Kevin Barral

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization. This installment focuses on first baseman Yuli Gurriel. 2023 Timeline March 10—signed to a minor league dealMarch 30—contract selected by MarlinsSeason stats: .245/.304/.359/.663 with four home runs, 27 RBIs and a 79 OPS+ The Marlins reportedly had negotiations with free agent Yuli Gurriel throughout the 2022-23 offseason. They offered him a major league deal at one point, but the Cuban first baseman was not in a hurry to commit. Deep into spring training, the Marlins still didn't have a clear idea of who would be the back up to Garrett Cooper at first base. Gurriel was still available and he accepted a minor league offer to compete for the final spot on the Opening Day roster. At the same time as Gurriel, the Marlins also signed shortstop José Iglesias. The idea was to take whichever one looked more ready to contribute and fit best with the surrounding roster. Gurriel ultimately won the job. He didn't hit much in spring games (.227/.261/.273/.534 in 7 G), but made several smooth plays defensively to show why he had won the American League Gold Glove in 2021. Miami valued Gurriel's extensive playoff experience as a member of the Houston Astros, which included winning two World Series titles. He also came with excellent contact skills, just like fellow offseason acquisitions Luis Arráez and Jean Segura. For the first time in his career, Gurriel had to adjust to life as a backup. He put up solid numbers early on—through the end of May, his OPS (.769) was over 100 points higher than Cooper's (.655) and the playing time split between them was much closer than anticipated. His defense at first base helped the Marlins consistently hold leads in the later innings. However, in the second half, Gurriel was unable to maintain that success, slashing .202/.250/.288/.538 with one home run and nine RBIs. Despite his reputation for being a good situational hitter, he stopped coming through in clutch situations. The Marlins got creative at the trade deadline and brought in Josh Bell to be their primary first baseman while sending Cooper to San Diego. Bell's combination of durability and switch-hitting cut down on Gurriel's playing time. The Marlins still felt it was important to keep the 39-year-old on the roster throughout the season because of the leadership he brought to the clubhouse. Gurriel started only five games during the month of September. His final big moment as a Marlin, driving in the go-ahead run against the New York Mets on Sept. 28, was erased from the record books when the game was suspended due to rain and never completed. Future with Marlins It is hard to see Gurriel coming back for another season for any major league team. He has produced a positive WAR in only one of the last four years. The Marlins would not have a clear plan at first base if Bell decides to opt out of his contract, but expect them to look at options who hit for more power than Yuli does. If Gurriel does call it a career, he will finish with 12.9 WAR, slashing .281/.326/.440/.766 with 98 home runs, 462 RBIs and a 108 OPS+. Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On First

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization. This installment focuses on left-hander Trevor Rogers. 2023 Timeline April 21—placed on the 15-day injured list (left biceps strain)May 30—sent on a rehab assignment to Jupiter HammerheadsJune 2—rehab assignment transferred to Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpJune 10—suffered right lat strain while warming up for rehab startJune 14—transferred to the 60-day injured listAugust 25—started playing catchSeason stats: 18.0 IP, 4.00 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 9.50 K/9, 3.00 BB/9 Yes, Trevor Rogers did pitch in 2023 for the Miami Marlins. Expectations for Rogers weren't especially high coming off a miserable 2022 season and an up-and-down spring training, but the Marlins saw him as a back-end starter with the potential to be much more than that. Rogers struggled in his first two starts of the season, both against the New York Mets. He was at his best on April 14, throwing six innings of one-run ball to earn a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He struck out seven, walked one and gave up five hits. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-04/14/23dc4fad-fb8cdd70-05f5ec78-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4Rogers' season went off the rails in his fourth start when he was only able to go three innings against the San Fransisco Giants, leaving early with what was later revealed to be a left biceps strain. The absence of Rogers contributed to Eury Pérez's arrival to the majors. In early June, with Rogers looking sharp in minor league rehab games (nine scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in two starts) and Pérez living up to his top prospect reputation, the Marlins rotation depth seemed to be in good shape. Unfortunately, while Rogers was preparing to make a rehab start with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on June 10, he felt discomfort in his non-throwing arm. He was scratched from the start and diagnosed with a lat strain. The recovery from that took even longer than his biceps injury and he didn't have enough time to make it back before season's end. In a very tiny sample, what stood out most about Rogers was his increased sinker usage. He threw 62 sinkers in four starts, which is more than he threw during his first three MLB seasons combined. It represented 18.8% of his pitch mix. He was consistent about spotting it toward the bottom of the strike zone. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/a9cc4022-fb11-4edb-86fe-80671913aa0f.mp4Future with Marlins It is impossible to say what Rogers will look like in 2024, but the Marlins hope he can help fill the void in their starting rotation created by the absence of Sandy Alcantara (Tommy John surgery). Three rotation spots are accounted for by Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett and Eury Pérez. Rogers will be battling with Edward Cabrera, Ryan Weathers, Max Meyer, Patrick Monteverde and others for one of the two remaining spots. Despite his lack of 2023 production, Rogers is due a pay raise entering his first year of arbitration eligibility. He is under club control through the 2026 season.

