How letting go of his 2025 self has allowed Kyle Stowers to find success in 2026

MIAMI, FL - Going into the 2026 season, Kyle Stowers was expected to be the Miami Marlins' biggest contributor offensively. He was coming off an All-Star season where he hit 25 home runs and posted a 149 wRC+. After a slow start to his season, Stowers is looking like the player we saw in 2025. He hit his 12th home run of the season in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Stowers missed almost all of spring training due to a hamstring issue, reaggravating it right before the season. Even after being reinstated from the injured list, he wasn't producing with only three home runs and a .663 OPS through 37 games.

Those struggles were partially physical, but also mental as Stowers tried to replicate what he'd done in 2025.

"Not giving myself enough grace for missing all the spring training," Stowers said. "Not having a ton of at-bats, trying to chase after what it looked like and what it felt like from last year. The reality of this league is that things change. You have to make adjustments, the league's making adjustments to you and what flipped for me, if I'm being honest with you was I kind of let go of trying to be the guy from last year that I was. What problems are being presented to me on a nightly basis and how can I respond to those and that kind of freed me up. My goal was to just get back to being a league-average player, not being .900 OPS Kyle Stowers, go be a league average player. I just want to be better tomorrow than I am today."

Going into Wednesday, Stowers had returned to peak form over the previous 30 games, slashing .270/.358/.583/.941 with eight home runs and 29 RBI during that span.

In the bottom of the second inning, he took Mariners starter George Kirby deep for a go-ahead solo home run.

"He's been on one really since June," Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said of Stowers. "He's looked much like the All-Star of last year, and I think that we were all very confident that it was going to come around and he's coming at the right time. It's coming at a great time for our team, and happy for Kyle. Stubbed through a slower start after the setbacks, and he's playing at a really high level."

Amid all the setbacks and struggles, the Marlins moved Stowers to first base, continuing their trend of maximizing positional versatility. After spending most of the 2025 season in left field—and even finishing as a National League Gold Glove finalist—the move was initially a surprising one. It didn't take long, however, for it to make perfect sense, thanks in large part to Stowers' strong play at the position.

On Wednesday, he was put into some tough situations right away. In the top of the first inning, Randy Arozarena shot a 104.7 mph grounder to shortstop Otto Lopez that he had to quickly throw to Stowers. who had to quickly turn his glove to make the catch. In the same inning, Stowers stole a base hit from Josh Naylor to end the inning.

"Felt like it might be worth the shot not knowing how the season might play out," McCullough said of the first base transition, which began in spring training. "It was pretty evident watching him just move around, how smoothly his hands were working that this had a chance to potentially be something. The more time he's gotten over there he's really taken to it."

Entering Wednesday, Stowers hadn't quite graded out as an above-average first baseman, posting minus-1 Outs Above Average and minus-7 defensive runs saved. That's to be expected, though, as he continues to adjust to a new position. The eye test suggests the transition has gone much more smoothly than the metrics indicate, and as he gains more experience, the numbers may eventually reflect that as well.

"I know I haven't played a lot there, but you want your infielders to feel comfortable throwing the ball across to you," Stowers said. "I just want to give my best effort every single time. We have a very talented infield, they don't need me to be elite over there at picking the ball, but the times when they have tougher plays, or there's a throw up, I do the best I can for them."

Since the Marlins designated Christopher Morel for assignment and Liam Hicks landed on the injured list, Stowers has begun playing first base on a much more consistent basis, leading to plenty of what he describes as "unique plays."

One of those plays came in Colorado. With runners in scoring position, Rockies outfielder Cole Carrigg attempted to steal second, but a late jump left him caught in a rundown. As the play unfolded, Hunter Goodman broke for home from third. Stowers quickly fired to the plate to cut him down, erasing the runner at home while allowing Carrigg to advance only to second.

"Plays like that, where to line up on cuts and relays I think I'm still getting up to speed on. Trying my best to talk with Clayton Carson (Vitale) and (Blake Butler) as much as I can just to learn along the way. I want them to coach me hard with where to be in certain plays because I think with the way our roster is constructed right now, it makes it makes sense right now for me to be playing first."

The second run of the ballgame was thanks to an Xavier Edwards RBI triple, his sixth of the season. Edwards six triples are a career high and it extended the Marlins MLB lead in triples to 23 on the year. Starting for the Marlins was Tyler Phillips, who went five shutout innings, allowing four hits and two walks. He also struck out three.

With the win, the Marlins improved to 51-42, nine games over .500, and with the Philadelphia Phillies falling to the Cincinnati Reds, the Marlins now have the second National League Wild Card Spot. The Atlanta Braves defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates keeps them three games back of the NL East division lead.

The Marlins go for the sweep on Thursday at 6:40 pm with Janson Junk making his first start off the injured list.