past and future pecuniary losses, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of the capacity for the enjoyment of life and other non-pecuniary losses, along with the loss of back and front pay, interest on pay, bonus, and other fringe benefits."

      You may download the full lawsuit here (Jeffrey Schwarz v. Marlins Teamco LLC).

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      I'm not a lawyer, but this situation seems highly likely to be settled out of court.

      Ely Sussman

      The realistic best-case scenario did not materialize for the Miami Marlins. They were hopeful that Devin Williams would be available at a sharply discounted rate coming off a career-worst 4.79 ERA in 2025. Alas, the market coveted his elite swing-and-miss ability and the New York Mets ultimately won the bidding with a three-year, $51 million deal.

      Who's still out there for the Marlins? We have to assume that former Met Edwin Díaz is out of their price range as he reportedly expects something in the five-year, $100 million range.

      These are the other MLB free agents who were primarily used as closers last season:

      • RHP Robert Suarez (2.97 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 27.9 K%, 3.16 WPA, 40 SV in 69.2 IP)
      • RHP Pete Fairbanks (2.83 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 24.2 K%, 0.93 WPA, 27 SV in 60.1 IP)
      • RHP Kyle Finnegan (3.47 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 24.0 K%, 0.84 WPA, 24 SV in 57.0 IP)
      • RHP Emilio Pagán (2.88 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 30.0 K%, 1.09 WPA, 32 SV in 68.2 IP)
      • RHP Kenley Jansen (2.59 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 24.4 K%, 3.46 WPA, 29 SV in 59.0 IP)

      The Marlins specifically have a dearth of reliable left-handers on their current bullpen depth chart. Although less likely to be used consistently in the ninth inning, that could make the likes of Danny Coulombe, Drew Pomeranz, Caleb Ferguson, Gregory Soto, Caleb Thielbar, Andrew Chafin and Hoby Milner appealing on short-term contracts.

      Ely Sussman

      The full schedule for Major League Baseball's 2026 spring training was released on Wednesday. In addition to their 28 Grapefruit League games, the Miami Marlins will face Israel's World Baseball Classic roster in an exhibition and participate in the third annual Spring Breakout, with their top prospects competing against Houston Astros farmhands. 

      As usual, most of the Marlins' spring training games feature opponents whose camps are also located in southeast Florida: the Astros, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals. They'll play six games apiece against them. Slightly more travel will be involved for games against the Clearwater-based Philadelphia Phillies and Dunedin-based Toronto Blue Jays. It all begins Saturday, February 21 with a visit to the Mets in Port St. Lucie.

      Just like in 2023, Israel has been assigned to loanDepot park's WBC pool. Their exhibition against the Fish in Jupiter is scheduled for March 3, four days before the country begins tournament play in Miami.

      The Spring Breakout game will be on March 19. Health permitting, Marlins prospects Thomas White, Joe Mack, Robby Snelling, Aiva Arquette, Starlyn Caba and Kemp Alderman should all be participating.

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      Mini plans, season tickets and group ticket packages to games at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium go on sale on November 12. Individual game tickets are available beginning January 10.

      Ely Sussman

      Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers is one of the finalists to win a 2025 Silver Slugger Award, as announced on Wednesday.

      In 117 games, Stowers slashed .288/.368/.544 with 25 home runs, five stolen bases and a 149 wRC+. That slugging percentage led all National League outfielders who had at least 450 plate appearances. It's a far cry meaning from the year before when he was significantly below replacement level and homered only twice following a midseason trade to Miami.

      Stowers, 27, was the Marlins' lone All-Star representative this season and continued mashing after that to earn July NL Player of the Month honors. His performances on either side of the break—July 13 vs. Orioles and July 18 vs. Royals—combined to form arguably the best two-game span by a hitter in Marlins history (8-10, 5 HR and 11 RBI). 

      Stowers' campaign was cut short by oblique issues. He suffered a left oblique strain on August 15. He began a minor league rehab assignment on September 5, but then experienced discomfort on his right side. He has fully recovered since then, so his readiness for 2026 won't be impacted.

      The NL's other outfield finalists are Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Chicago Cubs), Juan Soto (New York Mets), Kyle Tucker (Chicago Cubs) and James Wood (Washington Nationals). I fully expect Carroll and Soto to be awarded, but the third spot is wide open.

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      NL winners will be announced on November 6.

      Ely Sussman

      The Miami Marlins can essentially "run it back" with the same cast of characters next season, if they choose to. Their roster consists of no pending free agents. Every player actually has multiple years of club control remaining.

      That being said, a handful of Marlins are going to receive slight pay raises in 2026 via the arbitration process.

      For as long as I've been covering Major League Baseball, MLB Trade Rumors has published annual estimates of the salaries that arb-eligible players will get during the upcoming season if their teams tender them contracts. From most expensive to least expensive projection, MLBTR shared the following figures for Marlins players on Monday:

      It is a small class relative to the rest of the league—only four other MLB teams would be spending less than the Marlins' $13.03M total projection if they tendered all of their arb-eligible guys. Jesús Sánchez ($6.5M) and Nick Fortes ($2.4M) would've been in this class as well, but they were traded in July to the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays, respectively.

