Marlins finalize Opening Day 2021 roster

MIAMI -- The Marlins on Thursday announced their 2021 Opening Day roster, with four players set for their first festivities: second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (MLB Pipeline's No. 66 overall prospect), left-hander Trevor Rogers and Rule 5 Draft selections Paul Campbell and Zach Pop.

Miami, which will have two off-days over the first nine dates of the schedule, will go with four starters and nine relievers to begin the season as part of a 13 pitcher/13 position-player roster breakdown. The Marlins optioned Sixto Sánchez to Triple-A Jacksonville, where the club's alternate training site is, after his delayed start to Grapefruit League action. He exited a sim game on Wednesday night after experiencing slight discomfort in his shoulder.

Below is the Marlins' 26-man roster to open the season.

Catcher (2): Jorge Alfaro, Chad Wallach
This is a pivotal season for Alfaro, who received a vote of confidence from the organization before Spring Training began for his offseason work. He termed it a wakeup call when Wallach started in the postseason over him. The 27-year-old Alfaro never got going in 2020, missing time last spring with a left oblique strain and then the first month of the season with COVID-19. In his first year with the Marlins in '19, he was near-league average with a 94 OPS+ in 130 games.

First base (2): Jesús Aguilar, Garrett Cooper
When the offseason began, the Marlins had to be flexible depending on the status of the universal designated hitter. Aguilar and Cooper -- both right-handed-hitting sluggers -- play first base. In 2020, Aguilar (.809 OPS, 117 OPS+ in 51 games) and Cooper (.853 OPS, 127 OPS+ in 34 games) posted similar numbers. Aguilar will be the club's primary first baseman. Cooper, who slashed .425/.452/.700 this spring, should see time at first and the corner-outfield spots to spell Corey Dickerson and Adam Duvall. In an ideal world, Miami would have both Cooper and Aguilar in the lineup at the same time to be the DH. Miami believes there will be enough playing time to go around in a long season.

Second base (2): Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jon Berti
Through the first two weeks of Grapefruit League play, neither Chisholm nor Isan Díaz distanced himself from the other in the second-base competition. After kicking things off with a leadoff homer in Miami's spring opener, Chisholm then went 1-for-17 with seven strikeouts. Chisholm made a strong push in the stretch run, going 9-for-23 with seven runs, two homers, four RBIs, four walks, six strikeouts and four stolen bases. Chisholm has an electrifying blend of speed and power, not to mention an infectious personality. Berti best serves the club as a super-utility player, but he will be a nice right-handed complement to Chisholm.

Third base (1): Brian Anderson
Anderson, who turns 28 in May, led all National League East third basemen in WAR in 2020. He was named a Gold Glove Award finalist for the first time after staying at the hot corner rather than bouncing back and forth from third base and the outfield. Over his past 185 games, Anderson has a slash line of .259/.343/.467 with 31 homers, 104 RBIs, an .810 OPS and a 115 OPS+. He has proven to be a potent middle-of-the-order threat in Miami's lineup. Though Anderson struck out 17 times and walked just once in Grapefruit League play, the Marlins aren't concerned because his track record speaks for itself.

Shortstop (1): Miguel Rojas
The ballclub's unofficial captain enters the final year of his contract, with Chisholm waiting in the wings. Rojas, who turned 32 earlier in camp, was named a Gold Glove Award finalist in 2020 and continued to improve with the bat. He slashed .304/.392/.496 with an .888 OPS in 40 games last season. Rojas picked it up at the plate during the last week of spring, knocking two homers while finding his pull swing.

Outfield (5): Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte, Adam Duvall, Magneuris Sierra, Lewis Brinson
The all-veteran outfield returns Dickerson and Marte in left and center, respectively, with Duvall taking over right and hitting cleanup when Cooper is not in the lineup. From 2019-20, Duvall compiled an .852 OPS and a .545 slugging percentage for the Braves. With the club turning to 13 pitchers via four starters and nine relievers, that left room on the roster for both left-handed-hitting Sierra and right-handed-hitting Brinson to be the fourth and fifth natural outfielders. Sierra, who is out of options, can play all three outfield positions, and he showcases game-changing speed on the bases. Berti and Cooper also will see outfield reps.

Starting pitchers (4): Sandy Alcantara, Pablo López, Elieser Hernandez, Trevor Rogers
Alcantara and López front a young but talented rotation, with each member 25 years old or younger. Before his 2020 season was cut short by a right lat strain, Hernandez posted a 1.01 WHIP. Rogers, who recorded the second-most strikeouts (29) in Spring Training in 19 innings, experienced ups and downs upon his callup last season after just five Double-A starts to his name. As previously mentioned, Sánchez was scheduled to get more time at the alternate training site. Right-hander Nick Neidert, who had been coming on in relief on days Sánchez started, is an option to join the rotation when it adds a starter. So is rookie lefty Daniel Castano.

Relievers (9): Anthony Bass, Yimi García, Dylan Floro, Richard Bleier, John Curtiss, Adam Cimber, Ross Detwiler, Paul Campbell, Zach Pop
Bass, who paced the Blue Jays in saves in 2020, signed a multiyear deal over the offseason. He will be the primary closer, but the Marlins are confident García can step up and get the job done on nights Bass isn't available. Miami hopes to use Floro in high-leverage situations after acquiring him from the Dodgers. Curtiss, like Floro, pitched in last fall's World Series. Miami has flexibility in its relief corps, as most can pitch multiple frames. In the event of a short start, Campbell will be called upon to eat innings.