Could Joe Mack force Marlins' hand this spring?

This isn't an endorsement of small-sample fodder, nor an argument that spring training statistics correlate to the ensuing MLB regular season. In the case of the Miami Marlins, though, their primary catcher of the present and presumed primary catcher of the future have produced a stark contrast in results through the first third of the Grapefruit League schedule. This understandably is drawing even more attention to the already-present narrative that the inevitable transition from Agustín Ramírez to Joe Mack behind the plate should be expedited.

The Marlins number two prospect per our rankings, Mack has thrived in his 11 plate appearances thus far, hitting .333/.455/.667/1.122. Meanwhile, Ramírez is off to a feverishly slow start, going 0-for-14 with six strikeouts. No other player in the sport has accrued as many plate appearances as the 24-year-old without reaching base safely.

When does the conversation shift to Mack potentially breaking camp with the big league club?

"Joe Mack is going to play for us at some point. When that is, I don't know," noted Marlins manager Clayton McCullough. 

Mack, renowned for his defensive prowess, seemed to realize some of the potential thrust upon him in the batter's box, hitting 21 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, OPS'ing a career-best .813. If Mack brought even three-quarters of that offensive output with him to Miami, in tandem with his defense, he would become the franchise's best all-around backstop of the post-J.T. Realmuto era.

As for Agustín, there are multiple ways one could approach this. He was one of just four rookies in 2025 to hit 20-plus home runs, finishing sixth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

This isn't to ignore the red flags in his profile, though, as Ramírez walked in just 6.2 percent of his 585 plate appearances (MLB average is 8.4%). He was also considerably better in games started at designated hitter, when he could apply his full focus to his offensive responsibilities. On the whole, his 92 OPS+ made him a below-average hitter.

Despite catching in just 73 games last season, Ramírez's 10 errors led all MLB catchers, as did his 19 passed balls. According to Fielding Bible, only Salvador Perez (-15) put up a worse defensive runs saved total than Ramírez's minus-14. His work ethic earns praise from Marlins leadership, yet the early returns this spring are underwhelming.

In all likelihood, the Marlins won't budge on their conservative plan unless Mack sustains this pace for the remaining three weeks of exhibition games. The expectation is still that Ramírez and Liam Hicks will form their Opening Day catching tandem. A 2024 Rule 5 draft pick out of the Tigers system, Hicks showed promising plate discipline, OBP'ing .346 across 390 plate appearances. While not known for his defense behind the plate, Hicks certainly feels safer behind the dish than Ramírez, graded out as about an average defender according to DRS, while also appearing in parts of 28 games at first base. 

Regardless of where he opens 2026, there's a sense that we're on the precipice of seeing Joe Mack impact the Marlins at the major league level.

The Game at Hand

Chris Paddack made his second spring start for the Marlins on Sunday, tossing two scoreless innings in the club's 3-0 victory over the Nationals.

Originally drafted by Miami in 2015, Paddack would be traded to the Padres in the deal that netted Fernando Rodney in 2016. Debuting in the majors in 2019, Paddack owns a 4.64 lifetime ERA over parts of seven seasons. In 2025, his first season post-Tommy John surgery, Paddack pitched to a 5.35 ERA across 158 innings between Minnesota and Detroit.

"Really good day for Chris...Really good day to build off of," noted McCullough. 

Speaking of his experience with the Marlins thus far, Paddack reflected on the highs and lows of his career, spoke about the early discussions he had when meeting with the club prior to signing.

"Something I think we all need to be reminded of, even at this level is, 'Hey man, you're really good. Believe in yourself.' That's something that was told to me in that first Zoom call, and that we're not on the phone to fill a roster spot—we think you can contribute...and we want to help you find that ceiling," remarked Paddack.

News From Around Camp

- Thomas White, the club’s top prospect, has a Grade 1 right oblique strain. McCullough stated that White experienced some discomfort in his spring debut on Thursday. The timeline for his return to play is 3-4 weeks. Setback aside, White appears to be a name who could impact the big league roster at some point in 2026.

- Bradley Blalock, acquired by Miami over the offseason from Colorado, is the only healthy arm in big league camp who has yet to make a Grapefruit League appearance. He's slated to make his spring debut in the next couple of days, per McCullough. 

- Christopher Morel and Griffin Conine swapped spots on the defensive side of the ball, with Conine making his spring debut at first base, and Morel in right field. Morel, while in line to be the club's primary first baseman, is expected to see time at both third base and the outfield at points this season. In 105 games with Tampa Bay last year, he hit .219 with a .684 OPS.