      Everybody listed with the exception of Faucher missed significant chunks of the 2025 season due to injury. Those absences hurt the team's chances to contend, but also limited each player's earning power moving forward.

      Miami doesn't have obvious non-tender candidates this year. If any of these pitchers get let go, it's because the front office believes their current injury is career-threatening.

      The deadline to decide whether or not to tender contracts is 8 p.m. ET on November 21.

      Ely Sussman

      For the past several years, I have been doing some version of this exercise identifying all of the former Fish who are participating in the MLB postseason. It feels like the Miami Marlins are less represented than usual in the 2025 field, with three of the qualifiers having no direct links to the franchise.

      The names below previously played major league games for the Marlins. I have excluded players who were traded away when they were still minor leaguers—Luis Castillo (now with the Seattle Mariners), Josh Naylor (Cleveland Guardians), etc.— as well as those currently assigned to MiLB affiliates such as Bryan De La Cruz (New York Yankees) and Bryan Hoeing (San Diego Padres).

       

      Boston Red Sox: none

      Chicago Cubs: Colin Rea and Craig Counsell (manager)

      Cincinnati Reds: none

      Cleveland Guardians: none

      Detroit Tigers: Sean Guenther (injured)

      Los Angeles Dodgers: Kiké Hernández, Miguel Rojas, Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia

      Milwaukee Brewers: Christian Yelich

      New York Yankees: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Boone (manager)

      Philadelphia Phillies: Jesús Luzardo, J.T. Realmuto and David Robertson

      San Diego Padres: Luis Arraez

      Seattle Mariners: Donovan Solano

      Toronto Blue Jays: Tyler Heineman and Yimi García (injured)

      Ely Sussman

      There have been a few changes since the preliminary Mesa Solar Sox roster was announced last month. The Miami Marlins will actually send eight players to the desert instead of seven, with right-handed reliever Holt Jones and left-hander Jack Sellinger recently being added to the group. Another reliever, righty Xavier Meachem, will not participate as originally hoped after undergoing elbow surgery.

      Selected by the Marlins in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Jones spent his entire age-26 season with High-A Beloit. He posted a 4.75 ERA and 26.3% strikeout rate in 47 ⅓ innings pitched (34 G/0 GS). Jones' lack of control continues to be a major concern—he walked 17.8% of opponents and also hit 10 batters while locating only 57% of his pitches for strikes.

      Sellinger was Jones' Sky Carp teammate for most of 2025 before earning a late-season promotion to Double-A Pensacola. The 25-year-old quietly had an excellent campaign out of the 'pen. The UNLV product finished with a 2.30 ERA and 32.0% strikeout rate in 66 ⅔ innings pitched (40 G/0 GS). He has a sinker/slider/sweeper/changeup pitch mix, with the slider being his best weapon. Whereas everybody else that the Marlins are sending to the AFL had an injury absence of some kind this season, Sellinger did not.

      The rest of the originally announced Marlins delegation is still playing: Starlyn Caba (Fish On First's #9 prospect), PJ Morlando (FOF #16), Fenwick Trimble (FOF #20), Aiden May and Darwin Rodríguez.

      Screenshot 2025-10-03 at 8.57.43 AM.png

      The Solar Sox's season opener is on Tuesday at Sloan Park (9:30 p.m ET first pitch). You can livestream it for free here.

      Ely Sussman

      As announced on Roberto Clemente Day, Griffin Conine is among Major League Baseball's 30 nominees for the 2025 edition of the award that bears Clemente's name. The Hall of Fame outfielder was revered for his humanitarian work, so the Roberto Clemente Award goes to a player who "best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field."

      Conine started his age-27 season with a promising 20-game stretch during which he slashed .281/.352/.438 with great defense in the corner outfield spots. But he has been sidelined for nearly five months since dislocating his left shoulder and undergoing surgery. He's expected to complete a rehab assignment this week and rejoin the Fish in the midst of their final road trip of 2025.

      Even more so than the typical Clemente Award nominee, Conine's nomination is all about his off-the-field impact. Throughout this year, he has focused his efforts on youth development and increasing access to baseball. "When Griffin attends events, he leads with intention, making every child feel seen, valued and inspired," the Marlins say.

      Conine worked with the Marlins Foundation to help launch the 2025 season with the Marlins Tee Ball Initiative’s Opening Day at Miami Beach, where he joined young athletes on the field, led drills and offered encouragement.

      The Marlins hosted the Beep Ball Classic at loanDepot park, an adaptive baseball experience for blind and visually impaired young adults. Conine played blindfolded to gain firsthand perspective and make a statement about the importance of inclusivity in sports.

      Conine also joined Billy’s Summer Reading Challenge at a Miami library, led warmups for a PLAY BALL clinic and visited Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center's Alex’s Place.

