Keep an eye on these Marlins during MLB's awards season

This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

MIAMI – It’s nearly baseball awards season, and the Marlins should have a few players in the mix.

Let’s take a look at some potential candidates:

Javier Sanoja
Sanoja was named one of three finalists for the National League Gold Glove at third base. He is up for the award against Alex Bregman (Cubs) and Max Muncy (Dodgers).

Sanoja won the NL Gold Glove for utility players last year, while Bregman won the American League’s Gold Glove at third base in 2024. Muncy has never won a Gold Glove.

Bregman paced NL third basemen with 15 defensive runs saved and Sanoja ranked sixth with five DRS. Manny Machado of the Padres led the hot corner with 12 outs above average, followed by Bregman (nine), Joey Ortiz (eight) and Sanoja (six).

Rawlings will announce their 2026 Gold Gloves in an ESPN broadcast at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday. Platinum Glove voting will begin immediately after the broadcast on Rawlings.com.

Otto Lopez
Lopez’s All-Star season should put him in the conversation for a number of accolades, including NL Silver Slugger, the All-MLB First or Second Team and the MLB Players Alumni Association Heart & Hustle Award.

Here’s how Lopez stacked up among qualifying NL shortstops:

Batting average: .305 (first)
Stolen bases: 34 (first)
fWAR: 5.9 (second)
OBP: .349 (third)
wRC+: 115 (third)
OPS: .786 (third)
Runs: 94 (third)
RBIs: 71 (third)
Extra-base hits: 52 (third)
SLG: .437 (fourth)

In a career-high 157 games, Lopez led the Majors in hits (191), finished second with 31 infield hits and posted a 122 OPS+. On defense, his six DRS were tied with the Cubs’ Dansby Swanson for fourth among NL shortstops while his 14 OAA ranked fourth and his 1,357 innings ranked second.

The Heart & Hustle Award is presented annually to active players who exemplify a true passion for the game and who best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game. The Heart & Hustle Award, which has a nominee from each ballclub, is the only award in Major League Baseball that is voted on by former players.

The MLBPAA will announce its Heart & Hustle Award winner on Nov. 6. NL Silver Slugger finalists will be named at 2 p.m. ET on Monday by Louisville Slugger, with the winners revealed on Nov. 17.

The MLB Awards, which include All-MLB First and Second Teams, will be broadcast on MLB Network from The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas at 9 p.m. on Nov. 11.

Sandy Alcantara
After struggling to a 5.36 ERA (third highest in the NL) in his return from Tommy John surgery in 2025, Alcantara is a strong possibility for the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award after returning to workhorse form in 2026.

Alcantara led the Majors in innings (214) and pitches thrown (3,293), and he tied for first in the NL in starts (33) and tied for third in quality starts (21). By going 3-for-3 in save situations during the final month, he also joined some exclusive company.

His 3.2 fWAR was tied for 11th in the NL with D-backs left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, another potential candidate for the award.

Alcantara’s toughest competition will likely be Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, who came back from thoracic outlet decompression surgery to accumulate 4.0 fWAR and a 3.00 ERA. Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell (112 OPS+ in a career-high 145 games) should also be in the discussion.

Like the All-MLB Teams, the NL Comeback Player of the Year will be unveiled during the MLB Awards on Nov. 11.