Projecting the Marlins' Opening Day roster

There are fewer than two weeks until the Marlins break camp and head 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 second stab at what Miami¡¯s Opening Day roster might look like:

Catcher (2): Nick Fortes, Liam Hicks
Fortes, the incumbent, and Hicks, the Rule 5 Draft pick, have started nearly all of Miami¡¯s Grapefruit League games. Both have caught ace Sandy Alcantara, who threw exclusively to former backstop Jacob Stallings from 2022-23.

First baseman (1): Matt Mervis
While this could wind up being a platoon between the left-handed-hitting Mervis and the right-handed-hitting Jonah Bride, the latter offers more positional flexibility with his ability to play third base. Acquired from the Cubs in a trade, Mervis has looked the part of a change-of-scenery candidate with three homers and two doubles.

Second baseman (1): Otto Lopez
Manager Clayton 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 more frequently of late, including two homers on Tuesday.

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 joins Edwards as possible franchise cornerstones hoping for better defensive results while learning a new position. After showing a penchant for opposite-field power, Norby has been working on being a bit flatter with his bat path so he can send pitches to left, too.

Outfielders (3): Kyle Stowers, Derek Hill, Jes¨²s S¨¢nchez
Miami will likely play matchups with this unit because of its mix of left-handed and right-handed bats. Stowers and S¨¢nchez would be the corner outfielders and Hill the center fielder. Griffin Conine and Stowers have similar profiles, so this should come down to the wire. Conine collected three hits, including a homer, and four RBIs on Tuesday. Stowers has shown improved plate discipline by walking seven times in 24 plate appearances. Hill has been a camp standout with two homers.

Designated hitter (1): Jonah Bride
This role will likely rotate starters needing a break from the field or taking advantage of a platoon situation. Or it could go to Bride if Mervis produces on offense and is a better defender. 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, Graham Pauley
The bench will be determined in large part by what happens in the outfield and at DH. Myers can play all three outfield spots and provides speed on the bases. Wagaman can bounce between corner infield and outfield. McCullough called him an intriguing combination of plate discipline and impact. The last spot might come down to Pauley and No. 15 prospect Javier Sanoja. Pauley is a lefty bat, which might give him the edge since Myers and Wagaman are righties. Sanoja plays more positions than Pauley, but Myers would be the backup outfielder, Wagaman the backup corner infielder and Lopez the backup shortstop

Starting pitchers (5): RHP Sandy Alcantara, RHP Edward Cabrera, LHP Ryan Weathers, RHP Cal Quantrill, RHP Max Meyer
Alcantara will be the Opening Day starter, but the order following him has yet to be announced. After receiving praise for his offseason work of adding a sweeper and a sinker, Meyer appears to have won the final rotation spot. Righty Valente Bellozo has been piggybacking in games and Miami already optioned No. 13 prospect Adam Mazur.

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
Is there a chance the Marlins go with an all-righty bullpen? Andrew Nardi continues to experience setbacks with his back injury and Anthony Veneziano, the only healthy 40-man southpaw, has been inconsistent this spring. McCullough has stated his confidence in the club¡¯s righties being able to neutralize the lefty bats. It might not come to that if non-roster invitees Josh Simpson, a former prospect, and John Rooney make strong cases the rest of the way.