Miami Marlins pitchers Eury Perez (L), Sandy Alcantara (C) and Robinson Pina practice at spring training Monday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Alex Butler/UPI
JUPITER, Fla., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Despite another major roster facelift, Miami Marlins owner Bruce Sherman and new manager Clayton McCullough say they are happy to play the underdog role and plan to win a lot more than critics believe in 2025.
Optimism infused the combed dirt diamonds of the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium campus when the Marlins' full squad reported for spring training Monday in Jupiter, Fla. Miami, which went 62-100 last season, is projected to be among MLB's worst teams in 2025.
"I think we are going to win a lot more games than you think we are going to win this year," said Sherman, who oversees the franchise with the lowest-projected payroll ($70 million) in baseball.
"I'm excited about it. There is going to be more hustle, more speed and more defense than we've seen over the last few years. I want the fans to get to know the players to give them the opportunity."
The jersey numbers once worn by All-Stars Luis Arraez, Josh Bell and other former Marlins standouts now adorn the backs of younger, up-and-coming players. Prospects acquired from the trades of the Marlins' former stars are competing for spots on the team's 40-man roster. Players who were scattered around the diamonds Monday ranged were aged from 16 into their mid-30s.
"I try to not get too caught up on what is being said," McCullough said. "We are going to focus on our building and what we have going on inside and what we need to do to try to get better.
"Let people not talk about us. We will more than be happy to play the underdog role and just go and do our thing and not worry so much about what people's expectations are of us."
The Marlins made the playoffs twice over the last five seasons, but lost at least 93 games in each of the other three campaigns during that span. Their willingness to trade away stars for young talent helped them strengthen their minor league system. The Marlins also have three prospects who rank inside the Top 100 in baseball.
Matt Mervis, Otto Lopez, Xavier Edwards, Jonah Bride, Eric Wagaman, Connor Norby, Kyle Stowers, Dane Myers, Jesus Sanchez, Derek Hill, Nick Fortes, Liam Hicks and Javier Sanoja are among the players expected to be included on the Marlins' opening day roster, but battles in training camp could cloud that outlook.
Former Cy Young Award winning Sandy Alcantara is on track to be the Marlins' opening day starter after missing all of last season and part of 2023 because of an elbow injury. The Marlins' rotation also could include Cal Quantrill, Edward Cabrera, Ryan Weathers and Max Meyer.
Sherman, who led the ownership that purchased the Marlins in 2017, said surge in front-office hirings, innovative approach to coaching and other investments is driving his optimism about future of the franchise. The Marlins hired 100 people for their front office ahead of the 2025 season, more than doubling the previous total.
"We are bringing incredible skillsets to the organization that haven't been here before," Sherman said. "We made a significant investment not only in the front office staff, but in technology.
"We've also done a tremendous amount to improve the ability of the players to perform. ... We are putting tremendous amount of resources into loanDepot park (Marlins home stadium).
"We are going to have the second-biggest weight training facility in all of baseball. Our training doesn't stop at the major league level. We've added levels to the organization we've never had before."
Because of the wide-open nature of the Marlins' roster competition, players must mesh quickly, but also fight against one another for jobs. That tension was broken somewhat Monday with clubhouse Ping-Pong and basketball games, but the dog days of spring training will stoke the fire.
"Everyone is on the same page and going the right direction, so I think its a good thing," Wagaman said.
Part of the innovation the Marlins injected into this spring camp includes the use of equipment that can evaluate pitch shape, velocity and more, allowing hurlers to fine-tune offerings. The Marlins also allow players to work in different positions defensively, including pitchers fielding balls as shortstops.
"We've really invested in the things that we need to build the foundation of this organization," Marlins general manager Peter Bendix said. "This foundation is imperative for us to have the success that year over year we know we can get to. That we know every fan wants. The foundation is a really key part.
"Here today, in this spring training, we are already seeing the dividends of that."
The Marlins will host the St. Louis Cardinals in their spring training opener Saturday in Jupiter. They will host the Pittsburgh Pirates in their first regular-season matchup March 27 in Miami.
"It's going to be a group I think people are going to be excited to watch play," Norby said. "We are going to play hard. We are put up tough at-bats. We are going to get tough outs and we are going to play defense well.
"We are going to pitch well. We are going to do everything that people think we can't do and we are going to do it at a higher level."
