The Marlins concluded their Grapefruit League schedule on Sunday before heading back to Miami for an exhibition against the Yankees on Tuesday. They will host the Pirates on Thursday to open the season.
Here is my latest stab at what Miami’s Opening Day roster might look like:
Catcher (2): Nick Fortes, Liam Hicks
Fortes, the incumbent, will catch ace Sandy Alcantara on Opening Day. Hicks, the Rule 5 Draft pick, was informed that he made the club on Friday.
First baseman (1): Matt Mervis
Manager Clayton McCullough has said he doesn't see much defensive separation between Mervis, Jonah Bride and Eric Wagaman, but the latter two can also play third. This could wind up being a platoon between the left-handed-hitting Mervis and the right-handed-hitting Bride and Wagaman, with one of the odd men out able to serve as the designated hitter on a given day. Mervis could be a change-of-scenery candidate.
Second baseman (1): Otto Lopez
McCullough has made sure to pair up Lopez and shortstop Xavier Edwards as much as possible as his double-play tandem this spring. Already one of the Majors’ best defensive second basemen, Lopez has been producing solid contact in the air.
Shortstop (1): Xavier Edwards
One of the surefire everyday players on the roster, Edwards kept to a throwing program over the offseason to improve his shoulder and arm strength. In 2024, he thrived at the plate (.328 average) but struggled out on the field (second-fewest OAA in MLB, minimum 550 innings).
Third baseman (1): Jonah Bride
Connor Norby will start the season on the injured list after he tweaked his left oblique on a swing during Grapefruit League action on Saturday. Bride, Wagaman, Javier Sanoja (Marlins' No. 15 prospect) and Graham Pauley (Miami's No. 25 prospect) are options to fill in.
Outfielders (3): Kyle Stowers, Derek Hill, Griffin Conine
This unit will be without longest-tenured position player Jesús Sánchez (left oblique strain) to open the season, which makes it possible for each member of the Stowers, Hill, Conine and Dane Myers quartet possibilities on the Opening Day roster. Everyone but Conine can man all three outfield positions. Even before Sánchez's injury, Miami was likely to play matchups because of its mix of left-handed and right-handed bats. Stowers and Conine would be the corner outfielders and Hill or Myers the preferred center fielder.
Designated hitter (1): Eric Wagaman
This role will rotate starters needing a break from the field or taking advantage of a platoon situation. For this exercise, we'll go with Wagaman here if Mervis winds up as the "primary" first baseman and Bride starts at third over Wagaman in Norby's place. Wagaman and Bride could bounce between first, third and DH.
Bench (3): Dane Myers, Javier Sanoja, Graham Pauley
The bench will be determined in large part by who fills in for Norby, the odd man out in the outfield and who serves as the DH. According to McCullough, the right-handed-hitting Sanoja could see action everywhere around the diamond except maybe first base and catcher. With Norby headed to the IL, Pauley should get the final bench spot.
Starting pitchers (5): RHP Sandy Alcantara, RHP Connor Gillispie, RHP Valente Bellozo, RHP Cal Quantrill, RHP Max Meyer
Right-hander Edward Cabrera (blister) and left-hander Ryan Weathers (mild left forearm flexor strain) will begin the season on the injured list, opening up two spots in the rotation with under a week to go. McCullough already announced Gillispie will break camp with the club. Righty Janson Junk was reassigned to Minor League camp moments before right-hander Valente Bellozo started Saturday's Grapefruit League game.
Relief pitchers (8): RHP Calvin Faucher, RHP Jesus Tinoco, RHP Anthony Bender, RHP Lake Bachar, RHP George Soriano, RHP Ronny Henriquez, RHP Seth Martinez, LHP Josh Simpson
Lefty Andrew Nardi is on the 60-day injured list with a back injury and Anthony Veneziano, the only healthy 40-man southpaw, has been inconsistent. Non-roster invitee and former prospect Simpson is poised to earn a job. Righty Declan Cronin (left hip discomfort) will begin the season on the IL, so his spot could go to either Veneziano or Martinez, who was claimed off waivers by Miami twice this spring. During the final week of Grapefruit League play, he tossed three scoreless innings. Soriano and Henriquez, in particular, can pitch multiple innings if the Marlins go without a traditional long reliever in the early going.