Catcher Paul McIntosh was one of several Marlins prospects who were sent to the Arizona Fall League this year. Through nine games thus far, McIntosh is slashing .267/.405/.400/.805 with one home run and three RBIs. McIntosh has been one of the most productive hitters in the Marlins organization since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2021. However, there are questions about whether he can stick behind the dish defensively. As a non-roster invitee at 2023 spring training, McIntosh worked with Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp defensive coach José Ceballos. They later reunited at the AAA level when P-Mac earned a midseason promotion. He has continued to progress from there. "I feel better than I ever have defensively out here in the Arizona Fall League," said McIntosh on Tuesday. He added that he feels like he has most improved in the receiving and blocking aspects. Injuries limited McIntosh to 77 games during the regular season. Participating in the fall league helps him make up for those lost reps. Offensively, McIntosh noticed that he has been tapping into more of his raw power. On Saturday, he became the first Marlin to hit an AFL home run. The catcher position was a major weakness for the Marlins this season. With Jacob Stallings unlikely to return in 2024 and limited options to choose from in free agency, the door is open for prospects like McIntosh and Will Banfield to earn a spot on the 26-man roster. In the meantime, McIntosh and the Peoria Javelinas have 11 games left on the AFL schedule. https://fishonfirst.com/news/marlins-fall-winter-ball-tracker-2023/

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization. This installment focuses on right-hander Johnny Cueto. 2023 Timeline January 19—Miami Marlins signed Cueto in free agencyMarch 15—pitched for Dominican Republic in the World Baseball ClassicApril 4—placed on the 15-day injured list (right biceps tightness)May 2—sent on a rehab assignment to Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpMay 6—suffered sprained ankle during rehab startMay 23—transferred to the 60-day injured listJune 11—sent on a rehab assignment to Pensacola Blue WahoosJune 22—rehab assignment transferred to Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpJuly 10—activated from the 60-day injured listAugust 21—placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to August 18 (viral infection)September 2—activated from the 15-day injured listOctober 3—left off of NL Wild Card Series rosterSeason stats: 52.1 IP, 6.02 ERA, 7.02 FIP, 6.71 K/9, 2.58 BB/9 (age-37 season) When the Miami Marlins signed Johnny Cueto to a one-year deal worth $8.5M, they were hoping for him to replicate his 2022 success with the Chicago White Sox. He had been an efficient innings-eater who was pitching to soft contact early in the count to overcome diminished strikeout numbers. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be the case with Miami. As early as his first spring training game, the warning signs were there. Cueto did not appear to be in good shape, and he struggled during both the Grapefruit League and World Baseball Classic. Even though those games "didn't count," he was allowing way too much hard contact. It turned out that Cueto was pitching through an injury without telling the Marlins. He had to leave his 2023 regular season debut during the second inning and wouldn't return to the majors until after the All-Star break. Cueto pitched horribly during his minor league rehab assignment. The Marlins used the maximum 30-day window to try to get him back on track. Activating him during the All-Star break was done out of necessity given the club's concerns about young starters being able to hold up while dealing with career-high workloads. Initially upon returning, Cueto's fastball had more velocity and life than he had shown during rehab. That was fully on display against the Colorado Rockies on July 22. In his best outing as a Marlin, Cueto went six innings, struck out eight, walked one and gave up one run on two hits. Towards the end of the season, Marlins manager Skip Schumaker lost trust in Cueto. Aside from that Rockies game, he allowed home runs in every start (usually multiple homers) and posted the worst FIP in the National League among pitchers to throw at least 50 innings. Schumaker had to continue using Cueto after Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez suffered injuries, but he was on a short leash. Cueto didn't make it onto the NL Wild Card Series roster. The Marlins gave his spot to Ryan Weathers instead. Future with the Marlins Johnny Cueto has a 2024 club option for $10.5M that the Marlins need to make a decision on after the World Series. Everything points towards that option being declined, making him a free agent. If Cueto wants to continue his MLB career at age 38, it'll have to be through a minor league deal. In case this is the end of the road, he's had a great career, including two All-Star appearances, a World Series title, 36.4 WAR, 3.50 ERA, 2245.0 IP and a 144-111 record. Photo courtesy of Miami Marlins

