Louis Addeo-Weiss

During Chris Paddack's time in the major leagues, the lows have largely outweighed the highs. Since an impressive rookie campaign with the San Diego Padres in 2019, his ERA has been north of 5.00. The club he faced on Wednesday night, the Atlanta Braves, has repeatedly been a safe haven through the years. In four career appearances against them, Paddack's 2.14 ERA ranks second-lowest among teams he has encountered a minimum of three times. Paddack owns a 1.32 ERA in three starts against the Cardinals. In the first inning Wednesday night, Jackie Robinson Day around the sport, Paddack's luck against Atlanta seemed like it would persist, setting down the top of the order 1-2-3, including a pair of strikeouts. What followed would be a 28-pitch second inning that prevented Paddack from giving the Marlins the length they needed the night after Eury Pérez only gave the club four innings. After getting Austin Riley to fly out, Ozzie Albies continued his run of torching Miami pitching, blasting a solo home run to get the scoring going for Atlanta. Albies' home run marked his 22nd career blast against the Marlins, tying him with Marcell Ozuna for the sixth most among active players. Atlanta would tack on another run later in the inning when Mauricio Dubón lined a single to left on a hanging, full-count breaking ball that caught too much of the plate. Paddack would, however, settle back into his accustomed groove against Atlanta, firing 1-2-3 frames in the third and fourth. Were it not for a single by another notorious Marlin killer, Ronald Acuña Jr., Paddack would have completed at least five innings for the second consecutive outing. At 92 pitches, Clayton McCullough signaled for another lefty, John King, to finish the frame. Paddack's final line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 K. After allowing eight runs in his season debut on March 30, Paddack has allowed just five runs (four earned) over his last 15 1/3 innings spread across three appearances. You'd have to go back to the six-start span between May 9-June 7, 2025, the last time Paddack allowed two or fewer runs in at least three consecutive outings. Miami's bats would lie dormant for the first two-thirds of the game, as Bryce Elder fired 5 ⅔ scoreless innings to lower his season ERA to 0.77. The previously mentioned King would falter the following inning, though, when Austin Riley blasted his 16th career home run against Miami. Following a Drake Baldwin RBI single in the latter half of the seventh, Matt Olson, playing in his 801st consecutive game, continued a torrid start to the season, sending the first offering from Andrew Nardi over the right field wall to increase the Atlanta lead to six. Showcasing the resiliency they showed in 2025, Miami would begin to claw back, thanks in large part to Liam Hicks, who hit his team-leading fourth home run of the season. In 18 games to begin the season, Hicks owns a 145 wRC+. Heriberto Hernández, whose misplayed fly ball led to the Olson homer, plated the Marlins third run when he grounded into a fielder's choice. The Marlins fell to Atlanta, 6-3. In 78 lifetime games at Truist Park, the Marlins are a dismal 23-55. The Braves have yet to lose a series through the first three weeks of the 2026 season. Despite the recent skid, manager Clayton McCullough remained steadfast in his belief in his group of guys. "We really like the team we have here, and we have a lot of games to play...so there's a lot to like right now." Looking Ahead Thursday will represent the Marlins' first off-day since April 2, concluding a span of 13 games in 13 days. When they resume play on Friday, they will face off against the Milwaukee Brewers. Janson Junk (0-2, 4.32 ERA) will toe the rubber against his former club. First pitch from loanDepot park is slated 7:10 EST. View full article

The Miami Marlins fell behind early and stayed behind in losing to the Detroit Tigers on both Friday and Saturday. Looking to avoid the sweep on Sunday, they had to feel good about having their ace, Sandy Alcantara, on the mound. Unfortunately, that optimism was quelled by the notion of facing two-time, reigning AL Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal. For the first two-thirds of the game, the Marlins offense may as well have just stayed home. Carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning, it would be Austin Slater, in solely due to Skubal's left-handedness, who dunked a single into center field to get Miami in the hit column. Skubal wound up tossing 6 ⅔ innings of one-run ball in Detroit's 8-2 win over Miami, clinching a series sweep. In his four starts to begin the season, Skubal has completed six innings in three of them. In his two prior outings against the Marlins, Skubal owned an ERA of 9.00. Alcantara's afternoon would not be smooth sailing, as the former Cy Young winner allowed seven runs in six innings. In his three starts before Sunday, Alcantara allowed just two earned runs, posting a 0.74 ERA in what has been a resurgent season for him. On the day, Alcantara allowed 15 hard-hit balls, all on each pitch in his arsenal. "Tough series this weekend," noted manager Clayton McCullough. "This is just part of the season, so the positive is that this part is over...All we can try to do is play better tomorrow," continued McCullough. With the loss, Miami falls to 8-8, the first time they've been .500 since Opening Day. In the weekend series, Miami went 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position. After retiring Kevin McGonigle and Gleyber Torres to begin his outing, back-to-back singles would come back to bite Alcantara, as Skubal's battery mate, Dillon Dingler, launched his third home run of the season. Alcantara would settle into the tune of scoreless frames two through four before McGonigle, a .322 hitter in his first big league season, would tag him for his first career home run. On the day, the Tigers would find the outfield seats three times against Alcantara, marking the seventh time he's allowed as many home runs in a single outing. Entering this series, the Marlins offense was above-average in most offensive categories. Whatever excuses you'd like to apply to their struggles at Comerica Park, whether it be the low temperatures, solid quality of competition or absence of newly injured Griffin Conine, the end result was an abysmal output of only three runs. That makes this Miami's lowest-scoring series in nearly a calendar year (3 R vs. SF from 5/30-6/1/25). Looking Ahead The Marlins' road trip will continue with a stop in Atlanta, where they'll meet the Braves for the first time this season on Monday. Eury Pérez (1-1, 5.06 ERA) will look to overcome his road woes in the series opener. In 23 career starts away from loanDepot park, the soon-to-be 23-year-old owns a 5.02 ERA, nearly double the 2.59 mark he's posted at home. Opposing him, Grant Holmes (1-1, 2.55 ERA) will make his fourth career start against Miami, whom he owns a 3.14 ERA against. First pitch from Truist Park is slated for 7:15 EST. View full article

