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 -- Few ballplayers made more of an impact on baseball in South Florida than the D-Train.
Dontrelle Willis, who helped spark the 2003 World Series-winning ballclub as a rookie midseason callup, was a two-time All-Star during his five-year tenure and remains in the Top 5 in various franchise pitching categories. On Sunday, he joined former teammate Josh Beckett as members of the 2026 Marlins Legends Hall of Fame class.
The Marlins Legends Hall of Fame, which was created last year, annually honors former players, coaches, managers and staff members for their significant achievements and contributions to the organization and South Florida community.
Let’s take a look at Willis’ Top 5 performances in a Marlins uniform:
1. June 16, 2003
The first of seven career shutouts came in Willis’ eighth career start, which was a 1-0 victory over the Mets at Pro Player Stadium. The 21-year-old Willis tossed a one-hitter, with the lone blemish being Ty Wigginton’s ground-ball single to left with one out in the fourth. From there, Willis retired the final 17 batters in a 109-pitch outing. He walked one and struck out eight.
2. Sept. 10, 2006
Willis’ final career shutout also included a career-high-tying 12 strikeouts in a 3-0 win over the Phillies at Dolphins Stadium. Willis scattered three hits -- all singles -- against a Philadelphia lineup that featured the likes of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell. He walked one and hit another in a 122-pitch start.
3. 2005 season
This is cheating. Willis, who finished as the 2005 National League Cy Young Award runner-up, led the Majors in wins (22), complete games (seven) and shutouts (five). All five of those shutouts rank third through seventh in his career when it comes to game score. Among those, his 4-0 win over the Phillies on April 13 at Dolphins Stadium stands out. Willis allowed three hits -- all singles -- with one walk and seven strikeouts.
4. Oct. 4, 2003 (National League Division Series Game 4)
This game is better remembered for the series-clinching play, when Pudge Rodriguez held onto Jeff Conine’s throw from left field on a home-plate collision with J.T. Snow. While Willis didn’t get it done on the mound, allowing five runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings, he put together one of the best hitting performances for a pitcher. Willis went 3-for-3 with a triple and a run scored, with his three hits tying for the most by a pitcher in postseason history.
5. Oct. 18, 2003 (World Series Game 1)
Willis’ regular-season success (3.30 ERA) didn’t carry over into the postseason’s first two rounds (12.00 ERA), so the Marlins used him as a reliever in the Fall Classic. With the Marlins clinging onto a one-run lead with one out and a runner on first in the sixth, Willis bridged the gap to closer Ugueth Urbina by recording seven outs in a 3-2 victory at the old Yankee Stadium. He would also pitch a scoreless eighth in a Game 5 win.