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization. This installment focuses on third baseman Jake Burger. 2023 Timeline March 30—optioned to Triple-A Charlotte KnightsApril 5—recalled from Triple-A Charlotte KnightsMay 4—placed on the 10-day injured list (strained left oblique)May 11—sent on a rehab assignment to Charlotte KnightsMay 14—activated from the 10-day injured listAugust 1—Traded by Chicago White Sox to Miami Marlins for LHP Jake EderOverall season stats: .250/.309/.518/.828, 34 HR, 80 RBI and a 120 OPS+ Marlins stats: .303/.355/.505/.860 with 9 HR, 28 RBI and a 130 OPS+ After being held back by injuries, in 2023, Jake Burger finally looked like the player that the Chicago White Sox selected with the 11th pick of the 2017 MLB Draft. Slashing .214/.279/.527/.806 with 25 home runs, 52 RBIs and a 113 OPS+ through the end of July, Burger was a huge power threat, especially against left-handed pitching. That being said, he didn't get on base much and struck out at high percentages. He was used as a designated hitter for a period of time after returning from his oblique injury, but otherwise found a home at third base. The White Sox turned out to be one of MLB's worst teams and it was no question that they would be sellers as the trade deadline approached. However, Burger wasn't thought to be among their main trade chips because he still had many years of club control ahead of him. Meanwhile, the Marlins found themselves in a position where they had a shot at the postseason. The offseason signing of Jean Segura to handle third base had gone horribly wrong and was holding back their offensive production. A few hours before the deadline arrived on August 1, they acquired Burger to take his job in exchange for Eder, one of their top prospects. Right after that, Miami sent Segura to Cleveland in the Josh Bell trade. With the Marlins, Burger continued to build upon his breakout year. His strikeout rate dipped down and he was getting on base at a higher rate. He found a better balance between hitting for power and contact, leading all Marlins hitters with 1.1 fWAR during August and September. With the White Sox, Burger was striking out at a 31.6% rate and walking at a 6.8% rate. Although his walk percentage went down even more to 4.6% after the trade, his strikeout percentage improvement to 21.7% more than made up for that. Burger also went from a .225 BABIP to a .354 BABIP (only Garrett Hampson had a higher mark among Marlins hitters during this period). The ball just made a different sound off of Burger's bat and his quality of contact stats demonstrate that. His 91.9 mph average exit velocity put him in 89th percentile among MLB qualifiers and about half of all his batted ball were hard-hit, per Baseball Savant. With the single below, Burger had the top exit velo for a Marlins player in 2023. He also had 12 of the top 20 exit velos despite spending just two months with the club. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/7f097854-615c-4cc8-94d9-fab21338d496.mp4Although the statistics claim that the 27-year-old struggled at third base, he didn't look too bad from the eye test. Aside from a couple moments, he was able to hold down the position well. Future with Marlins A huge factor behind the Marlins' acquisition of Burger was that he won't be a free agent until after the 2028 season. He's not even eligible for arbitration yet, so he will be an incredible value even if he regresses a bit from his end-of-season hot streak. Burger needed to play third base because the Marlins had Jorge Soler and Josh Bell occupying DH and first base, respectively. Both of them have the opportunity to opt out of their contracts and test free agency. The Marlins' internal options at third base include Jon Berti, Garrett Hampson and Jordan Groshans, but none of them project to be everyday starters, so the most likely outcome is that Burger spends a lot of time there again in 2024. Burger emerged as a nice building block for the Marlins lineup. However, he'll need some outside help from the new front office, especially if Soler and Bell both sign elsewhere. Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On First