MIAMI — The last time the Marlins started a season 3-0 in 2009, they were still the Florida Marlins. Fast-forward 17 years, and after a name change, a new stadium, and two improbable playoff appearances, the Miami Marlins have joined them along with the 1997 World Series-winning team with three consecutive season-opening victories. The third such win, Sunday's 4-3 defeat over the Colorado Rockies, proved the most meaningful. Entering the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-2, Miami started off the inning with an Xavier Edwards single. Liam Hicks, a late-game replacement and one of the protagonists in Saturday's win, lined out to former Marlin, first baseman Troy Johnston, who turned an unassisted double play. Now down to their last out, Javier Sanoja would keep the dream alive with a two-out double that split the gap in left-center, bringing Owen Caissie, already 4-for-9 with a pair of doubles in this series, to the plate. After taking a first-pitch changeup from Colorado's Victor Vodnik, the Rockies reliever doubled down. Caissie made him pay for it, sending the pitch over the right field wall for a walk-off, two-run homer. "I mean, I kind of blacked out...I don't know if kids imagine that, but it was awesome," said Caissie. "Safe to say Owen Caissie will be in the lineup tomorrow," noted smiling Marlins manager Clayton McCullough. I think it goes without saying that 2026 is a make-or-break year for Max Meyer. The club's first-round pick in 2020, Meyer entered his fourth big league season the owner of a 5.29 ERA in his 25 starts. So, when his first inning of the season yielded three runs, it felt like more of the same. "I was just way too nonchalant out there for the first, and my arm just wasn't on time," said Meyer. "I looked at some video in the third...and I just kind of never got my arm through, and then I was able to pick up the pace a bit, so I felt better in the last couple of innings, for sure." Following that three-run top of the first, Meyer would hold the Rockies scoreless for the next four innings, allowing just a pair of hits. In his five innings of work, Meyer, who threw 81 pitches, walked two and struck out four. Relying primarily on his secondary pitches, Meyer only threw 28 percent fastballs in his season debut, failing to generate a single whiff on his heaters. His slider, though, proved greatly effective, generating whiffs on nine of the 13 swings, averaging just 71.7 miles per hour when put in play. A narrative defining the Marlins' early-season triumphs has been the resilience their players have shown following moments of adversity. Take shortstop Otto Lopez, whose throwing error in the top of the first allowed TJ Rumfield to score Colorado's third run. Batting in the bottom of the inning, Lopez hit an RBI double that saw Miami begin its clawing back. While it may be early, there appear to be signs of something potentially special beginning to blossom here in Miami. "This group is kind of creating their own identity a little bit. This is a new year, but the same type of mentality—just the resiliency," noted McCullough. The Fish would plate another run in the following inning on a sacrifice fly from the newly minted Austin Slater. Advancing to third on that play and making his major league debut, Deyvison De Los Santos made an impact early, doubling in his first career at-bat. Acquired from Arizona in the trade that shipped out A.J. Puk, De Los Santos' calling card is his 70-grade power, something the Marlins should rely on in the absence of Christopher Morel and Kyle Stowers. The comeback, Miami's third one-run win in a row to begin the season, could not have been possible without the help of the bullpen, which fired four scoreless frames in relief of Meyer. In the season's opening series, Marlin relievers combined to throw eight scoreless innings and strike out 15. Looking Ahead The Marlins will continue their opening homestand on Monday, hosting the Chicago White Sox. Chris Paddack will make his Marlins debut in the series opener. Miami and Paddack agreed to a one-year, $4M deal before the start of spring training. Davis Martin will oppose him for Chicago. The first pitch at loanDepot park is slated for 6:40 EST. View full article

The biggest success a team can find in spring training is getting through the month-plus grind with most of its key players healthy. For the 2026 Miami Marlins, that won't come to pass, as it was announced that Kyle Stowers, the club's All-Star representative last season, will start the season on the injured list with a grade-1 right hamstring strain. In what was a breakout 2025 season for him, the former top prospect hit .288/.368/.544/.912, slugging 25 home runs in the process. Limited to all of 117 games, one can only think the Marlins, winners of 79 games, could have found themselves securing a wild card spot had Stowers been more readily available. The club's depth will be tested, too, as it was later announced that Esteury Ruiz would be out 6-8 weeks with a left oblique strain. Acquired in the offseason as a potential bench piece and late-game pinch-runner, Ruiz struggled this spring, hitting .129 with a .446 OPS across 41 plate appearances but also five steals. Not committing to one player, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough noted the roster's versatility as a potential strength. "We feel like we have enough players that can play multiple spots and can move pieces around." One player who could see time out there is Connor Norby, who started in left field on Saturday, homering in his second plate appearance. The questions around Norby have largely centered on his defense, and suffice to say, those concerns weren't quelled when he dropped a line drive in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Cardinals. The club's swiss army knife last season, newly minted World Baseball Classic champion Javier Sanoja, is a likely candidate, as well,m. He saw parts of 35 games in left, appearing at eight different positions overall. Sanoja's effort would be rewarded with the National League's utility player Gold Glove Award. Let's not forget Griffin Conine, who has shown above-average defense and raw power in parts of two seasons. Conine would go back-to-back with Norby in Saturday's loss. Heriberto Hernández could find himself playing more than initially expected in the wake of Stowers' injury. The 26-year-old posted a batting line 16 percent better than league average in a part-time role in his debut 2025 season, finishing 13th in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Signed with the intention of being the club's primary first baseman, Christopher Morel has 164 games of outfield experience in his four seasons in the Major Leagues, grading out rather poorly at minus-16 DRS. The Game at Hand Sandy Alcantara, set to extend his franchise record as he makes his sixth Opening Day start this coming Friday, Todd the slab for the club's Grapefruit League finale, allowing three runs over 4 2/3 innings pitched in Miami's 4-3 walk-off win over the division rival New York Mets. Prior to a three-run top of the