JUPITER, Fla. -- Late-spring injuries to Kyle Stowers and Esteury Ruiz threw a wrench in the Marlins' Opening Day roster plans, so the organization reportedly agreed to terms with veteran outfielder Austin Slater to round out their 26 players.
Here’s an updated look at where things stand:
Catcher (2): Agustín Ramírez, Liam Hicks
This spring, incumbents Ramírez and Hicks spent time away from big league camp competing in the World Baseball Classic. The right-handed-hitting Ramírez will be given a chance to show he has improved behind the dish before Miami considers moving on to MLB Pipeline's No. 62 overall prospect Joe Mack. The left-handed-hitting Hicks will once again serve as the backup and can play first base.
First baseman (1): Christopher Morel
Miami’s lone Major League position-player signing got the vast majority of first-base reps and looked comfortable there despite it being a position he had never appeared at before in his professional career. Miami is hoping for a bounceback since Morel could provide much-needed pop to the lineup.
Second baseman (1): Xavier Edwards
Edwards, a 2025 NL Gold Glove Award finalist, will be expected to start nearly every game.
Shortstop (1): Otto Lopez
Lopez, who became one of the game’s top defensive shortstops, is in the same boat as Edwards.
Third basemen (2): Connor Norby, Graham Pauley
Injury impacted what was expected to be one of camp’s biggest competitions. Although imaging came back clean on Pauley’s right elbow, he was relegated to designated hitter duties in Grapefruit League games until Sunday's finale. Norby will need to continue improving on defense and showing better plate discipline to earn the club’s confidence. He has also seen time at first base and left field to give the Marlins more options. Pauley can play the right side of the infield.
Outfielders (3): Jakob Marsee, Owen Caissie, Griffin Conine
With Stowers sidelined for at least three weeks, Miami will need to figure out how to divvy up playing time in his place. Miami could play the hot bat and/or matchups. If the Marlins go with platoon situations, that would mean the left-handed-hitting Conine with right-handed bats Slater, Heriberto Hernández, Javier Sanoja, Morel and Norby. Marsee is expected to play nearly every day and Caissie, who has nothing left to prove at Triple-A, will be given some opportunities to face left-handers.
Designated hitter (1): Heriberto Hernández
Miami will use the DH to get starters off their feet and/or to maximize the lineup depending on the opposing starting pitcher’s handiness.
Bench/Utility (2): Javier Sanoja, Austin Slater
Sanoja is the 2025 NL Gold Glove Award-winning utility player who appeared at every position except right field and catcher. The final bench spot was anyone's guess because the Marlins had only 12 healthy position players remaining at big league camp as of Tuesday, when they reportedly agreed to terms with Slater. The nine-year veteran joins Hernández as a right-handed outfield bat to complement lefties Marsee, Caissie and Conine. Slater, 33, has a career .787 OPS against southpaws.
Starting pitchers (5): Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Max Meyer, Chris Paddack, Janson Junk
Junk got the final rotation spot after the Marlins optioned left-hander Braxton Garrett, who returned from a second Tommy John surgery this spring, to Triple-A Jacksonville.
Relief pitchers (8): Pete Fairbanks, Anthony Bender, Calvin Faucher, Tyler Phillips, Lake Bachar, John King, Andrew Nardi, Michael Petersen
Fairbanks, the club’s marquee signing, has 90 career saves. Bender, who was delayed by a flareup of his right shin, and Faucher return as capable setup men. Phillips, Bachar and Petersen were built up to go two to four innings. Free-agent signee King joins Nardi as the southpaws. After a long hiatus from the mound due to back issues, Nardi was a pleasant surprise this spring and got the spot over Cade Gibson.