Miami Marlins’ Opening Day roster is almost set. Here’s who should be among the 26

The 2024 MLB season is finally here.

And outside of finalizing a couple spots in the bullpen, the Miami Marlins’ Opening Day roster is all but set for when they begin the season on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. at loanDepot park.

Here’s a quick, position-by-position breakdown of the Marlins’ projected 26-man roster and what to expect from the group as Miami tries to build on a 2023 season in which it made an improbable trip to the playoffs.

Catchers (2)

The players: Christian Bethancourt, Nick Fortes

The Marlins acquired Bethancourt in an offseason trade with the Cleveland Guardians and has already earned the respect of the pitching staff. Fortes enters his second full MLB season.

First base (1)

The player: Josh Bell

The switch-hitting Bell hit .270 with an .818 OPS, 11 home runs, 26 RBI and 26 runs scored over 53 games after being acquired at the 2023 trade deadline and exercised his $16.5 million player option to remain with the team in 2024. He’ll split time between first base and designated hitter.

Second base (1)

The player: Luis Arraez

Arraez last season became the first player in MLB history to win a batting title in consecutive seasons in different leagues. He’ll once again be Miami’s tablesetter.

Shortstop (1)

The player: Tim Anderson

Anderson is coming off his worst season as a big leaguer, but has the tools and the drive to bounce back and lengthen Miami’s lineup.

Third base (1)

The player: Jake Burger

Burger found a balance between his natural power and hitting for average after being dealt to Miami at the trade deadline, hitting .303 with an .860 OPS, nine home runs and 13 doubles while cutting down his strikeout rate to just 21.7 percent (down from 31.6 percent in his first 88 games of the season with the White Sox). Burger will also see time at first base when Bell is the designated hitter.

Outfield (4)

The players: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Bryan De La Cruz, Avisail Garcia, Jesus Sanchez

Chisholm enters his second season in center field. De La Cruz and Sanchez are coming off career years and want to take the next step to show they can be everyday players. And Garcia has a chip on his shoulder after two years of injuries and underperforming to begin his Marlins tenure.

Utility (3)

The players: Jon Berti, Nick Gordon, Vidal Brujan

Berti, originally penciled in as the Marlins’ starting shortstop before they signed Anderson, reverts back to his do-it-all role, with a focus on third base. Gordon could see time at all three outfield spots and second base. Brujan can play second, shortstop, third base and the corner outfield spots.

Starting pitchers (5)

The players: Jesus Luzardo, A.J. Puk, Ryan Weathers, Trevor Rogers, Max Meyer

Yeah… this isn’t what the Marlins thought their rotation would look like when spring training began. A group that was already without ace Sandy Alcantara (Tommy John surgery) is also without righty Eury Perez (elbow inflammation), Braxton Garrett (shoulder) and Edward Cabrera (shoulder) in the short-term to start the season. That said, this showcases Miami’s starting pitching depth, which will be tested early. Luzardo is the Opening Day starter and has three fellow lefties in Puk, Weathers and Rogers following him. Meyer, returning from Tommy John surgery, rounds out the rotation to begin the season.

Relief pitchers (8)

The players: Tanner Scott, Andrew Nardi, Anthony Bender, Sixto Sanchez, George Soriano, Bryan Hoeing, plus two of Declan Cronin, Vladimir Gutierrez and Anthony Maldonado

Scott, Nardi and Bender will be the Marlins’ high-leverage pitchers. Hoeing will be a multi-inning reliever. Sanchez and Soriano can go multiple innings or pitch in high-leverage situations. Those six are locked in.

The final two spots are still being finalized, but Cronin, Gutierrez and Maldonado are the three main contenders. Cronin and Gutierrez (a non-roster invitee) can both provide length. Maldonado, Miami’s No. 19 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, has been a closer in the minor-leagues the past two years.

And this doesn’t factor in two other relievers who are expected to play key roles in Miami’s bullpen that are starting on the injured list in JT Chargois (neck spasms) and Calvin Faucher (shoulder). Nor does it include Huascar Brazoban, who never reported to spring training due to visa issues.