fourth, Alcantara had set down the first nine Met hitters faced, including strikeouts against Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Luis Robert Jr. It would be the former two who would start New York's rally in the top of the fourth. Miami finishes its spring training schedule 11-13. "Nice to end on a winning note," said McCullough. Speaking on how he feels for the start of the season, Alcantara noted the confidence he has in both himself and the team as a whole. "Last year, it wasn't my best year, but I think about it from a positive...I finished strong, finished healthy, I threw 170-plus innings, but you just forget what happened last year, be here today and be out there during the season." Alcantara struggled in his first year coming off Tommy John Surgery, posting a career-worst 5.36 ERA. Amid the news of the Stowers injury, a feel-good story came out of Marlins camp this weekend, as it was announced that Andrew Nardi had made the Opening Day roster. Nardi, who missed all of 2025 with lower back inflammation, owns a career 4.51 ERA in parts of three seasons. In five appearances this spring, the Tennessee native struck out nine, allowed just one hit, and didn't allow a single run. "I feel like I'm back in 2023 again when I was told I made the Opening Day roster for the first time. I'm just excited to get going," reflected a smiling Nardi. That 2023 season saw Nardi establish himself as one of the better left-handed relievers in the sport, posting a 2.67 ERA over his 57 1/3 innings pitched. Not Talked About Enough If the Marlins want to take continued steps forward, suffice to say their forward progression is predicated on how they fare against left-handed pitching. The club's collective .656 OPS against southpaws last season ranked 24th. Even the Colorado Rockies, fresh off a 119-loss season, finished at .679. The biggest offenders here are two of the better position players on the team last season, in Otto López and Xavier Edwards. Among the 57 players with at least 175 plate appearances against lefties in 2025, López and Edwards ranked worst and second-worst at .521 and .564, respectively. While we're not making much of spring training statistics, López has hit .333 with an .833 OPS in a limited, six-plate-appearance sample. Edwards, on the other hand, has seen his struggles carry over into the new year, as he's hit .091 across 11 such plate appearances. Looking Ahead The next time the Marlins take the field, the 2026 regular season will be upon us, as they're set to open the year at home against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, March 27. As noted, Sandy Alcantara will take the ball in his franchise-record sixth Opening Day start. Opposing him, Kyle Freeland will start for Colorado. First pitch from loanDepot park is slated for 7:10 EST. View full article

Kyle Stowers entered the 2025 regular season at the nadir of his career. After being blocked from consistent playing time in Baltimore, he had a golden opportunity to prove himself with the Miami Marlins, but he was failing to capitalize on it. Stowers proceeded to hit .186 with a strikeout rate north of 35 percent as a Marlin in 2024, followed by a more disheartening .175 slugging percentage the ensuing spring. The announcement that he had made the club's Opening Day roster took some—myself included—by surprise. What Stowers did in the season opener would be a precursor to one of the most improbable All-Star campaigns in franchise history. His game-winning RBI single, the first such Opening Day hit in franchise history, was one of numerous clutch moments for the outfielder. While the Marlins' talented starting pitchers underachieved early in the year, as did their speedy leadoff man Xavier Edwards, Stowers would hit .288/.368/.544/.912 en rout to being their lone representative at the Midsummer Classic. Predicting Stowers to earn All-Star accolades again would not be particularly bold. Right-hander Eury Pérez and center fielder Jakob Marsee also come to mind immediately, as does ace Sandy Alcantara, who's been an All-Star twice before. Even shortstop Otto Lopez is overqualified for this conversation given his well-rounded skill set and projected playing time. On the other hand, with apologies to Brian Navarreto and his fellow minor league depth options, I don't want to reach too far in the other direction. Under ideal circumstances and with the appropriate adjustments, which Marlins could improbably play their way to Philadelphia for the 2026 All-Star festivities? The Kyle Stowers candidate: Connor Norby What better place to start than with the player Stowers found himself traded with two summers ago? Upon coming over to Miami in 2024, Norby showcased some of the promise he had in the minor leagues, hitting seven home runs in 36 games, totaling a .760 OPS. At this time last year, he was widely viewed as the club's third baseman of the future. However, after a season that saw him take three trips to the injured list and provide mediocre production when available, Norby's role on the 2026 roster is somewhat uncertain. This spring, the club has sought to make Norby more versatile, starting him at his usual third base along with a pair of appearances at first. A lack of plate discipline is still apparent in his .316/.316/.421/.737 Grapefruit League slash line, but his ability to distribute extra-base hits to all fields is alluring. Although Norby is expected to begin 2026 as platoon partners with Graham Pauley, his role could expand quickly if he rakes the way he's capable of. BABIP-dependent: Javier Sanoja While he certainly played the super-utility role to a tee last season, Gold Glover Javier Sanoja would have to do a whole lot better than the 86 wRC+ he put forth in 2025. A 101 wRC+ hitter in the minor leagues, at least Sanoja's elite contact skills have already translated to the big league level (11.9 K%). There are some signs that the 23-year-old could be turning the corner as a run producer—he slugged .478 after the 2025 All-Star break and homered in the just-completed World Baseball Classic. As long as Sanoja continues to avoid strikeouts, he's capable of sustaining an eye-popping batting average for a half-season sample size. Due to the versatility he has to play practically any position, compiling the necessary reps won't be much of an obstacle. On the mound: Chris Paddack While he may have been a touted prospect, the return on investment in Chris Paddack's parts of seven seasons at the big league level has been a mixed bag. The closest he's ever come to the All-Star conversation was his rookie year of 2019, when he pitched to a 3.33 ERA with the Padres. He has posted a 5.06 ERA since, often missing significant time due to injury. Among 149 pitchers to throw at least 400 innings in the 2020s, Paddack's ERA ranks 143rd. Those results kept him on the job market into February when the Marlins finally signed the free agent to a one-year/$4M deal. "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. With a defense that will feature the likes of Edwards, Lopez, and Marsee up the middle (and eventually, catcher Joe Mack), Paddack should see some positive regression, especially coming from the Minnesota Twins (minus-11 outs above average) and Detroit Tigers (-4 OAA). The Marlins, on the other hand, ranked seventh-best in that department at plus-17. It is a stretch to say that this proposed positive regression could net Paddack an All-Star nod, but he has looked like a savvy investment for Miami to this point, hurling nine innings across four spring appearances without yielding an earned run. View full article