On Monday, Kim Ng and the Miami Marlins parted ways despite making it to the postseason for only the fourth time in franchise history. In the days since then, we have heard both sides of the story and there are still some unknowns because principal owner Bruce Sherman hasn't taken any questions from the media. What's clear is Sherman felt changes needed to be made in order to succeed as a small-market team moving forward. Those changes included bringing in a president of baseball operations to work above Kim and address the Marlins' player development struggles. Over the last three years, the Marlins have developed very little of their own major league talent, relying instead on making upgrades via trade. Especially on the hitting side, their homegrown prospects haven't played up to their potential in many cases. In 2021, for example, the Marlins' first draft with Ng as general manager, they selected infielder Kahlil Watson with their first-round pick (16th overall pick). Watson was generally considered a top-five player in his draft class and the Marlins got lucky that he fell all the way to them. Watson had attitude issues from the beginning of his pro career, missing time during the 2022 season because of internal discipline. However, even when he was on the field, he wasn't progressing as hoped. Watson slashed .234/.331/.412 (110 wRC+) in parts of three seasons in the Marlins system while striking out 31.2% of the time. His stock had fallen so much by this past summer that the Marlins were willing to trade him to the Cleveland Guardians (along with Jean Segura) in exchange for Josh Bell. The top seven players drafted by the Marlins in 2021 were all hitters. None of them have come close to reaching the majors yet. The Atlanta Braves have set the standard for building a core of homegrown players. Currently, 17 members of their 40-man roster are homegrown, according to Roster Resource. They drafted stars like Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider while signing Ozzie Albies and soon-to-be NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. in the international market. The Baltimore Orioles also have 17 homegrown guys on their 40-man (Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, etc.) with many more on the way, including baseball's number one prospect Jackson Holliday. The O's have so many MLB-ready hitters that the expectation is they'll trade some of them this offseason to address other parts of their roster. Baltimore put themselves in this position despite their ownership spending less money than Sherman does. Then there are the Tampa Bay Rays, another small-market team that has made the postseason five years in a row. They are constantly trading players when they reach their peak value or get too expensive, but the root of their success is finding ways to unlock the best version of whoever they have. This applies to more than just prospects. Look at how reliever Shawn Armstrong has turned his career around, posting a 10.80 ERA with the Marlins in early 2022 compared to a 1.38 ERA with Tampa Bay in 2023. The Marlins will have a lot of options to choose from during their executive search. The dream would be for the new front office leader to lead this organization to postseason appearances in back-to-back seasons. However, the main focus needs to be sustainable winning long term, which comes from strong player development. It'd make sense to hire somebody who has hands-on experience with that and can bring those best practices to Miami. Photo by Kevin Barral/Fish On First

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization. This installment focuses on right-hander Edward Cabrera. 2023 Timeline June 17—placed on the 15-day injured list (right shoulder impingement)July 8—sent on a rehab assignment to Jupiter HammerheadsJuly 18—activated from the 15-day injured listAugust 1—optioned to Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpSeptember 6—recalled from Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpSeason Stats: 22 G/20 GS, 99.2 IP, 4.24 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 10.66 K/9, 5.96 BB/9 Coming off an effective but injury-shortened 2022 season, Edward Cabrera's name was frequently brought up in trade rumors last winter. As the Marlins aimed to upgrade their offense, it made sense that they would consider flipping a relatively inexperienced starting rotation candidate who had his fair share of durability concerns. Ultimately, the Marlins held onto Cabrera and entered 2023 with him in their rotation. From the very beginning, Cabrera was struggling with control issues. Through two starts, he led the entire major leagues with 13 walks. Although he settled down a bit as the season progressed, his season total of 66 walks was the most on the Marlins pitching staff—that's despite missing time on the injured list and also spending a month in Triple-A. Cabrera's only scoreless start of 2023 came against the Oakland Athletics on June 2. The A's finished with the worst record in the majors. On the other hand, it's worth mentioning that Cabrera avoided disaster starts as well. He never allowed more than five runs in an appearance. He had a habit of making his best pitches in the most important situations, holding opponents to a .172 batting average with runners in scoring position. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/bfa990c4-ce59-48f3-8c7a-c8f78da28f48.mp4Cabrera continued to rely very heavily on his secondary pitches. Fastballs (four-seamers and sinkers) accounted for only 37.2% of his pitch mix. It's a surprising approach for somebody who ranks in the 86th percentile in average fastball velocity, per Baseball Savant. Cabrera has repeatedly needed to leave starts early due to blisters on his throwing hand. That continued to be the case this season, raising questions about whether a starting role is best for him if pitching deep into games keeps causing this to happen. The decision to demote Cabrera to Jacksonville after the trade deadline was partly based on performance and also in part due to his attitude. Cabrera posted a 2.22 ERA in five starts with the Jumbo Shrimp. Recalling him in September was done out of necessity given the Marlins' lack of rotation depth at that stage of the season. Cabrera's second stint with Miami was a lot better. He had a 2.38 ERA during a stretch that included matchups against postseason-bound teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers. Cabrera was included on the Marlins playoff roster with the expectation that he would be used in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series if necessary. Since Miami was swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in two games, he did not make an appearance. Future with Marlins Given that Sandy Alcantara is out for the entirety of the 2024 season and Johnny Cueto is doubtful to return, it is a possibility that Cabrera ends up back in the starting rotation. Between guys returning from injuries and offseason acquisitions, it would be ideal for the Marlins to have enough depth to transition Cabrera to the bullpen. Either way, he'll need to have a role on the major league team because he's out of options. Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On First

On Monday, the baseball world received the news that Kim Ng wasn't going to return as Miami Marlins general manager. Despite coming off a postseason appearance, Ng and owner Bruce Sherman "were not completely aligned" on how to move forward together. When the Marlins hired Ng three years ago, it was a quick process. This time around, there should be many more candidates considered, including those both internally and externally. Oz Ocampo, Miami Marlins assistant general manager Just a year or so ago, the Miami Marlins hired Oz Ocampo to be Kim Ng's right-hand man. Ocampo was best known for his experience in the international market and he was heavily involved in bringing Cristian Javier, Framber Valdez and Luis García to the Houston Astros when they were amateur free agents. Currently, the Marlins farm system ranks as one of the worst in baseball. If Ocampo gets an expanded role with the organization, that can change through time and he can bring in the right people to work on consistently developing homegrown prospects into stars at the major league level. Michael Hill, MLB senior VP of on-field operations Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLBMichael Hill had the top Marlins baseball operations job before Kim Ng arrived (his title was president of baseball operations). He led them to the playoffs during the shortened 2020 season, which was his 18th and final season in Miami. He's very familiar with some of the players and staff who are still with the organization. Since leaving, Hill has worked in the office of the commissioner. A recent report from the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson mentioned that he would be interested in making a return if the Marlins reached out. James Click, Toronto Blue Jays VP of baseball strategy Click's GM tenure with the Houston Astros ended with him holding up a World Series trophy. Somewhat like Ng, he had a power struggle with the team's owner (Jim Crane) and left last offseason after turning down a one-year contract offer. Prior to coming to the Astros, Click spent his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, who have set the standard for how to build a consistent contender using player development and analytics. Click currently finds himself with the Toronto Blue Jays, waiting for his next opportunity to run a baseball operations department. It would make a lot of sense for the Marlins to at least interview him and see whether he and Sherman are a good fit. He also overlapped with Ocampo in Houston, which could help with the transition to a new organization. Ben Sestanovich, Atlanta Braves assistant general manager Alex Anthopoulos has built a juggernaut in Atlanta, so his job isn't coming open anytime soon. That means his top assistants will understandably be tempted to look for opportunities with other teams, the most recent example being Dana Brown leaving to take over as the Astros GM. Maybe Sestanovich follows the same path. A major key to the Braves success has been developing incredible homegrown players (Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley, just to name a few) and signing them to extensions at the right time. If Sestanovich can bring some of that to the Marlins, they can hopefully compete consistently even without spending a lot of money on payroll. Eve Rosenbaum, Baltimore Orioles assistant general manager The Orioles have the top farm system in baseball while also finishing with the best record in the American League. They have developed so many elite hitting prospects, they don't even have room to play all of them in the majors at the same time. Someone like Rosenbaum who has been in the middle of a successful rebuild like this makes a lot of sense for the Marlins as well. Photo courtesy of @OzOcampo/Twitter

