MIAMI -- From Day 1 of Summer Camp, the Marlins have made it clear that anyone on their 60-man player pool is a candidate to be in the big leagues at some point in 2020.

In these unconventional times, the Marlins aren’t ruling out anything, and that includes using their top pitching prospects in the 60-game sprint of a season.

“We have to stay open-minded,” pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said in a Zoom call this week. “We're going to be able to expand our roster, and there are going to be some guys given an opportunity that maybe in a [normal] regular season wouldn't have been given that opportunity.”

With rosters starting off at 30 the first two weeks before going down to 28 for the next two weeks, and eventually settling at 26, the Marlins could carry as many as 17 pitchers on Opening Day.

What this means is pitching prospects who may project as starters could make the club as long relievers when the season opens on Friday against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

MLB.com explores the chances of each of Miami's pitching prospects inside the organization's Top 10 MLB Pipeline list reaching the big leagues in 2020:

RHP Sixto Sánchez (No. 1 overall prospect)
The organization moved Sánchez along slowly in Spring Training, which meant that he didn’t pitch in any Grapefruit League games. The hard-throwing right-hander has been stationed at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla.

“In spring, I wasn’t ready,” Sánchez said through an interpreter via a Zoom call on Sunday. “I was a bit overweight. Gradually with the work, and getting my body right, I was able to lose some weight and get down to 225 [pounds]. Now, I feel great.”

If this is the year Sánchez makes his debut, it could be later in the season, and it appears doubtful that he would be used as a bullpen option. Sánchez, who turns 22 this month and is on the 40-man roster, likely would be brought up with the intention to be in the rotation.

“I’m just waiting for my moment,” he said.

RHP Edward Cabrera (No. 5 overall prospect)
Like Sánchez, Cabrera throws 100 mph and is on the 40-man roster.

The 22-year-old right-hander has been getting his work in at Jupiter. Cabrera opened eyes with a strong Spring Training, but he still could use some refinement with his fastball command.

Staying in the rotation would be preferable for Cabrera, but if the Marlins are in the playoff race, any role is possible.

LHP Braxton Garrett (No. 6 overall prospect)
The seventh overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, Garrett realistically appears to be a year away from reaching the big leagues.

“I think we’re all just really excited to be here, to get the invite, with a chance to possibly make the big leagues,” Garrett said on Sunday. “I’m taking it as an opportunity to get better.”

Garrett, who turns 23 next month, regularly faces the organization's top hitting prospects in simulated situations in Jupiter.

“We don’t have fielders right now, so it’s a little different seeing the ball in play with nobody going after it,” said Garrett, who is not on the 40-man roster. “Also, there’s not a ton of hitters, which really isn’t a bad thing, because I face JJ Bleday and Jerar Encarnación, it feels like, twice an inning. Those are two of the best hitters in the Minor Leagues. I’m getting better facing our best hitters, so it’s exciting.”

LHP Trevor Rogers (No. 8 overall prospect)
In 136 1/3 combined innings at Class A Advanced Jupiter and Double-A Jacksonville last year, Rogers had a 2.90 ERA, putting himself on the brink of reaching the big leagues. That chance could come this season, but it may be more likely to happen in 2021 because the 22-year-old is not on the 40-man roster.

“I’m just taking it day by day; it’s a great opportunity,” Rogers said. “They chose me to be here, an hour away from the big leagues. You’ve got to take it as every day, you’ve got to work hard. It’s good being here. There’s a lot of smaller groups, so you get more one-on-one time.”

RHP Nick Neidert (No. 10 Marlins prospect)
Neidert is considered the closest to being big league ready, and perhaps he would have made his debut in 2019, if not for knee surgery. The 23-year-old stepped up in the Arizona Fall League and impressed in Spring Training.

If Neidert makes the Opening Day roster, it will be in a bullpen role. He is on the 40-man roster.

“I've always thought that this guy needs the levels, and that the levels will let us know whether we need to do something different with him in whether his stuff plays and all that,” Stottlemyre said.