Ely Sussman

Today's news roundup also includes the backstory of how a pitcher battled cancer during his brief tenure in the Marlins organization. I wrote about this last August, but it's worth reiterating and updating. Variety is fun in terms of styles and statistics, and nobody embodies that quite like Miami Marlins right-hander Valente Bellozo. Going by run prevention and volume of work, Bellozo has been practically a carbon copy of Ryan Weathers over the last two seasons. He has unquestionably helped the Marlins win games, or at least keep games competitive. And yet, the Marlins continue to keep him on a short leash and limit his major league opportunities altogether. I understand both sides. No MLB starting pitcher since 2024 (min. 80 IP) has been luckier than Bellozo in terms of their ERA-to-FIP differential. He does not have anything in his toolbox for inducing ground balls. This one floored me: Bellozo ranks dead last among starters in first-pitch strike rate (54.2%). On the other hand, Bellozo made tangible improvements entering this season that were on full display during Wednesday's scoreless outing. His average four-seam fastball velocity (92.1 mph) was a full tick higher than any previous MLB start of his career. His new kick-change is getting a 62.5 whiff% in 2025. The contact against him has been much softer than last year (96th percentile hard-hit rate allowed). All things considered, it is hard to believe Bellozo is being deprived of a steady role on a Marlins pitching staff that has allowed the most runs in the majors. Down on the farm, Triple-A Jacksonville lost, 6-5. Derek Hill began his rehab assignment with an 0-for-4 day as the Jumbo Shrimp designated hitter. Maximo Acosta has just one extra-base hit over his last 15 games. High-A Beloit lost, 6-5. Very discouraging outing for Noble Meyer (2.1 IP, 2 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 4 HBP, 69 pitches/32 strikes), whose fastball velocity uncharacteristically dipped below 90 mph in his final inning of work. Low-A Jupiter lost, 9-8. Starlyn Caba (left thumb sprain) was transferred to the 60-day IL. He won't be eligible for reinstatement until June 21 at the earliest. FCL Marlins won, 6-5. Grant Shepardson retired nine of the 10 batters he faced in his pro debut (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K). More Marlins news and content below: 🔷 Fish On First spoke with Kyle Stowers about being named NL Player of the Week. 🔷 On this day in 2000, the Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves when John Rocker balked in the winning run. 🔷 Shortly after being selected by the Marlins in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft, Nic Enright was diagnosed with cancer. Great read from Zack Meisel of The Athletic about how Enright persevered with his baseball career while undergoing treatment. The right-handed reliever is once again on the cusp of reaching the big leagues, occupying a spot on the Cleveland Guardians 40-man roster and having posted an 0.82 ERA at Triple-A since 2024. 🔷 The Prediction Time leaderboard has been updated through the first 12 series. The Dodgers series was picked perfectly by @Sean Millerick and @rurrusuno (among others). Become a SuperSub and we'll keep track of your predictions all season long! 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Dylan Cease and Hunter Greene exited their starts early due to forearm and groin injuries, respectively. Max Fried allowed one earned run in his seven-inning start, which actually raised his American League-leading ERA to 1.05. 🔷 We are doing an off-day edition of Fish On First LIVE to talk all things Marlins and preview the Chicago White Sox series beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET. FOF LIVE is presented by About The Fans. Check out our new merchandise collection (coupon code fof10 for 10% off). 🔷 Today's MiLB schedule: Triple-A Jacksonville vs. Syracuse, 7:05 p.m. ET Double-A Pensacola at Biloxi, 6:35 p.m. ET (doubleheader) High-A Beloit vs. Cedar Rapids, 7:05 p.m. ET Low-A Jupiter at Palm Beach, 6:30 p.m. ET FCL Marlins vs. FCL Cardinals, 12:00 p.m. ET Marlins podcast episodes View full article

My expectation for him moving forward is to be a Brian Anderson type, but with a little more plate discipline. Still a lot of swing-and-miss in his game that makes it hard to see him maintaining this high batting average.