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. View full article

The Miami Marlins will recognize Josh Beckett's contributions to the franchise by inducting him into the team's Hall of Fame this September. A former No. 2 overall MLB Draft pick of the Fish, the Texas right-hander had some inconsistencies during his career, both health-wise and performance-wise, but he peaked as one of MLB's best starters and repeatedly elevated his game in the postseason. Beckett's inclusion in the 2026 HOF class got us wondering: Is he the best homegrown pitcher in franchise history is? Before we get started, we must define what it means to be "homegrown." These are players who were acquired by the Marlins as amateurs either through the draft or international free agency. Since 1992, the Marlins have selected 806 pitchers in the draft and hundreds more internationally. That rules out prominent names like Kevin Brown, Dontrelle Willis, Ricky Nolasco, Aníbal Sánchez, and Sandy Alcantara, as their professional careers commenced with other organizations. This is a discussion reserved for the farm-raised hurlers who had big league success with the organization. To be paid to play baseball professionally is an accomplishment of its own, even more fulfilling if that dream is one day realized at the highest level. But to get to the major leagues and succeed is beyond what most people's imagination would allow for. The "Just Missed" Edward Cabrera (Dominican Republic) would hold the title for best international pitcher signed by the Marlins, as his 7.1 bWAR ranks first among such players. However, being traded to the Chicago Cubs ahead of the 2026 season means we won't be privileged to bask in the fruit of his 2025 breakout. In a career-high 137 ⅓ innings, Cabrera posted a 3.53 ERA, striking out nearly 10 batters per nine innings. In a similarly valuable vein, Brad Penny, worth 8.1 WAR during his Marlins tenure, could potentially have found his way into the conversation had he not been dealt to the Dodgers at the 2004 trade deadline. Penny posted a trio of near-three-win seasons between 2001 and 2004, including a 2003 season where he pitched to a 2.19 ERA in the club's World Series triumph over the New York Yankees. In the years that immediately followed his departure from 2005 to 2007, Penny experienced his longest sustained run of success, pitching to a 117 ERA+ and making a pair of All-Star teams. Among MLB pitchers to throw at least 500 innings in that span, Penny's 11.3 bWAR ranked 21st, sandwiching him between two future former Marlins, Dan Haren and Javier Vázquez. If we're accounting for relievers, as well, then AJ Ramos is worth mentioning. His 6.6 bWAR is the most among all relief pitchers originally drafted or signed by Miami, and his 2.78 ERA trails only Kevin Brown (2.30) and the late-José Fernández (2.58) for third-lowest among pitchers to throw at least 300 innings for the team. The Big Three The aforementioned Beckett drew comparisons to Nolan Ryan and raced through the minor leagues before debuting with the Marlins at the end of the 2001 season. Beckett was one of just eight pitchers to throw 135 or more innings and finish with an ERA below 4.00 in each season between 2003 and 2005. He is best remembered for his series-clinching shutout thrown on three days' rest in Game 6 of the '03 World Series While his body of work leaves some to be desired for this discussion—a 3.46 ERA and 10.7 bWAR in 609 innings—Beckett's place in Marlins lore is firmly entrenched. Beckett was very briefly teammates with another exceptional "Josh," Josh Johnson. Not only is Johnson's 25.8 bWAR the most of any homegrown Marlins arm, but it's also the highest of any pitcher in the franchise's history. At his best, Johnson was on the short list of best pitchers in baseball. Some notes to illustrate this: - Who are the only two National League pitchers to win the ERA title between 2010 and 2014? Clayton Kershaw, who did it every year from 2011 to 2014, and Johnson, who finished with a 2.30 ERA in a seven-win 2010 season. Were it not for a back injury that limited him to 183 ⅔ innings, Johnson had a case for the first Cy Young in franchise history, ultimately finishing fifth. - Of the 91 pitchers to throw at least 500 innings between 2008 and 2011, only the late Roy Halladay (2.59) and Adam Wainwright (2.68) had a lower ERA than Johnson's 2.80, and his 22.4 bWAR between 2008 and 2012 was the ninth-highest mark in baseball. While injuries took their hold of Johnson far too soon, he was a rare breed. And then, there was Niño. José Fernández exuded so much flare and sheer joy when playing the game. He was also among the most automatic pitchers the game had seen to that point. In merely 471 ⅓ innings he threw in his short life, Fernández dominated, posting a 2.58 ERA and even more impressive 2.44 FIP. In each of his four big league seasons, Fernández finished with an ERA and FIP below 3.00. Of the 109 hurlers to throw at least 450 innings between 2013 and 2016, only three—Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, and Fernández—finished with a sub-3.00 ERA and better than 10 K/9. With his death in 2016 at only 24 years old, a dark cloud was cast over the city of Miami and Major League Baseball. It still lingers as we approach 10 years since that fateful September day. And the Winner is... Are we rewarding longevity? Peak success? Unrealized talent? I defer to the former, as many a player can find their way to a successful season or two, but to do it consistently is the true separator. And for that, the distinction of "best homegrown pitcher in Marlins franchise history" goes to Josh Johnson. Not only are Johnson's 916 ⅔ innings the fourth-most in franchise history, but his 3.15 ERA is still third when setting the minimum number of innings to 450. Even on a per-inning basis, Johnson's 0.028 bWAR/IP lightly edges out Fernández's 0.0278. Active Contenders The Marlins have a slew of young, promising arms poised to make an impact on the club. Thomas White and Robby Snelling as big leaguers is all but a formality at this point. Kevin Defrank, though only 17, already boasts a fastball that touches triple digits. Noble Meyer, the club's first-round pick in 2023, has been a mixed bag since turning pro, but there's enough there via his mitigation of hits and ability to induce whiffs to suggest he can be better moving forward. Not yet 23 years old but far removed from prospect status, Eury Pérez already owns a 3.71 ERA and 3.9 bWAR in a hair more than season's worth of innings. Then there's Braxton Garrett, one of the better Marlins pitchers between 2023 and 2024, where he posted a 124 ERA+ and 5.6 bWAR. A rebound 2026 after missing all of 2025 due to injury could see him sneak his way into the conversation. View full article