The Miami Marlins made Jacob Berry their first-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft with the expectation that he could hit at a very high level. He's showing some signs of reaching that potential in the Arizona Fall League, where he slashed .345/.424/.448/.872 with two RBIs through the first two weeks of action. https://fishonfirst.com/news/marlins-fall-winter-ball-tracker-2023/Berry was assigned to High-A Beloit at the beginning of the season. He struggled, slashing .227/.278/.369/.647 with only four home runs, 37 RBIs and an 80 wRC+ while frequently mishandling routine plays at third base. "The first couple of months were eye-opening, to say the least," said Berry in a media session a week ago. "I learned a lot about myself that's going to help me in the future." But Berry gradually found consistency midway through the season, enough to earn his way to the AA level with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Despite facing better competition, he slashed .248/.301/.442/.743 with five home runs, 22 RBIs and a 94 wRC+. Although his strikeout percentage went just a tad higher, Berry's walk percentage increased. He also moved down the defensive spectrum to play first base a lot more often after the promotion. "When I got to Pensacola, I think it was just trying to be myself," said Berry. Berry was especially hot in late August—recording five multi-hit games in a nine-game span—when he suffered a foot contusion. That sidelined him for Pensacola's September playoff run, but didn't interfere with his readiness for the AFL. Through eight games with the Peoria Javelinas, Berry seems to be seeing the ball a lot better and just making better contact overall. As a switch-hitter, it'll be important to monitor his results from both sides of the plate this season. Berry had big platoon splits during the regular season. From the right side, he slashed .275/.330/.517/.847 with four home runs and 18 RBIs. However, as a lefty, where the majority of his plate appearances come from, he slashed .221/.271/.354/.625 with five home runs and 41 RBIs. "Left-handed just quite didn't catch up this year as much as right-handed, but it just depends on the day," said Berry. "Some days, right-handed is going great, some days left-handed is going great, some days both, some days neither of them are, but I really didn't think that they were too far off." Another area of focus for Berry is his fielding. He has gone back to playing third on an everyday basis in the AFL. He was charged with three errors during a game on Oct. 7, but has played the position cleanly in his other starts. "I gotta get better at every role, because that's kinda me and my personality as it is," said Berry. "Every ball, I want it to be perfect on, but that's not possible, so I am going to keep working to be the best on every play and every opportunity that I get." The AFL season continues through Nov. 9. Track the progress of Berry and all other Marlins prospects here. Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos

Kevin Barral, Isaac Azout and Ely Sussman react to the big breaking news that Kim Ng is leaving the Miami Marlins after three seasons as their general manager. Subscribe to the Fish On First YouTube channel to watch video versions of every Fish Unfiltered episode. https://fishonfirst.com/news/kim-ng-marlins-part-ways/Multiple reports that surfaced on Monday detail how principal owner Bruce Sherman wasn't fully confident in Ng leading the Marlins baseball operations department moving forward. As was the case with Michael Hill in 2020, the franchise is opting for a front office shake-up despite coming off a rare postseason berth. Ng's departure leaves behind Brian Chattin to serve as Miami's interim GM. He and fellow assistant GMs Oz Ocampo and Dan Greenlee are possible internal candidates for the job. Notable external candidates worth mentioning include Sig Mejdal and Eve Rosenbaum (Orioles), James Click (Blue Jays), Josh Byrnes (Dodgers), Ben Sestanovich (Braves), Carlos Rodriguez (Rays) and free agents Chaim Bloom and Jon Daniels. Follow Kevin (@kevin_barral), Isaac (@IsaacAzout), Ely (@RealEly) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos Our Fish On First podcast programming includes The Offishial Show, Fish Unfiltered, State of the Fish, Swimming Upstream, Fishology and What a Relief. All new episodes are posted to FishOnFirst.com/podcasts. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, Megaphone or wherever you normally get your pods from.

