JUPITER, Fla. – The Marlins optioned Top 100 prospect Joe Mack to Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday morning as part of their latest round of camp cuts.
Miami also optioned right-hander Ryan Gusto and reassigned Kemp Alderman (Marlins No. 9 prospect) as well as righty relievers Zach Brzykcy and Jack Ralston to Minor League camp.
Mack, who ranks as MLB Pipeline’s No. 62 overall prospect, received substantial playing time this spring with second-year players and projected Opening Day roster backstops Agustín Ramírez and Liam Hicks participating in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic and Canada, respectively.
In nine games, Mack hit 3-for-24 (.125) with three runs, a grand slam, two walks and seven strikeouts. Behind the dish, he threw out two baserunners and went 2-for-4 in ABS challenges.
The 23-year-old’s big league camp was his first as a member of the 40-man roster after the organization protected him from the Rule 5 Draft over the offseason following a solid 2025. Mack opened the season at Double-A Pensacola, where he spent just 13 games before earning a promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville. Mack hit .250/.320/.459 with 18 doubles, two triples, 18 homers and 53 RBIs in 100 games for the eventual Triple-A national champions, though he struck out 115 times and walked just 35 times.
According to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report, Mack is somewhat of a one-dimensional hitter because of his aggressive approach. He often chases a lot of pitches out of the zone. And while Mack handled fastballs (1.074 OPS), he saw that dip against other pitches (.636 OPS).
“Joe's coming off a terrific year, especially [when] you take into account the position he plays, age for level, for a high school catcher to get up to Triple-A at his age-22 season,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “He's on a really, really good trajectory, and [on] the defensive side of the ball, we know he can catch, he can throw. I think the timing of the WBC was probably [in] a lot of ways perfect. It gave Joe a lot of opportunities, chances to catch a lot of pitchers that are going to either start with us, or certainly that he'll be handling in Jacksonville.
“So from that end, it was great. Spent a lot of time with our pitching crew and our coaching staff, so that we have much more familiarity and comfort now around each other, which is important. Offensively, Joe's still a young, developing player. There are still areas like his approach, and if he's going to get to the type of power that he has, just continue to refine those, which is a natural thing for any young hitter. He showed well, and I just think right now, Joe's time will come when it comes, but I think we're going with a group right now we think is better suited to start the year with us.”
With Mack’s departure, there are five backstops remaining at big league camp: Hicks, who returned from the Classic to start Sunday’s Grapefruit League game, and non-roster invitees Brian Navaretto, Bennett Hostetler and Sam Praytor. Ramírez is still competing with the Dominican Republic, which was scheduled to face the United States in a World Baseball Classic semifinal on Sunday night in Miami.
Ramírez, who graded out as one of the worst defensive catchers in the Majors, will be given an adequate amount of time to show he has improved before the Marlins consider changing direction with either Hicks or Mack. Hicks served as Ramírez's backup in 2025 and finished with 0 defensive runs saved.
“He's on the roster, he's very close,” McCullough said of Mack. “Just trying to reiterate to Joe that [you] don't wait every day for the door to knock and walk in if it's going to happen. Go be where your feet are and just keep getting better. Dominate the ABS, continue with the training and become very skilled. We think that's going to be an important part moving forward for the catcher position here, and continue with the soft skills behind the plate, with how you're massaging and handling the pitchers that you have there.
“And then offensively, tightening up your swing and the approach and let it happen when it happens. He's a much more mature player and person, [with] interactions with him this year than last year. And I think those are really things that are going to bode well for him and us.”