The case of Edward Cabrera was, for a while, one of unrealized talent. Cabrera epitomized the "if he could just put it all together" player archetype. He posted a 4.32 ERA through his first four big league seasons with an average of just 73.5 innings pitched, which set up last year's age-27 season to be one of the make-or-break variety. Fortunately, for both Cabrera and the Marlins, the pieces began to fall into place. He shone in a career-high 26 starts and 137 ⅔ innings pitched, finishing with a 3.53 ERA. He was the most impactful arm in their rotation. The Marlins capitalized on that breakout by consummating a trade on Wednesday with the Chicago Cubs to send the hard-throwing right-hander to the North Side. The Marlins received a package of three players, headlined by outfielder Owen Caissie, who was arguably the Cubs' top prospect. Infielders Cristian Hernández and Edgardo De Leon rounded out the return. What will trading Cabrera mean for the rest of the Marlins' offseason? Which outfielder becomes expendable? After cashing in such a valuable trade chip to acquire Caissie, the assumption is that the Marlins envision him being the long-term answer in one of the two corner outfield spots. With Stowers occupying the opposite corner and Jakob Marsee in between them, there's now a surplus of viable outfielders. Heriberto Hernández, a minor league signing before last season, impressed with a 116 OPS+ across 294 plate appearances. Platooning with the aforementioned trio to various extents seems to be the plan. Fellow right-handed bat Esteury Ruiz was just acquired last week. President of baseball operations Peter Bendix described Ruiz as a "really helpful, complementary piece," but his inconsistent track record could leave him on the outside looking in should Caissie break camp with the club. Then, there's the Griffin Conine of it all. Sporting a modest .755 OPS in the majors and flashing plus defense at left and right in a limited 54-game sample, Conine presented a compelling case for regular playing time in 2026. Manager Clayton McCullough previously shared that the Marlins want to evaluate him at first base during spring training. But if that transition isn't a smooth one, where would the 28-year-old fit in moving forward? Meanwhile, Victor Mesa Jr. has no clear path to playing time. Mesa was arguably the top outfielder in the Marlins farm system when Bendix arrived. Now, he's buried on the depth chart with only one minor league option remaining. Will the team add a veteran starter? The trading of Cabrera leaves a vacancy in the Marlins rotation. Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez and Ryan Weathers are certain to open the season with starting jobs (health permitting). Janson Junk made a compelling case to retain his spot, though his track record prior to 2025 was spotty, to say the least. We haven't seen an effective outing from Max Meyer since Memorial Day. While the Marlins also have Braxton Garrett on the mend from elbow surgery and an underrated farm system, the free agent market presents them with potential Cabrera replacements. Nick Martinez, Chris Bassitt and Zac Gallen are among the unsigned options. The Marlins, too, could replace Cabrera's mind-bending changeup with another if they were to add, say, Lucas Giolito. Shoveling a similar workload as Cabrera in his 145 innings pitched, Giolito finished with a 3.41 ERA across his 26 starts. Should owner Bruce Sherman insist on fiscal conservatism, their second-ranked pitching prospect, Robby Snelling boasted a dazzling 2.51 ERA across 136 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. His arrival at the major league level need not be delayed any further if the Marlins believe his much-improved fastball quality can be sustained in 2026. What happens with Connor Norby? In 36 games to end 2024, Connor Norby hit .247/.315/.445/.760, with signs that this was just the beginning on a long tenure in Miami. The subsequent year was a frustrating one, as Norby dealt with oblique and quad strains, and a broken hamate bone. Even when he was healthy, Norby looked largely overmatched, posting a .689 OPS while also being unable to bolster the reputation regarding his defense at third base. Last month, we opined that Norby's skillset would be best suited in the outfield, but the addition of Caissie complicates that. Do the Marlins give him another chance to get acclimated at third? A down year in 2026 would leave him with marginal value. The club could go in several different directions with the 25-year-old and they'd all be justifiable. View full article

As the end of the 2025 calendar year draws near, so does the deadline for tenured BBWAA members to vote on the next class of inductees for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Ballots must be postmarked by December 31, and on January 20, we will learn which newcomers and ballot holdovers garnered the minimum 75 percent needed for enshrinement. Although Fish On First staffers do not partake in the official voting, we carefully analyze the candidates every year. If FOF was solely responsible for the class of 2026 HOF selection, who would make the cut? Ten of our staffers submitted ballots this year. Just as the BBWAA does, voters were permitted to choose up to 10 candidates. Players named on at least five ballots garnered a spot on the collective FOF ballot ("tie goes to the player," if you will). Honorable Mentions Félix Hernández, SP: For the second year in a row, King Félix finds himself a mere honorable mention, just missing as he appeared on four of the 10 submitted ballots. As we wrote last winter, Hernández's peak, while certainly comparable to that of a Hall of Fame pitcher, isn't accompanied by enough late-career years of serviceable performance. In his first year of eligibility in 2025, though, Hernández found his way onto 20.6 percent of ballots cast, a number that bodes well should his case be further examined as time progresses. With his career coinciding with a rapid decline in MLB's reliance on starting pitchers, Hernández would prove a worthy example to base future candidates' cases on. Mark Buehrle and Andy Pettitte, SP: Given the overwhelming similarities of their careers, I've lumped these two into one blurb. While he may never have screamed "ace," I am of the mind that consistency warrants serious Cooperstown consideration when it comes to Buehrle. His 13 seasons of 200-plus innings pitched—11 of which ended with an ERA+ better than league average—speak to that notion. Buehrle (3,283.1 IP and 117 ERA+) and Pettitte (3,316.0 IP and 117 ERA+) are two of 63 pitchers in baseball history to throw at least 3,000 regular season innings and post an ERA+ of 115 or better. Maybe not sustained greatness, but points for consistency. Cole Hamels, SP: If you're of the "need to see more crowd" when making