The Marlins are bringing catcher Agustin Ramirez back to the majors as they shuffle their roster in the wake of the deadline.
Kevin Barral of FishOnFirst reported that Ramirez will rejoin Miami, with the club also activating right-hander Josh Ekness from the 60-day injured list. Ekness is set to replace Dax Fulton in the bullpen.
In another move, the Marlins selected right-hander Jack Ralston’s contract. Ralston was optioned to Triple-A after the move, but he now fills one of Miami’s open spots on the 40-man roster.
Ramirez’s return comes with a clear opening at catcher and DH after Liam Hicks was traded to the Rays. Hicks had become a central part of the lineup, putting up a 119 wRC+ with 14 home runs.
He also leads the club in RBI and sits second on the team in runs scored this season. His breakout, combined with the rise of prospect Joe Mack, helped push Ramirez back to Triple-A in early May.
The 23-year-old had arrived in the big leagues with plenty of buzz after a strong rookie season. The key piece in the Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade hit 21 home runs and stole 16 bases in his first major league action.
Miami opened the 2026 season with Ramirez as an everyday option, splitting time between catcher and DH, but the bat never really got going. He hit just .663 OPS over 31 games.
Defense has been a major issue for Ramirez behind the plate, and it may still shape how the Marlins use him. He finished 2025 with -14 Defensive Runs Saved, then posted -4 DRS over 148 2/3 innings this year before the demotion.
While he did spend most of his time at Triple-A in the field, he logged 49 games at catcher and only 10 at DH. Mack’s reputation as a strong defender suggests that if Ramirez catches again in Miami, it will likely be in a limited role.
Ekness is back after missing June and July with a calf strain. He had already debuted this season and made six appearances before going down, allowing just one earned run. The results were solid, though the command and swing-and-miss numbers were less tidy: five walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
The Marlins held onto their high-leverage arms at the deadline, most notably Pete Fairbanks. They did move Lake Bachar to the Pirates and acquired Victor Vodnik from the Rockies. Ekness has one save this season, but he appears headed for middle relief.
Ralston’s addition is notable for another reason: it’s his first time on a 40-man roster. The 28-year-old was drafted by the Cardinals in 2018 and stayed in that organization until this season.
He chose minor league free agency over the winter, signed with Miami and turned in a strong year at Jacksonville, where he posted a 1.31 ERA and a 32% strikeout rate over 55 innings. The move puts him one step closer to the majors.
Fulton’s role had mostly been that of a long reliever. He worked 14 innings over six games for the big club and finished with a 4.50 ERA, average strikeout numbers and a 17.5% walk rate. He remains in his second minor league option year.
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