Walk-offs, all-teal jerseys in fashion as Marlins earn 1st 3-0 start since 2009

MIAMI -- Owen Caissie was born on July 8, 2002, well after the heyday of Marlins teal.

Understandably, the 23-year-old Canadian didn’t know much about the history of the color or its importance to the franchise until the organization announced its return last month.

Caissie will forever be part of its lore after crushing a walk-off two-run homer while rocking Miami's new throwback-inspired uniform in Sunday afternoon’s 4-3 win over the Rockies at loanDepot park. With the victory, the Marlins opened a season 3-0 for just the third time in franchise history (1997, when they won the World Series; 4-0 in 2009).

“It looks awesome,” Caissie said, “and to get a win on the day we debut, again, is awesome.”

Though the Marlins never wore an all-teal jersey in a game, doing so only during batting practice in the 1990s, both the look and color are synonymous with the franchise. How fitting that the 2026 Marlins would walk things off in its debut.

The 1997 Marlins, a group of veteran ballplayers with high expectations -- unlike this inexperienced underdog group -- scored the tying run in Game 7 of the World Series before walking it off in the 11th.

“The great thing about our sport of baseball is so much of it is rooted in the history of the game,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “It's America's pastime for a reason, and for this organization, this teal uniform is a big part of the history of the organization. Some really important, impactful moments have occurred wearing these.”

Before the bottom of the ninth, McCullough and bench coach Carson Vitale predicted Griffin Conine, son of “Mr. Marlin” Jeff Conine, would come up with the decisive swing. Caissie didn’t give him a chance to play hero.

South Florida native Xavier Edwards led off the frame with a single before Liam Hicks lined into an unassisted double play at first base. It looked as though the Marlins would come up short in securing the sweep, especially after leaving the bases loaded an inning earlier.

But Javier Sanoja doubled to left-center to keep the inning alive for Caissie.

MLB Pipeline’s No. 40 overall prospect, who entered as a pinch-hitter in the eighth, had rolled his ankle while hobbling down the line on his broken-bat groundout.

Given a shot at redemption, Caissie pre-set the waggle of his hands further back to be on time for righty Victor Vodnik’s velocity. It worked, as Caissie lifted a second consecutive 93.8 mph changeup over the right-field wall for his first career walk-off hit. He became the first Marlin to have his first homer for the club be a walk-off shot since JT Riddle on April 16, 2017.

“I kind of blacked out,” Caissie said. “I don't really know. I don't know if kids imagine that, but it was awesome. To get the ‘W’ and get the sweep was great.”

Caissie, the centerpiece of the Edward Cabrera trade return, has opened his Marlins career 5-for-10 with two doubles, one homer and four RBIs. Only nine other players in franchise history have collected three extra-base hits in their first three contests with the club.

“You kind of wish for moments like this, and I just want to keep putting good swings on the ball,” Caissie said. “I know that's not always going to be like this, but if I continue to stay with my plan, I know good things are going to happen.”

Miami kept it within walk-off distance thanks to right-hander Max Meyer, who allowed three runs -- on a bases-clearing double by Jordan Beck in the first -- across five innings. Three relievers followed with an additional four scoreless frames. The Marlins chipped away at the early 3-0 deficit with an Otto Lopez RBI double in the first and an Austin Slater sacrifice fly in the second.

With the win, the Marlins improved to three games over .500 for the first time since they finished the 2023 season with an 84-77 record and clinched a National League Wild Card spot.

Since June 13 of last season, Miami’s .576 winning percentage (57-42) ranks sixth best in the Majors, behind the Brewers, Blue Jays, Phillies, Mariners and Red Sox. The two-time reigning World Series champion Dodgers (.573) are just behind them.

“I think the jerseys look phenomenal,” said Edwards, who was born in 1999 and grew up a Marlins fan. “[It] would have been a sour feeling had we lost today, won the first two of the series in the other unis and we lost this one. Glad to get the win in these unis in specific, and they turned out great.”