the case against Félix Hernández, then maybe Cole Hamels is your guy. With comparable innings totals and nearly a 10-WAR lead over the former, Hamels was a workhorse relative to his era, throwing the sixth-most innings of any pitcher in the 2010s. Among the 89 pitchers who threw at least 1,000 innings in said decade, Hamels was one of just 14 to sport an ERA+ of 120 or better. He'll most certainly benefit from a feeble class of first-year candidates, though only three of our staffers had him on their ballots. If you want some more insight into Hamels, we published this piece discussing his Hall of Fame credentials. The Selections Bobby Abreu, RF MLB teams: HOU, PHI, NYY, LAA, LAD, NYM Seventh year of HOF eligibility While Bobby Abreu's peak was largely overshadowed by the likes of Barry Bonds and Co., Abreu put forth a decade of consistency that saw him as one of the sport's most complete position players. From 1998-2008, Abreu's average offensive season looked as such: 302/.407/.502/.909, 105 R, 22 HR, 96 RBI, 28 SB, 4.8 WAR. Of the 38 hitters with at least 5,000 plate appearances in that span, Abreu's 54.2 bWAR ranks seventh, just edging out the next-most valuable player, Carlos Beltrán. In the 2000's, Abreu's 2,785 times on base trailed only future Hall of Famer, Todd Helton (2,796). To illustrate his all-around offensive game, three players in MLB history have hit at least 275 home runs, stolen 400 bases, and posted a .395 or better on-base percentage: Barry Bonds, the late Rickey Henderson, and Bobby Abreu. Nine of our 10 staffers had him on their ballots, and when you put it all together, that sounds like a Hall of Famer to me. As of Tuesday morning, Abreu has received 45.0% of the BBWAA vote, according to the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame Tracker. Carlos Beltrán, CF MLB teams: KC, HOU, NYM, SFG, STL, NYY, TEX Fourth year of HOF eligibility If Bobby Abreu was one of the sport's more complete players, his contemporary in Carlos Beltrán was that and then some. As we all know, Beltrán finds himself returning for a fourth try at induction due to his involvement in the 2017 Houston Astros sign-stealing schedule. While certainly a thorn in his legacy, Beltrán is among the game's most universally respected players, and the 70.3 percent he received in 2025 almost makes it a sure thing that he'll headline the class of 2026. From age 22-32 between 1999-2009, Beltrán was the only player in the sport to hit at least 250 home runs, steal 250 bases, and save 70 runs on defense, making him the fourth-most valuable player overall. He accrued 56.1 bWAR in that span alone. With all ten staffers in agreement, Beltrán's here, hopefully for the last time. As of Tuesday morning, Beltrán has received 77.5% of the BBWAA vote, according to the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame Tracker. Andruw Jones, CF MLB teams: ATL, LAD, TEX, CHW, NYY Ninth year of HOF eligibility Andruw Jones is arguably the greatest defensive center fielder of all time. The native of Curacao paired his historically great glove with raw power, mashing 434 home runs over the course of his career. Trivia question: Who are the two players in MLB history to hit 400 home runs and save 200 runs on defense? Adrián Beltré and Andruw Jones. The Jones case isn't a definitive one, though, as noted by his many times on the ballot. From a statistical perspective, traditionalists scoff at the lack of counting stats. Largely done as a productive player after age 30, Jones bounced around from four times in his last five seasons, hitting .210/.316/.424/.740, respectively. While he never truly lost his feel on defense, the stark disparity between Jones' twenties versus his thirties was night and day. Upon retirement, Jones' career hit total of 1,933 and batting average of .254 had many casting him off as a viable Hall of Fame candidate, but one cannot deny the decade of dominance that saw him as one of the game's brightest stars. Off the field, Jones was accused of domestic violence against his now ex-wife, Nicole, a thorn in his case when considering the character clause. If Jones doesn't get the requisite totals needed, it would be because of these factors. Having polled at 61.6% and 66.2% in 2024 and 2025, respectively, it feels as though 2026 should be the year that Jones finally gets the call. He garnered unanimous support from our staffers. As of Tuesday morning, Jones has received 77.5% of the BBWAA vote, according to the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame Tracker. Manny Ramírez, OF MLB teams: CLE, BOS, LAD, CHW, TBR 10th year of HOF eligibility If you're discussing the greatest right-handed hitters of all-time, it'd behoove you to mention the man born as Manuel Aristides Ramírez. There are only 18 hitters in major league history to take at least 9,000 plate appearances and retire with an adjusted OPS+ fifty percent better than league average. Of the bunch, only two aren't in the Hall—the aforementioned Bonds and Manny Ramírez, both of whom have ties to performance-enhancing drugs. While Bonds was never suspended for a failed test, Ramírez got popped twice, the second of which forced him into an early retirement in 2011. Had he played clean on the merits of his talent, Ramírez is more than likely already in Cooperstown, but his transgressions are why he's never received more than 34.3 percent of the vote. It is highly likely he falls short of the required 75 percent needed once again, though nine of the ten of us said what he did in the batter's box should be enough. As of Tuesday morning, Ramírez has received 32.5% of the BBWAA vote, according to the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame Tracker. Álex Rodríguez, 3B/SS MLB teams: SEA, TEX, NYY Fifth year of HOF eligibility Álex Rodríguez is one of the greatest baseball players of all-time. Álex Rodríguez is also one of, if not the most, reviled player the game has ever seen. If Bonds is the name most think of when considering the Steroid era, then what transpired with Rodríguez was the manifestation of what most envision should have happened to Bonds. Failing PED tests in 2003 and 2006, as well as being named in the Biogenesis report in 2013, Rodríguez took any chances he had at the Hall of Fame and flushed them completely. His naming in the Biogenesis report netted him a 162-game suspension (originally 211 games before being reduced), then the longest handed out to an active player. The difference with the otherwise fringe HOF guys is that you felt you were watching a Hall of Famer when seeing A-Rod play. Does that absolve him of his sins? Maybe not, but it echoes a similar sentiment as to what was noted about Bonds earlier in his career with the "he was a Hall of Famer before steroids" quip. Voting for him will always come with some pause, but his on-field accomplishments—three MVPs and 696 home runs—are undeniable. Polling between 34 and 37 percent in his first four years of eligibility, it isn't out of the question for Rodríguez to see his fortunes change in the next six or so years. As of Tuesday