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization. This installment focuses on center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2023 Timeline January 20—Kim Ng announced move from second base to center field following the acquisition of Luis ArraezMay 13—left game early after running into outfield wallMay 16—placed on the 10-day injured list (right turf toe)June 20—sent on a minor league rehab assignment (Triple-A Jacksonville)June 26—activated from the 10-day injured listJuly 3—placed on the 10-day injured list (left oblique strain)July 30—sent on a minor league rehab assignment (Low-A Jupiter)July 31—activated from the 10-day injured listOctober 10—undergoes successful turf toe surgerySeason Stats: 97 G, .250/.304/.457/.761, 19 HR, 51 RBI, 103 wRC+ Prior to this year, Jazz Chisholm Jr. had zero experience playing the outfield. That was easy to see throughout spring training based on his misreads, bad throws and overall struggles with his transition to a new position. As the season went on, however, Chisholm showed improvement. By Statcast's outs above average, he ranked as one of the better center fielders in baseball and finished in the 87th percentile among all major leaguers (second among Marlins players behind only Jon Berti). Offensively, it was once again difficult to gauge. Chisholm did not come close to playing a full season due to two stints on the injured list. Chisholm set a new career high with 19 home runs and he led the Marlins with 22 stolen bases (88% success rate). He ended the regular season on a high note, which included a mid-September series sweep of the Atlanta Braves where he became the only player in franchise history to hit grand slams in back-to-back games. Those were the only grand slams for the 2023 Marlins. That being said, Chisholm still struggled to get on base with a .304 OBP (same as his career average). He struck out more often than ever (30.8 K%). During his 2022 All-Star campaign, he elevated the ball more consistently, but like many of his teammates, he grounded out a lot this season (47.8 GB%). He also grounded into four double plays after doing so only three times from 2020-2022 combined. With the managerial change from Don Mattingly to Skip Schumaker, Jazz received more playing time when facing left-handed pitching. There were a few individual moments of growth, but for the most part, it's still a weakness in his game. Chisholm slashed .172/.226/.253/.479 with two home runs and four RBIs in those 95 plate appearances. Jazz was a non-factor in the NL Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. In one at-bat, he showed bunt despite there being two outs in the inning. In another, he didn't run down the line on a grounder. Overall, he didn't get a single hit and struck out 50% of the time. Chisholm helped the Marlins win when he was on the field, but you have to say it was a disappointing season for the MLB The Show cover athlete considering the high expectations placed on him. Highlights https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/31792395-8965-4df2-a5ad-fe5a78787131.mp4Marlins vs. Pirateshttps://sporty-clips.mlb.com/4eb0179e-2844-449e-a8b1-4e341714eb1a.mp4Phillies vs. MarlinsFuture with Miami The plan is for Jazz to be Miami's starting center fielder again in 2024. He got more comfortable there as the season went on and it would be a difficult hole for the Marlins to fill. He's projected to be fully recovered from turf toe surgery in time for spring training. Entering his age-26 season, it would not be a surprise if he improved as a player simply from continuing to gain experience. However, if the Marlins are getting frustrated with his frequent injuries, they might at least listen to trade offers for Chisholm while he still holds a lot of value. They had a .505 winning percentage with him in the starting lineup compared to .536 without him. Cody Bellinger is available in free agency and they reportedly showed interest in him last offseason. When Chisholm was out, Jonathan Davis and Garrett Hampson emerged as useful fill-in options. In the minor leagues, Victor Mesa Jr. and Jake Mangum are worth mentioning. Ultimately, it would make the most sense to spend another season evaluating Jazz. Entering his first year of arbitration eligibility, he could be a great bargain for the Marlins if he can stay healthy. Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On First