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal readers. These notes apply to the third and final game of Miami's home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Starting Lineup SS Xavier Edwards (S) LF Kyle Stowers (L) 1B Eric Wagaman RF Jesús Sánchez (L) C Agustín Ramírez DH Matt Mervis (L) CF Dane Myers 3B Graham Pauley (L) 2B Javier Sanoja P Valente Bellozo Click HERE to download the full game notes (preview below) View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal readers. These notes apply to the second game of Miami's home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Starting Lineup SS Xavier Edwards (S) LF Kyle Stowers (L) DH Agustín Ramírez RF Jesús Sánchez (L) 3B Connor Norby 1B Matt Mervis (L) CF Dane Myers 2B Javier Sanoja C Liam Hicks (L) P Cal Quantrill Click HERE to download the full game notes (preview below) View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal readers. These notes apply to the first game of Miami's home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Starting Lineup SS Xavier Edwards (S) LF Kyle Stowers (L) 1B Eric Wagaman RF Jesús Sánchez (L) DH Connor Norby CF Dane Myers 3B Graham Pauley (L) C Nick Fortes 2B Javier Sanoja P Sandy Alcantara Click HERE to download the full game notes (preview below) View full article

On Monday episodes of the Small Pod, we will be shining a spotlight on notable prospects from each of the Miami Marlins' minor league affiliates. Ely Sussman's featured players this week: INF Carter Johnson (Jupiter), OF Fenwick Trimble (Beloit), RHP Josh Ekness (Pensacola) and RHP Janson Junk (Jacksonville). View full video

Today's news roundup also includes Baseball America's updated prospects list and a busy afternoon slate in the Marlins organization. The 2025 Miami Marlins are all too familiar with what it's like to play from behind. You are well aware that their starting pitchers have fared terribly. Beyond that, Miami's offense has been slow to get rolling when opposing starters are in the game. The Marlins have only 14 home runs against starters this season, fewer than any other MLB team. Their .283 on-base percentage is third-lowest. A switch seemingly flips when they get to face relievers. In Tuesday's upset of the Los Angeles Dodgers, they compiled 10 baserunners in four-plus innings against LA's loaded bullpen. The team's .797 OPS vs. relievers is second only to the Chicago Cubs. These splits could be spun as a credit to Clayton McCullough for pushing the right buttons in late-game situations, or as a knock on him for constructing sub-optimal, ever-changing starting lineups. For now, I simply find them amusing. Down on the farm, Triple-A Jacksonville won, 4-3. Joe Mack drove in three of their runs, including a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning. Andrew Pintar went 4-for-4 to raise his batting average to .315. Double-A Pensacola won, 6-1. Efficient start for Jacob Miller (7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 89 pitches/53 strikes). High-A Beloit lost, 8-0. Rare game for them without any stolen bases. Low-A Jupiter lost, 8-7. Eury Pérez made his third minor league rehab start and couldn't get out of the first inning (0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 27 pitches/15 strikes). His control was lousy, though defensive mistakes behind him didn't help. Dillon Head launched his second home run of the season. PJ Morlando is expected to miss 4-6 weeks due to a left hamstring strain. Morlando previously had IL stints for back and elbow injuries. More Marlins news and content below: 🔷 Derek Hill (left wrist sprain) is beginning a rehab assignment with Jacksonville today. He figures to rejoin Miami's active roster at some point during the upcoming road trip, with benchwarmer Graham Pauley being the top candidate to get sent down in a corresponding move. 🔷 With the Los Angeles Dodgers in town, Fish On First interviewed former Marlins Tanner Scott and Miguel Rojas. Watch them here. 🔷 Tennessee LHP Liam Doyle is the subject of Hector Rodriguez's latest MLB Draft profile. 🔷 FOF SuperSub Ron Cox reflects on the state of the Marlins under Peter Bendix. 🔷 Baseball America's updated Top 100 MLB prospects list includes Thomas White (27th), Joe Mack (50th) and Robby Snelling (78th). Starlyn Caba is no longer ranked after entering spring training in the No. 69 spot. 🔷 Kyle Stowers has developed a daily journaling routine to relieve pressure and keep things in perspective, he explains to MLB.com's Christina De Nicola. 🔷 On this day in 2000, Ryan Dempster threw a one-hit shutout against the New York Mets. It's also the third anniversary of Joe Dunand's terrific debut. 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, the Texas Rangers fired offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker and hired longtime big leaguer Bret Boone to be their new hitting coach. The New York Yankees pulled away from the San Diego Padres with a 10-run rally in the seventh inning. The San Francisco Giants had their own nine-run rally in the 11th inning to beat the Chicago Cubs. 🔷 Today's MLB game: The Marlins (probable starter RHP Valente Bellozo) have their final head-to-head matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers (bulk guy RHP Landon Knack). Unless Bellozo pitches brilliantly, he's likely to be optioned to the minors following the game in favor of a fresh bullpen arm—Ryan Weathers is on track to take over this rotation spot next week. The Marlins have a 38.6% chance to win, per FanGraphs. First pitch at 4:40 p.m. ET. 🔷 Today's MiLB schedule: Triple-A Jacksonville vs. Syracuse, 12:05 p.m. ET Double-A Pensacola at Biloxi, 12:05 p.m. ET High-A Beloit vs. Cedar Rapids, 12:10 p.m. ET Low-A Jupiter at Palm Beach, 6:30 p.m. ET FCL Marlins at FCL Nationals, 12:00 p.m. ET Marlins podcast episodes View full article