morning, he has received 40.0% of the BBWAA vote, according to the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame Tracker. Chase Utley, 2B MLB teams: PHI, LAD Third year of HOF eligibility The Cooperstown case for Chase Utley is a drum I'll continue to beat until he gets his just desserts. If he does find his way into the Hall one day, I would hope it serves as impetus to right the wrongs done to the likes of Lou Whitaker and Bobby Grich, both second basemen north of 70 WAR. At 64.6 bWAR, Utley is the twelfth-most valuable second baseman of all time, per Baseball-Reference. What he lacks in accolades, Utley makes up for in his all-around game, being one of only four players to simultaneously have 250 home runs, 150 stolen bases, and 100 runs saved on defense. Like Jones, he has fewer than 2,000 hits, but only four players hit more than Utley's 252 home runs as a second baseman. Fellow second baseman, Jeff Kent, was recently elected to the Contemporary Era Committee largely on the strength of his 351 home runs being the most ever for a player at the position, the Mike Piazza argument, if you will. However, Kent's 55.4 bWAR is nine wins short of Utley. Utley may not have been as overwhelmingly brilliant a hitter as, say, Ramirez or Rodriguez, but the amalgam of his skills are why all ten of us here at Fish On First voted for him. He saw his BBWAA percentage jump from 28.8 to 39.8 percent between 2024 and 2025, and as of Tuesday morning, he has received 60.0% of the vote, according to the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame Tracker. Until he is a Hall of Famer, you can expect to hear more from me about Chase Utley. View full article

When he was acquired by the Marlins on August 1, 2023, via trade with the Chicago White Sox, Jake Burger gave fans the concept of a player their organization had long been deprived of—upside power with several years of team control. Miami had Burger, then 27, under control through the 2028 season. Primarily a third baseman upon arrival, Burger strung together the best stretch of his career to that point, hitting .303/.355/.505/.860 in 53 games. The Marlins, led by first-year manager Skip Schumaker, found themselves in the postseason for the first time in a full season since 2003. The following year followed a much different script, though, as Miami took a major step back. It was immediately apparent that there'd be no October baseball, triggering midseason trades of mainstays, including Luis Arráez, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Tanner Scott, for a team that would go on to lose 100 games. Burger began 2024 in a prolonged slump, but compensated for it from July onward. In 137 games, he hit .250/.301/.460/.761 with a team-leading 29 home runs and 76 runs batted in. The aforementioned Schumaker, who had been voted NL Manager of the Year in '23, departed at season's end. In no hurry to return to the dugout, he agreed to spend a gap year with the Texas Rangers as a senior advisor to president of baseball operations Chris Young. Schumaker and Co. would quickly get to work, acquiring his former player in Burger on December 11. Miami received a trio of prospects—infielders Echedry Vargas and Maximo Acosta, and pitcher Brayan Mendoza. In his first season in the Lone Star State, Burger dealt with adversity both off and on the field, starting with the birth of a daughter diagnosed with Down Syndrome. In honor of her, Burger changed his uniform number to 21. Making first base his full-time position, Burger OPS'd just .561 through his first 30 games. The Rangers demoted him to Triple-A Round Rock on May 2. Though he would hit a more respectable .254/.284/.453/.737 the rest of the way upon being recalled, Burger finished 2025 with a career-worst .687 OPS. His availability was limited by oblique, quad and wrist injuries. Beneath a trying year in the batter's box, however, Burger made some progress on the other side of the ball. After posting consistently mediocre defensive grades at the hot corner, first base has been a more ideal position for him. In 2025, for the first time in his career, Burger graded out as a plus defender, posting plus-one defensive runs saved over a 91-game sample. Looking ahead to 2026, Burger will again be playing under Schumaker, who was appointed Rangers manager following the resignation of Bruce Bochy. He appears to be penciled in as the club's first baseman. As for Miami, there is a void at the position with no satisfying internal solution. Eric Wagaman produced a Burger-like .674 OPS in 2025, but has no track record of exceeding that, making it difficult to justify everyday playing time. Rule 5 draft success story Liam Hicks saw time there, though severely lacking in the power department, he's of more value to the Marlins as a catcher. Graham Pauley, received in the deal that sent Tanner Scott to the Padres, has shown promise as a third baseman. While he's capable of shifting over to the less-demanding corner infield spot, that'd be a waste of his defensive prowess. Connor Norby and Griffin Conine have even been floated as candidates for a position change out of necessity. The summer prior to Burger's departure, the Marlins acquired Deyvison De Los Santos, a solid defender at first who was in midst of leading Minor League Baseball in home runs. Although not explicitly stated, the club envisioned him being ready for the big league job at some point in 2025. Instead, his game power plummeted against Triple-A competition and he never received a call-up. Perhaps the Fish are feeling better about his outlook on the heels of a successful winter ball campaign, but he's still an unknown commodity. The young players acquired in return for Burger each experienced growing pains during their first season with the organization. Maximo Acosta has already made an impression, displaying his raw power and positional versatility in a 19-game MLB sample. Barring injuries to Otto Lopez or Xavier Edwards, he's likely to begin 2026 as Triple-A depth. Echedry Vargas and Brayan Mendoza struggled in High-A, though they have the tools to rebound. All things considered, it is premature to determine which club came out on top here. For the Marlins to fully move on from Burger's absence, they'll have to genuinely contend for a postseason berth without first base being as much of a weakness as it was in 2025. View full article

