MIAMI -- The 2025 Marlins leaned heavily on rookies, including 15 players who made their Major League debuts. Across a Major League-leading 1,046 games -- 312 more than the second-ranked Athletics (734) -- Marlins rookies accounted for 47.6% of the club’s at-bats, 48.1% of its runs, 47.0% of its hits, 56.3% of its doubles and 49.3% of its RBIs. Miami led all MLB teams in those categories. Top prospects Agustín Ramírez and Jakob Marsee, in particular, led the way. Less-heralded Liam Hicks, Heriberto Hernández and Cade Gibson were pleasant surprises. The 2026 ballclub will still rely on young ballplayers. Here are three prospects who could debut next season: LHP Thomas White (Marlins' No. 1 prospect, No. 22 overall)
The recently turned 21-year-old began his second full professional season with High-A Beloit and ended it at Triple-A Jacksonville, garnering a spot on MLB Pipeline’s Team of the Year. In between, White earned Double-A Pensacola MVP by compiling a 1.59 ERA and a 14.9 K/9 across 10 starts. White, who was named Southern League Pitcher of the Month for August, tossed five no-hit innings with 10 strikeouts in his final start with the Blue Wahoos. Before any talk of a Major League debut, however, White will need to cut down on the walks (5.12 BB/9); he issued 10 free passes in two Triple-A starts. White can get away with that in the Minors because of his pure stuff, but he won’t be able to do so against big league hitters. |
Since White has such limited experience at the Triple-A level, his MLB debut isn’t likely to happen before the next person on the list. LHP Robby Snelling (Marlins' No. 3 prospect, No. 51 overall)
Snelling, who turns 22 on Dec. 19, earned the Marlins’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year award for a breakout season between stints at Double-A and Triple-A. As the organizational leader in starts (25), ERA (2.51) and strikeouts (166), Snelling was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week with the Blue Wahoos, August’s International League Pitcher of the Month with the Jumbo Shrimp and a Triple-A All-Star. |
In 11 starts for Jacksonville, Snelling compiled a 1.27 ERA with 81 strikeouts and just 17 walks in 63 2/3 innings. He recorded three double-digit-strikeout performances with the Jumbo Shrimp, and he didn’t allow more than two runs in any of his regular-season starts at the Triple-A level. While Snelling isn’t on the 40-man roster, he will be invited to big league camp for the second straight spring. How long it takes for him to make his MLB debut will depend upon possible trades and injuries, plus how he pitches. Miami ended its season with a rotation of right-handers Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Edward Cabrera and Janson Junk as well as southpaw Ryan Weathers. Righties Ryan Gusto and Adam Mazur also will be in the mix as depth pieces. Lefty Braxton Garrett (Tommy John surgery) and righty Max Meyer (left hip surgery) will be coming back from injuries. C Joe Mack (Marlins' No. 4 prospect, No. 70 overall)
Mack, who turns 23 on Dec. 27, appears to be the catcher-in-waiting. In 2025, Mack received an early-season promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville and helped the Jumbo Shrimp to their first national championship. In 99 games, he slashed .250/.320/.459 with 18 doubles, two triples, 18 homers and 53 RBIs. |
Known for his defensive skill set, Mack committed 11 errors and allowed nine passed balls in 85 Triple-A games (733 2/3 innings) in 2025 after tallying just one error and seven passed balls in 79 games (688 1/3 innings) across two levels as the 2024 Minor League Gold Glove Award winner for catcher. He still threw out an impressive 33 percent of basestealers. At the plate, Mack must improve upon his swing decisions before he can become a productive Major Leaguer. His strikeout rate increased to 27.9% -- his highest since his first taste of professional baseball in 2021 -- and his walk rate (8.5%) flirted with a career low at Triple-A. Mack will need to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft. As a result, he will receive an automatic invitation to big league camp this spring -- his second straight appearance there. This time around, Mack should receive more reps than he got this year. Miami is inexperienced at the catcher position with Ramírez, Hicks and journeyman Minor Leaguer Brian Navarreto. Ramírez struggled behind the plate at the Major League level, leading all MLB backstops in passed balls and errors. Hicks split time at catcher and first base, but he was less of a liability on defense than Ramírez. Mack could debut in the early part of next season -- much like Ramírez did in 2025 -- if he forces the issue and Ramírez doesn’t improve defensively. |
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