Fish On First LIVE discusses how the Miami Marlins can balance playing time between Agustín Ramírez, Liam Hicks and Nick Fortes, who was reinstated from the injured list on Sunday. View full video

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal readers. These notes apply to the third and final game of Miami's home series against the Athletics. Starting Lineup SS Xavier Edwards (S) DH Agustín Ramírez 1B Eric Wagaman 3B Connor Norby RF Kyle Stowers (L) CF Dane Myers C Nick Fortes LF Ronny Simon (S) 2B Javier Sanoja P Edward Cabrera Click HERE to download the full game notes (preview below) View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal readers. These notes apply to the second game of Miami's home series against the Athletics. Starting Lineup Jesús Sánchez was scratched from the original lineup and replaced by Ronny Simon SS Xavier Edwards (S) RF Kyle Stowers (L) C Agustín Ramírez 1B Eric Wagaman DH Matt Mervis (L) 3B Connor Norby CF Dane Myers 2B Javier Sanoja LF Ronny Simon (S) P Max Meyer Click HERE to download the full game notes (preview below) View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal readers. These notes apply to the first game of Miami's home series against the Athletics. Starting Lineup SS Xavier Edwards (S) RF Kyle Stowers (L) DH Agustín Ramírez LF Eric Wagaman 1B Matt Mervis (L) 3B Connor Norby 2B Otto Lopez C Liam Hicks (L) CF Dane Myers P Valente Bellozo Click HERE to download the full game notes (preview below) View full article

Today's news roundup also analyzes Sandy Alcantara's struggles and the Marlins' surplus of catchers. Polls are not closed as of this writing, but I've seen enough to stop the count. Fish On First followers have voted Max Meyer as the Miami Marlins Pitcher of the Month for March/April and Kyle Stowers as the Hitter of the Month. The Marlins posted the third-worst monthly earned run average in franchise history, largely because of how awful four-fifths of their starting rotation performed. Meyer was the lone bright spot. He has a 3.18 ERA mark through six starts with an even more impressive 2.88 FIP. The former top draft pick has already surpassed his MLB strikeout total from the 2024 season. With an expanded pitch mix and uptick in velocity, Meyer's slider is living up to its plus-plus potential. To my shock, Stowers has firmly asserted himself as Miami's best outfielder, and put himself in the discussion for best position player, period. It's still fair to be nervous about his extreme whiff rate, but a .323/.396/.510 slash line speaks for itself. He homered as many times in Wednesday's April finale alone as he did in 50 Marlins games last season. Down on the farm, Triple-A Jacksonville lost, 10-3. Nick Fortes (oblique strain) went 0-for-3 with a walk to begin what should be a brief minor league rehab assignment. Adam Mazur allowed five runs in the first inning and seven overall en route to his worst start of the season. Andrew Pintar is hitting an even .400 over his last 10 games. Double-A Pensacola won, 6-5. Josh Ekness still has a flawless 0.00 ERA while striking out 44.4% of opposing batters. Low-A Jupiter won, 5-1. Eury Pérez made his second rehab start, retiring five of six batters faced and throwing 26 pitches. Andrew Salas raised his on-base percentage to a Florida State League-leading .508. More Marlins news and content below: 🔷 I explain how Fortes, Agustín Ramírez and Liam Hicks can co-exist on the Marlins active roster for the foreseeable future. 🔷 The Florida Complex League season is about to begin. The FCL Marlins play the opener of their 56-game schedule on Monday. Prospects poised to make their professional debuts include 2024 draft picks Dub Gleed, Cody Schrier and Nate Payne and $1.5 million international free agent signing Luis León. Check out the full roster here. 🔷 Austin Dobbins of Five Reasons Sports Network did a deep dive on Sandy Alcantara's struggles, as did Michael Baumann of FanGraphs. 🔷 Kiley McDaniel of ESPN updated his ranking of the top 10 Marlins prospects. Perhaps most notably, he bumped Noble Meyer out of the top 10 entirely. (Programming note: the FOF Top 30 will be updated next week.) 🔷 The Prediction Time leaderboard has been updated through the first 10 series. Become a SuperSub and we'll keep track of your predictions all season long! 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, the Texas Rangers demoted old friend Jake Burger to Triple-A. Very much like last year, Burger has gotten off to an awful start, slashing .190/.231/.330 with a 56 wRC+ and -0.4 fWAR through 30 games. The Marlins stuck with him through that slump and he balanced things out with a second-half power surge, but there is more urgency for the Rangers to make personnel changes amidst a team-wide offensive slump. Bad news for another old friend, A.J. Puk—he has been transferred to the 60-day IL due to an elbow injury. He won't be eligible to return for the Arizona Diamondbacks until mid-June at the earliest. The Los Angeles Angels have lost six straight games and 13 of their last 16. 🔷 Today's MLB game: the Marlins (probable starter RHP Valente Bellozo) begin a new homestand against the Athletics in what will be the major league debut of RHP Gunnar Hoglund. Luarbert Arias was optioned to Jacksonville to make room for Bellozo. The Marlins have a 41.8% chance to win, per FanGraphs. First pitch at 7:10 pm ET. 🔷 Prior to the game, Fish On First LIVE will preview the series beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET. FOF LIVE is presented by About The Fans. Check out our new merchandise collection (coupon code fof10 for 10% off). 🔷 Today's MiLB schedule: Triple-A Jacksonville at Durham, 6:35 p.m. ET Double-A Pensacola at Birmingham, 8:00 p.m. ET High-A Beloit at Peoria, 6:00 p.m. ET (doubleheader) Low-A Jupiter at Fort Myers, 6:30 p.m. ET Marlins podcast episodes View full article

