Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: Marlins

 

A year after the Miami Marlins made the playoffs after a surprise September run, we returned to our regularly scheduled disaster. 

I think the key issue with this Marlins team was the lack of participation by Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez, two 2023 starters that made the team competitive. Taking them out of the equation, and adding in injury-shortened seasons to Ryan Weathers, Jesus Luzardo, Edward Cabrera, Braxton Garrett and Sixto Sanchez, which was basically their whole rotation going into this season...made for a more difficult go of things. By July, most of the good players from the first half were gone, mostly suiting up for competitors, which left a skeleton crew with lower stakes. On September 25th, the Marlins lost their 100th game of the season, but the last four games of the year were all wins.

The Marlins had three catchers this season with negative WAR, including one who was cut then had a monster season with the Cubs. So Nick Fortes finishing the season with a 0 WAR seems like an upgrade comparatively. Fortes was the primary catching option, and was a halfway decent defensive starter this year. He only hit .225, but if you're a good defender that's not always a dealbreaker.

2025 Prediction: More of the same, though will eventually lose playing time to a more well-rounded catcher.

Though it took like eight or nine failed options to get there, the Marlins eventually found a strong young pitching option this year, and his name was Valente Bellozo. Bellozo, despite making only 15 starts during the second half, has the 5th-highest WAR on the 2024 Marlins, topped only by a guy who left at the deadline, a guy who got injured for the second half, a utility backup and a second-half call-up. Weird year. Bellozo's first start was virtually flawless, going 5 innings without allowing a run, despite 2 hits. He'd manage three more scoreless starts, chalking up to a 3.67 ERA. He's not a high strikeout guy, but he's just a dominant, consistent arm, and the Marlins need a guy like that.

2025 Prediction: Leads the team in appearances, becomes a well-regarded workhorse for this team.

While the Orioles' move to take on Trevor Rogers went about as well as you might have guessed, the two guys they dealt to the Marlins due to lack of room, also unsurprisingly, made a nice home in Miami this year. Connor Norby, losing time to Jackson Holliday, Coby Mayo and Jordan Westburg, found much more time at 2nd and 3rd with the Marlins, and hit .247 with 7 homers and 17 RBIs. The brutal power numbers came as something of a surprise, considering that Stowers was billed as the true power bat of the two, especially given his bashing in the minors. Stowers, like in Baltimore, struggled to hit for average in Miami, but managed 2 homers and 15 RBIs. 

2024 Prediction: Both will be starters, and both will be among the most crucial members of the team. One of them will hit 30 home runs. Possibly both.

A former A's farmhand who couldn't perform for them even during their nadir in 2023, Jonah Bride was thrown onto the Marlins MLB roster due to the loss of Josh Bell. Shocking everyone, Bride turned into a real offensive producer for the Marlins, as in 71 games he hit 39 RBIs and 11 homers, which most Marlins starters couldn't even do this year. 

2025 Prediction: I have no idea if the Marlins are actually gonna get a cheap first baseman next year, but...honestly, Bride is a cost-effective option, and if he matches up to his 2024 numbers they could be alright.

And now the feel-good callup. The Marlins finally brought Griffin Conine up to the show, after a couple years of gestating in the minors since being traded for Anthony Bass. Conine, the son of legendary Marlins outfielder Jeff Conine, is a contact-friendly OF piece as well, and in 30 games hit .268 with 12 RBIs and 3 homers. He seems like a fun and fresh addition to the ever-evolving Marlins squad.

2025 Prediction: He might get some Rookie of the Year votes next year, even if he has the occasional dry month. 

Coming Tomorrow- The Mets, despite everything, made it to an NLCS this year. Here's some of the reasons how.