Here are 3 Marlins prospects who could be big leaguers in '25
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MIAMI -- The Marlins found pieces to build around after the second-half performances of Xavier Edwards, Jake Burger and Connor Norby. More could be in the pipeline.
Here are three rising prospects who are likely to arrive in 2025.
C/1B Agustin Ramirez
Until the Marlins added Ramirez (No. 3 prospect) in the Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade with the Yankees on July 27, the only catching prospect in Miami¡¯s Top 30 list was Double-A Pensacola¡¯s Joe Mack (No. 9).
At the big league level, Miami backstops combined for a .528 OPS -- second lowest in the Majors -- in 2024, although Nick Fortes showed improvement in the second half (.737 from .466). Christian Bethancourt and Ali S¨¢nchez came and went; 28-year-old rookie Jhonny Pereda ended the season as the backup.
In just his second full professional season, Ramirez moved up to Triple-A after batting .289/.372/.570 with 16 homers in 58 games at Double-A. He struggled in his first taste of the higher level, hitting .224/.328/.365 with four homers in 29 games before the trade. His numbers improved at Triple-A Jacksonville, where he slashed .262/.358/.447 with five homers in 39 games.
Per MLB Pipeline¡¯s scouting report, Ramirez¡¯s short right-handed stroke, bat speed and strength allow him to make consistent contact and produce impressive exit velocities. But his plate discipline needs work to tap into his raw power, as evidenced by 102 strikeouts and 61 walks in 126 games.
Ramirez, 23, is more of an offensive-minded catcher. MLB Pipeline¡¯s report went on to say he lacks agility and soft hands, so his receiving, framing and blocking all need work.
The Marlins are optimistic Ramirez can remain behind the dish, where he played 22 games following the trade. But he also saw nearly as much time at designated hitter (17). Ramirez did not appear at first, but that¡¯s another position he could wind up at. He already is on the 40-man roster.
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1B/3B Deyvison De Los Santos
It was an eventful year for De Los Santos (No. 4 prospect), who was selected by the Guardians in the Rule 5 Draft last December but returned to the D-backs in March before being dealt to the Marlins in the A.J. Puk trade on July 25.
All De Los Santos did in 2024 was lead Minor Leaguers in home runs (40), earning Top MLB Prospect in the Pacific Coast League for his first-half efforts at Triple-A Reno. According to MLB Pipeline, the 21-year-old De Los Santos¡¯ raw power and exit velocities rank among the best in the Minors; plus, he exhibits great bat speed and strength.
De Los Santos started the season at the Double-A level, posting a slash line of .372/.426/.696 with 14 homers in 38 games. Upon his promotion to Triple-A, he slashed .289/.338/.588 with 14 homers in 49 games. Following the trade, De Los Santos¡¯ numbers dipped to .240/.284/.459 with 12 homers in 50 games at Triple-A Jacksonville. His approach will need to be refined: He struck out 144 times and walked just 34 times in 137 combined games.
That power profile is lacking in Miami¡¯s lineup. The Marlins finished with the fourth-fewest homers (150) and fifth-lowest OPS (.678) in the Majors. Just three players who finished the season with the club -- Burger (29), Jes¨²s S¨¢nchez (18) and Jonah Bride (11) -- tallied double-digit homers.
Burger and Bride split first-base duties following the Trade Deadline, while Norby got everyday third-base reps to learn the position at the big league level. De Los Santos mainly played first base (108 games), followed by third (20) and designated hitter (10) in 2024. He doesn¡¯t have an immediate opening unless parts are moved.
De Los Santos will need to be added to the 40-man roster ahead of the deadline to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
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RHP Robby Snelling
As the centerpiece of the blockbuster trade with the Padres for Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing, Snelling (No. 5 prospect) improved once he joined Miami¡¯s organization. After compiling a 6.01 ERA in 16 starts for Double-A San Antonio, Snelling posted a 4.00 ERA in seven starts for Double-A Pensacola. In five of those outings, he gave up three earned runs or fewer.
The Marlins, who have been aggressive in promoting prospects, sent Snelling to Triple-A Jacksonville to finish his season. He allowed one earned run over six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk in his lone start there.
Though the 39th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft isn¡¯t on the 40-man roster, if he continues on this trajectory, Snelling will provide high-upside upper-level starting-pitching depth in the case of injuries sometime in 2025. He turns 21 on Dec. 19.