Javier Sanoja: The Venezuelan Swiss Army knife

Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough joked that Javier Sanoja could probably play every position except catcher. 

But even that may not have been generous enough. 

The 22-year-old mostly played center field in his four years in the minors, starting in 134 games there, but he’s logged at least 500 innings at second base, shortstop, and third base. He also made two starts in left field last year when he got his first cup of coffee in the major leagues in September. Still considered a prospect, he is ranked 20th on the Fish On First Top 30 list entering 2025.

With all of these positions in his bag, Sanoja’s first position as a child was actually catcher. He said his manager moved him out of there, as he was considered too small. Even as an adult, Sanoja stands at just 5’7".

“I never asked or demanded to be in a specific position,” said Sanoja via interpreter, who mentioned he has four different gloves in his locker for different positions. “I was always more thankful to be on the roster or the lineup, and that's something that gets you better.”

Sanoja, who signed an international free agent deal with Miami in 2019, said he looks at guys like Jose Altuve as examples of selflessness in the field. The 14-year veteran had played virtually his entire career at second base, but will go into 2025 playing in left field. That idea was originally pitched when the Houston Astros were trying to retain long-time third baseman Alex Bregman. Isaac Paredes then would have shifted over to second base, forcing Altuve to the outfield. Even after Bregman signed with the Boston Red Sox, the team still expects to move Altuve to left field.

“He was willing to move to the outfield,” Sanoja said. “You always have to look for the better of the team. It doesn't matter. Some things that you have to do, you have to do for the best of the team.”

Sanoja started nine games and appeared in 14 with the Marlins in 2024 spending 79 ⅔ innings between center field (21 ⅔), shortstop (21), second base (23), and left field (14). In that small sample size, he recorded positive defensive runs saved at each position except for shortstop.

“It’s going to be very important for our guys to be open-minded to (playing multiple positions),” McCullough said. “It's wonderful to have a guy like Sanoja who has the infield and outfield ability. It's a hard thing to bounce like that."

This spring, the Venezuelan native has started games at second base, left field, and right field. He’ll be directly competing against outfielders Derek Hill, Kyle Stowers, and Griffin Conine, along with infielders Eric Wagaman and Jonah Bride for the final couple of roster spots. Our own Nate Karzmer currently projects Sanoja to earn a spot at the expense of Wagaman.

Among those aforementioned players, Sanoja is the only one who can play both outfield and infield. That versatility is exactly what McCullough will look for as he rounds out his 26-man roster in time for Opening Day on March 27. The recurring word he’s used in camp is “optionality.”

“The more optionality we have and the more that they give themselves, it just provides you more opportunity to get in the lineup and stay in the lineup,” McCullough said.

Last season, the Marlins' super-utility player was Vidal Bruján—he appeared in 102 games at eight different positions. However, he struggled offensively (.222/.303/.319 slash line, 2 HR and 5 SB) and has since been traded to the Chicago Cubs. The Marlins hope that Sanoja can come close to mimicking the production they once received from Jon Berti, who thrived in that role from 2019-2023.