MIAMI -- For the first time since their 2021 season finale, the Marlins carried three catchers on their 26-player roster: Nick Fortes, Liam Hicks and Agustín Ramírez.
“It'll sort itself out,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “All of them will be in the mix. … It will be just kind of mixing and matching and moving around. They're all going to get opportunities to start and within games as well.”
Fortes returned from the 10-day injured list to start behind the dish for Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the Athletics at loanDepot park. He went 1-for-3 from the seventh spot in the order and caught right-hander Edward Cabrera, who allowed just two runs over a season-high-tying 5 2/3 innings.
In a key play during the A’s two-run second, Dane Myers fired a 94.1 mph throw from center field that took Fortes down the third-base line, where he dived to tag Gio Urshela for the final out of the frame.
Here are things to take into account as the catching situation unfolds:
Fortes is coming back from injury
It was a short rehab assignment consisting of back-to-back starts with Triple-A Jacksonville. After serving as the designated hitter on Thursday, he caught seven innings on Friday -- albeit in a game that featured a nine-run fourth.
Before his left oblique strain, Fortes typically started two of every three games. Don’t be surprised if Fortes is eased back in returning from an injury that cost him 20 contests.
“It feels good,” Fortes said pregame. “It just feels good to be feeling well and be able to swing a bat, no discomfort or anything like that. So I'm super thankful for the training staff to write me out such a great program, and honestly, got me back pretty quickly.”
Hicks is a Rule 5 Draft pick
The 25-year-old has to remain on the active roster all season or be offered back to his original club (Rangers).
Through his 17 MLB starts, Hicks is tied for the third-most blocks above average (4) among qualifying catchers. His pop time (1.99 seconds, 33rd percentile) and framing (minus-1, 27th percentile) have room for growth. Having never played above Double-A, Hicks is learning about intangibles such as body language and leadership at the highest level.
On the offensive side, since opening his career 0-for-8, Hicks is batting .278/.355/.389 over his past 63 plate appearances.
Ramírez is also a work in progress
McCullough said the organization feels as though this is the “best place” for the No. 4 prospect to continue his defensive development.
After a historic opening to his big league career, he is 1-for-26 with five strikeouts, one extra-base hit and no walks.
No. 9 prospect Joe Mack is in the pipeline
Whatever happens with Ramírez affects Mack, who earned a promotion to Triple-A upon Ramírez’s callup. Mack has been raking since moving up a level (.858 OPS in 10 games).
The main reason for Mack beginning his season with Double-A Pensacola -- where he received MVP honors and a Minor League Gold Glove Award in 2024 -- is because the organization wanted him and Ramírez to see everyday action at catcher.
“Joe Mack's an unbelievable talent, really excited about the prospect of him coming up in the future and looking forward to that,” catching coach Joe Singley said. “He's still got some meat left on the bone, too, believe it or not, so we're excited about the potential there.
“He's getting off great throws. He's swinging it. Defensively he's great, and he's doing a great job working with the pitching staff and the coaching staff there. Every day, he's going to continue to sharpen the ax and keep working to get better. But there's definitely a lot of excitement around him.”
Miami can mix and match
By keeping three backstops on the roster, the club has the flexibility to pinch-hit for one based on matchups. Fortes and Ramírez are right-handed bats, while Hicks is a lefty hitter.
On Sunday, Ramírez went hitless in four at-bats as the DH from the second spot in the order. Hicks was on the bench.
Would Miami consider playing one of them at first base to remain in the lineup? If that were the case, it would take at-bats away from Matt Mervis and Eric Wagaman.
“I don't think we foresee that as a plan right now,” McCullough said. “I think we'll have these guys between the catching and DH spot and coming into games.”