For the first time in many years, the Marlins have enviable catching depth. Here's why they should lean into it for the foreseeable future. From the moment the Miami Marlins called up Agustín Ramírez, it was only natural to think about what would happen when veteran catcher Nick Fortes returned from the injured list. Decision time is looming: Fortes began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday. Barring any setbacks, he'll be reinstated sometime next week. Ramírez has immediately shown that he belongs in the heart of a big league lineup. Through eight MLB games, he is slashing .290/.333/.710 (178 wRC+) with more extra-base hits (seven) than strikeouts (five). The quality of his contact has been outstanding. However, the Marlins have been adamant that they are developing Ramírez as a catcher—100% of his defensive game reps since joining the organization have come behind the plate. He must continue playing there regularly to iron out his receiving and blocking deficiencies. Also, he isn't prepared to contribute at other positions on the diamond, other than perhaps first base if an emergency calls for it. Pretty simple solution, right? Have Fortes and Ramírez split up the catching assignments, with Ramírez usually serving as designated hitter on his off days. That's if you ignore the other rookie who has quietly caught the majority of Marlins games this season, Liam Hicks. He lacks the experience of Fortes and the offensive upside of Ramírez, but Hicks has been a solid contributor despite completely skipping the Triple-A level. He enters Friday with a .254/.338/.356 slash line (95 wRC+) in 70 plate appearances, ranking second on the entire team in RBI behind only Kyle Stowers. The left-handed-hitting Canadian grades out as more or less an average defender, buoyed by very good blocking. 132f23df-1a36a65d-79aa09d4-csvm-diamondgcp-asset-4000K.mp4 Hicks had to skip Triple-A because he was acquired in the major league phase of last winter's Rule 5 Draft. Players in his situation must spend the following season on their new club's active roster or injured list, or else be offered back to their previous club (the Detroit Tigers in this case). Hicks cannot be optioned to the minors during the 2025 season. With all due respect to Hicks, the Marlins anticipate a future where he is expendable. Joe Mack was promoted to Jacksonville last month and hit the ground running. He has the potential to be their long-term primary catcher beginning within the next year. For the time being, the best possible Marlins roster includes Ramírez, Fortes and Hicks. Divvy up the reps by starting them at catcher approximately three times per week, twice per week and once per week, respectively. Ramírez should continue to DH most games when somebody else is catching. Whichever of Fortes or Hicks is out of the lineup on those days can make an impact as a pinch-hitter whenever there's an opportunity to gain a platoon advantage against an opposing reliever. The obvious corresponding move when reinstating Fortes is sending Graham Pauley down to Triple-A. The 24-year-old infielder has been largely collecting dust on Miami's bench the past couple weeks and would benefit from regular playing time with the Jumbo Shrimp. The next decision on the horizon involves outfielder Derek Hill, who is mending from a left wrist sprain. That fit is straightforward too, in my opinion. The Marlins can option Ronny Simon to make room. Hill would reduce the burden on Jesús Sánchez to man center field, protect him from facing lefty pitchers and frequently serve as a pinch-runner. Eric Wagaman has been miscast as an everyday player recently—Hill's return would shift him back to his optimal role as Matt Mervis' platoon partner at first base. Eventually, it's very likely that Fortes or Hicks will be traded, but the Marlins must recognize the leverage they have. There is zero pressure on them to force a move in early May before the market has time to develop. This catching surplus is a great "problem" to have. View full article