5 prospects among Marlins' 24 non-roster invitees
MIAMI -- The Marlins on Monday announced 24 non-roster invitees to big league camp, headlined by five of their Top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline's 2024 list: left-hander Robby Snelling (No. 6), catcher Joe Mack (No. 10), outfielders Andrew Pintar (No. 21) and Jakob Marsee (No. 22) and infielder Jacob Berry (No. 24).
Joining them will be right-handers Josh Ekness, Woo-Suk Go, Robinson Pi?a, Matthew Pushard, Christian Roa, Austin Roberts and Freddy Tarnok; lefties Justin King, Patrick Monteverde, John Rooney, Josh Simpson and Dale Stanavich; backstops Bennett Hostetler and Ryan Ignoffo; infielders Nathan Martorella and Ronny Simon; and outfielders Albert Almora Jr., Heriberto Hern¨¢ndez and Troy Johnston.
Among the top prospects invited, all but Berry will be at their first MLB camp for the Marlins. Snelling (Tanner Scott/Bryan Hoeing), Pintar (A.J. Puk) and Marsee (Luis Arraez) came over in midseason trades, as did first baseman Martorella and Go (Arraez).
After completing his 2024 campaign with a strong start at Triple-A Jacksonville, it¡¯s a matter of when ¨C not if ¨C Snelling will make his MLB debut in 2025. He was recently named MLB Pipeline¡¯s 10th-best left-handed pitching prospect. Mack, who earned Double-A Pensacola MVP and a Minor League Gold Glove Award, is likely to start the season at Triple-A. Pintar followed up his showing at Double-A with a solid performance in the Arizona Fall League. But Berry, the sixth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, has yet to find his swing in pro ball (.676 OPS in 273 games). He concluded his season at Triple-A.
Miami has brought in seven offseason acquisitions, led by Hialeah, Fla., native Almora. In seven MLB seasons with the Cubs, Mets and Reds from 2016-22, the 30-year-old veteran produced a slash line of .259/.300/.383 with 33 homers and 163 RBIs in 600 games. Almora has not appeared in the Majors since.
While the 40-man roster is full, there is expected to be plenty of competition to decide not only jobs but also Opening Day roster spots because of Miami¡¯s youth and inexperience.
Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12, while position players follow suit five days later.