Many of baseball's most prolific players at the turn of the 21st century were indicted on or suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs. Thankfully, there were a few exceptions who showed us that one didn't need such substances to hit home runs with the best of them. These are your Jim Thome (612 HR), Frank Thomas (521), Ken Griffey Jr. (630), and Fred McGriff (493) types, and somewhat lost amidst them, Carlos Delgado (473). Thome, Thomas, and the Junior Griffey were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. As for McGriff, he was repeatedly snubbed by the writers. It wouldn't be until 2023 that he resurfaced on the Contemporary Baseball Era player ballot. The committee emphatically supported his candidacy. Three years later, Delgado hopes to follow in the paw prints of "Crime Dog" as that same committee will convene this Sunday at the commencement of the sport's Winter Meetings. On the surface, Delgado's biggest boon is his home run total, which ranks 19th in the divisional era (1969-present). Nine of the 18 ahead of him are Hall of Famers, with two more—Albert Pujols (703) and Miguel Cabrera (511)—seen as slam-dunk picks once eligible. Barry Bonds (762) and Gary Sheffield (509), players with ties to PEDs, are also being considered by the committee for 2026 enshrinement. Delgado homered 336 times for the Toronto Blue Jays and 104 times for the New York Mets, as well as 33 times during his lone season as a member of the then-Florida Marlins. The Marlins signed Delgado to a four-year/$52 million contract after 12 seasons with Toronto. He hit the ground running for the Fish in 2005, hitting .300 in April. The subsequent month was even better, featuring eight home runs en route to a 1.085 OPS. Of all hitters in franchise history to take at least 100 plate appearances in May, Delgado's OPS in '05 ranks ninth. Delgado's consistency was remarkable and the end result was a .301/.399/.582/.981 slash line. In high-leverage situations (as defined by Baseball-Reference), he was practically invincible, slashing .421/.487/.916/1.403. No MLB hitter has matched that OPS in a single season since (min. 100 PA). Even when put into the context of 2005's offensive environment, Delgado had a 161 OPS+ (with 100 representing league average). Of the 144 Marlins hitters to qualify for a batting title, that ranks fourth. Delgado finished sixth in National League MVP voting for a Marlins team that remained in playoff contention until late September, ultimately being eliminated after a 4-0 loss to the Nationals on the 26th of that month. Florida would finish the season 83-79, then just their fourth winning season in franchise history, falling six games short of the NL Wild Card. And just like that, it was time for another rebuild in Miami. The 33-year-old Delgado, despite his obvious value on the field, was jettisoned in favor of younger, cheaper talent. Less than two months following the end of the season, the Marlins traded Delgado to the division rival New York Mets in a deal that netted them Mike Jacobs. Jacobs would settle in as Miami's first baseman, hitting 69 home runs over the next three seasons with a respectable 105 OPS+. But to this day, Delgado is the best power hitter that the franchise has ever deployed at the position. Particularly in recent years, first base has been a revolving door of mediocre individuals worried about clearing the replacement-level threshold, to say nothing of the HOF election threshold. Throughout the vast majority of his career—including 2005—Delgado's glove was a statistically significant liability. As a Marlin, he posted an MLB-worst minus-20 defensive runs saved. It negated a chunk of his offensive production, hence his lifetime 44.4 bWAR. Hitters rarely reach Cooperstown with such a low total. At least 12 of the 16 Contemporary Baseball Era Committee members will need to vote for Delgado in order for him to reach, in his words, "the ultimate goal." View full article

If you grew up watching baseball in the late 2000s and 2010s, you know the name Cole Hamels. With silky smooth mechanics, one of MLB's best changeups, and movie-star good looks, he had a brilliant pitching career. For the first time this winter, Baseball Hall of Fame voters are being tasked with deciding whether or not Hamels is worthy of induction into Cooperstown. Peruse the list of Hall of Fame starting pitchers and you will see a variance in the caliber of careers. For every Walter Johnson and Cy Young, you have ten CC Sabathia/Waite Hoyt/Dazzy Vance types. Inductees exist on a spectrum, and if chosen, Hamels would certainly be on the lower end of that spectrum. His candidacy ought to be mulled over carefully. While a player's place in the history of the sport factors into their HOF candidacy, important, too, is where they rank among their contemporaries. The timing of Hamels' debut makes this particularly complicated. Breaking into the majors in 2006, Hamels got his feet wet in the midst of the golden years of Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. They epitomized the last great era of starting pitcher workhorses. All four would be inducted in their first year of HOF eligibility. When Hamels debuted, MLB starters were averaging 5.8 innings per outing. By the time he announced his retirement in 2023, individual workloads had diminished to an average of 5.1 innings per start. The job description gradually changed in the interim. Hamels made the necessary adjustments along the way. Since 2006, he ranks fifth in bWAR and sixth in WAA (wins above average) among pitchers to throw at least 2,000 innings. His 123 ERA+ (100 represents league average) is tied with David Price for sixth. Broaden the scope of our search by an additional half-decade and Hamels still looks elite. Since 2001, he is the seventh-best pitcher on a bWAR per inning basis (.021), ahead of HOF ballot holdovers Mark Buehrle, Andy Pettitte, and Félix Hernández. Speaking of the latter, Hernández received an encouraging 20.6 percent of the vote in his first year of eligibility. For a player to be elected, they must receive votes on at least 75 percent of ballots cast. What Hernández lacks in terms of longevity, he nearly makes up for it in accolades. "The King" won an AL Cy Young in 2010, hurled a perfect game, and made six All-Star appearances. However, he had no postseason pedigree to speak of, having never thrown a single playoff pitch, with Seattle sporting just five winning seasons during his fifteen seasons in the majors. MLB Career Comparison Metric Cole Hamels Félix Hernández bWAR 59.0 49.8 IP 2,698.0 2,729.2 bWAR/IP 0.021 0.018 ERA 3.43 3.42 ERA+ 123 117 FIP 3.68 3.52 All-Star Selections 4 6 Cy Young Awards 0 1 Hamels, on the other hand, meaningfully added to his résumé in October. During the 2008 postseason, Hamels went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA over five starts in which he averaged seven innings a start, as the Phillies won their first World Series since 1980. Hamels would go on to receive NLCS and World Series MVP honors. Some more notable Hamels fun facts: He's one of 57 pitchers with at least 2,500 innings pitched and an ERA+ greater than 120, of which 32 are in the Hall of Fame. Three others—Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, and Justin Verlander—are destined to be elected once eligible. By WAR, Hamels is the 16th-most valuable pitcher in the Cy Young Award era (1956-present) to never win the hardware himself. To completely discount Cole Hamels' HOF candidacy is to be ignorant about how the role of the starting pitcher has evolved throughout the past two decades. It's difficult to imagine a 2026 induction for him, but over time, hopefully BBWAA voters evaluate his remarkable career with the proper context. View full article