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization. This installment focuses on right-handed starter Eury Pérez. 2023 Timeline January 25—invited to Marlins spring training as non-roster inviteeMarch 20—reassigned to minor league campMay 12—selected from Double-A Pensacola and made major league debut (final line: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO)July 7—optioned to Double-A PensacolaAugust 7—recalled from Double-A PensacolaSeptember 23—placed on the 15-day injured list (left SI joint inflammation)Season Stats: 91.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 10.64 K/9, 3.05 BB/9 (age 20) Everybody agreed that Pérez was the best prospect in the Marlins organization entering the year, if not the best pitching prospect in all of baseball. With him continuing to dominate at the AA level and starting rotation pieces Trevor Rogers and Johnny Cueto both going down with injuries, the Marlins made the bold decision to call him up less than a month after his 20th birthday. Because of his limited professional experience, Pérez was placed under careful workload restrictions. The Marlins didn't want him going beyond six innings or 90 pitches in any start, and his total innings were being monitored as well. But when he was on the mound, "Baby Goat" quickly found success. Through nine career starts, Pérez had a 1.34 ERA, including a 21-inning scoreless streak. His most notable outing came against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 19 after returning from a midseason minor league stint. Pérez went six shutout innings, striking out ten, walking zero and only giving up two hits in LA. He became the youngest MLB pitcher since Félix Hernández (2005) to record a double-digit strikeout game. Pérez averaged 97.5 miles per hour with his four-seam fastball, almost as high as his mentor, Sandy Alcantara (98.0 mph). That number should go up even more as he fills out his 6'8" frame. Coming up through the minors, Pérez's changeup was thought to be his best secondary pitch. It was surprising to see him use it only 9.8% of the time and account for only six of his 108 strikeouts. As he explained to Fish On First, because the Southern League was experimenting with tacky baseballs during the first half of this season, Pérez just didn't feel as comfortable throwing changeups once making the switch back to normal MLB baseballs. Baseball SavantDespite that, Pérez did well against left-handed batters. Both his slider and curveball were unhittable at times. Combining his appearances in the majors and minors, Pérez threw 128 innings this season. His previous single-season high was only 78. He struggled in September while pitching through back discomfort, so the Marlins shut him down near the end of the regular season and he didn't make their Wild Card Series roster. Highlights https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-05/12/b6bb5b43-87f12efe-ea5b9cdf-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4Reds vs. Marlins (5/12/23)https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-06/20/b33e4a89-a0a56544-fa51552e-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4Blue Jays vs. Marlins (6/20/23)https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/19/fd27e924-f4f00d95-b87f23cb-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4Marlins vs. Dodgers (8/19/23)Future with the Marlins With ace Sandy Alcantara out for the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Pérez will be trusted to establish himself as a steady piece of the Marlins rotation. It will be interesting to see how much the teams loosens the limits they had on his workload—2023 was a good step forward, but he's not yet ready to eat innings like Sandy did. Aside from getting a feel for his changeup, the young right-hander needs to continue to work on his fastball command. Even though throwing strikes is not an issue, many of the 15 home runs Pérez allowed came on fastballs that were too close to the middle of the plate. Throughout Major League Baseball, teams have gotten aggressive about giving out contract extensions to emerging stars before they reach their arbitration years. Pérez looks like a candidate for that, if not in 2024, possibly by 2025 after he proves that he can go a full season without much fatigue or injury. Photo courtesy of Miami Marlins