       

      Fittingly, Conine has been regularly involved in the "Community Gamechanger" moment during Marlins home games as individuals making their own positive impact in the South Florida community were honored by the Marlins Foundation.

      You can vote for Conine here through September 28.

      Ely Sussman

      The Dominican Winter League (LIDOM) held its annual rookie draft on Wednesday night. Over the course of 16 rounds, the league's six teams took turns selecting players with Dominican roots who have reached the full-season level of Minor League Baseball, acquiring their rights for future seasons should they choose to participate in winter ball later in their careers.

      Five current Miami Marlins farmhands were picked:

      Tineo, Martínez, Pérez and Reynoso were signed by the Marlins as international amateur free agents and have been with the organization ever since. Valencia arrived from the Houston Astros earlier this year in the Jesús Sánchez trade. He ranks 25th on the Fish On First Top 30.

      It's unlikely that any of these 2025 draftees will appear in LIDOM games during the upcoming season. None of them are older than 22 years old, while the average age for active LIDOM players is about 29. Only Reynoso has experience above the Low-A level. The vast majority of players who appear in regular season games have at least tasted Double-A.

      The one Marlin who will definitely play during the 2025-26 season is Troy Johnston. He's returning to Toros del Este for a third consecutive year.

      LIDOM's opening day is October 15.

      Ely Sussman

      Wednesday's announcement was a formality. Miami Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee officially won the August 2025 National League Rookie of the Month award for 30 games' worth of superhuman all-around production.

      Called up by the Marlins when the calendar flipped, Marsee slashed .352/.430/.629 with four home runs and nine stolen bases during his first month at the major league level. He was especially dangerous with runners in scoring position (.464/.500/.893), allowing him to compile 25 RBI. He got defensive reps at all three outfield positions, but primarily in center. FanGraphs estimates that the 24-year-old left-handed-hitter was the most valuable player in MLB, accruing 2.1 fWAR. The next-best NL rookie was Atlanta Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep (1.0 fWAR).

      jakob marsee hr trot fist pump.gifThroughout the season, the Marlins have utilized a rookie-laden roster that is the youngest in Major League Baseball. However, Marsee is the only one of those rookies to earn this award in 2025. The most recent Marlins NL Rookie of the Month recipient was Trevor Rogers in May 2021. Rogers finished runner-up to Jonathan India of the Cincinnati Reds in that year's NL ROY voting.

      Marsee's post-trade deadline debut makes him an extreme NL ROY longshot—even elite quality of production cannot compensate for his lack of quantity. The 2025 finalists for that award are expected to be Cade Horton (Chicago Cubs), Drake Baldwin (Braves) and Isaac Collins (Milwaukee Brewers).

      Through two September games, Marsee is 0-for-7 with four strikeouts, so it'll be an uphill climb to defend his Rookie of the Month title.

      Ely Sussman

      Accompanied by his family and many of his former Marlins teammates, Luis Castillo returned to loanDepot park on Sunday to take his rightful place in the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame.

      Castillo's plaque reads:

      "Luis Antonio Castillo played for the Marlins from 1996 to 2005 and was an integral part of the 2003 World Series-winning team. Castillo is one of two players, along with Jeff Conine, to have played with the Marlins in both of their World Series-winning campaigns, although he did not appear in the 1997 postseason. A three-time National League All-Star and three-time Gold Glove recipient (2003-05), the switch-hitting infielder also led the NL in stolen bases twice (2000 and 2002). The San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, native played 10 seasons with the Marlins, and upon his induction, he ranked as the franchise leader in hits (1,273), at-bats (4,347), plate appearances (4,966), games played (1,128), singles (1,081), triples (42), walks (533), and stolen bases (281)."

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      Castillo is part of the Hall of Fame's inaugural class of 2025. Jeff Conine, Jim Leyland and Jack McKeon were inducted earlier this season.

      Ely Sussman

      The Miami Marlins brought Jack McKeon to loanDepot park on Sunday to celebrate his long and colorful baseball career. Fittingly, his Marlins Legends Hall of Fame induction coincides with a series against the New York Yankees, who McKeon's team stunningly defeated in the 2003 World Series.

      McKeon's plaque reads:

      "John Aloysius McKeon managed the Marlins from 2003 to 2005 and again in 2011, guiding the franchise to its second World Series Championship--a 4-2 series win over the New York Yankees in the 2003 Fall Classic. Over his four seasons with the Marlins, the South Amboy, N.J., native produced a 281-257 (.522) record. Across his MLB managerial career, McKeon compiled a 1,051-990 (.515) record while managing the Kansas City Royals (1973-75), Oakland Athletics (1977-78), San Diego Padres (1988-90), Cincinnati Reds (1997-2000), and the Marlins. He finished with one World Series championship and two National League Manager of the Year awards (1999 and 2003)."

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      McKeon is part of the Hall of Fame's inaugural class of 2025. Jeff Conine and Jim Leyland were inducted earlier this season. The fourth and final member, Luis Castillo, will be inducted on August 24.

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