The Marlins conclude their Grapefruit League schedule on Sunday before heading back to Miami for an exhibition against the Yankees on March 25. Two days later, they will host the Pirates 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 has looked the part of 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 three 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): Connor Norby
Norby's status is in jeopardy after he tweaked his left oblique on a swing during Grapefruit League action on March 22. If Norby misses time, Jonah Bride, Eric Wagaman and Marlins No. 25 prospect Graham Pauley 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): Jonah Bride
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 Bride here if Mervis winds up as the "primary" first baseman and Norby is healthy enough to avoid the injured list. Beginning on July 25, when he became an everyday starter, Bride recorded an .854 OPS and hit 11 homers in 59 games.
Bench (3): Dane Myers, Eric Wagaman, Javier Sanoja
The bench will be determined in large part by what happens with Norby, the outfield and at DH. Wagaman, whom McCullough called an intriguing combination of plate discipline and impact, can bounce between corner infield and outfield. The last spot would go to No. 15 prospect Javier Sanoja in a utility role. According to McCullough, the right-handed-hitting Sanoja could see action everywhere around the diamond except maybe first base and catcher.
Starting pitchers (5): RHP Sandy Alcantara, RHP Cal Quantrill, RHP Max Meyer, RHP Connor Gillispie, RHP Valente Bellozo
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 Declan Cronin, RHP Lake Bachar, RHP George Soriano, RHP Ronny Henriquez, 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. Soriano and Henriquez, in particular, can pitch multiple innings if the Marlins go without a traditional long reliever in the early going.