Joe Mack’s bat keeps giving the Marlins reasons to pay attention, and Sunday added another entry to a rookie season that’s starting to stand out in franchise history.
The Miami catcher went 2-for-2 in the game, helped push the Marlins to a win that secured another series, and drove in the team’s first run with a fifth-inning home run. That blast also moved him into rare company: Mack now has 11 home runs, tying Hanley Ramirez for the most by a Marlins rookie in a single season.
That puts him on a short list of first-year power hitters in team history. The Marlins have had rookies leave their mark with the bat before, but Mack is now right there with names like Dan Uggla, Giancarlo Stanton, Agustín Ramirez, Miguel Cabrera and Harold Ramirez. The full list of Marlins rookies with 11 or more homers reads: Dan Uggla with 26, Giancarlo Stanton with 22, Agustín Ramirez with 21, Miguel Cabrera with 12, Harold Ramirez with 11 and Joe Mack with 11.
For a 23-year-old who has brought energy, urgency and professionalism to the job, the power has been the surprise. The expectation was that Mack would be a useful player. What the Marlins have gotten is something more explosive than that, especially with the way he’s handled the second half.
There’s still more to chase. With two months left, Mack is 10 homers away from tying teammate Agustin Ramirez, who is currently in the minors. He also still has a chance to climb into the 20-to-25 homer range by season’s end, which would be a major statement for a player just getting established.
The Marlins front office is already looking ahead, and an extension is part of the conversation. Around the league, teams are locking up young players early, and the Marlins appear to be considering the same path with Mack. The feeling is that his value only goes up from here, especially as his defense improves and his at-bats keep maturing.
There’s also a bigger team angle here. Miami is trying to get rolling again after a rough July, and Mack could be part of the push toward a better August.
Otto Lopez was the club’s first-half MVP, but the second half may be more open-ended. Griffin Conine has also been producing, and the Marlins believe anyone in the lineup can catch fire.
Mack’s numbers reflect the growth: a .245/.299/.748 OPS with 48 hits in 67 games.
Miami’s next challenge comes Tuesday, when the Marlins open a three-game road series against the Atlanta Braves.
In Other News...
Marlins Deadline Approach Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Expected
The Marlins deadline picture is starting to take shape, and it is not centered on the biggest name in the room. Miami is still weighing whether to move pieces before the trade deadline, but the most active conversations appear to be around catcher Liam Hicks and first baseman-outfielder Kyle Stowers, two players who could draw interest from clubs looking for help without paying top-tier prices.
Hicks has already popped up in talks with teams such as the Rays and Red Sox, while the Yankees are not involved there. Sandy Alcantara remains the headline asset on paper, but Miami has made it clear he is not expected to be moved before the deadline, which leaves the Marlins sorting through a trickier middle ground than a simple teardown or a full stand pat. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Just Made A Catcher Move Fans Will Want Explained
The Marlins have made a notable move behind the plate, sending catcher Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays in a deal that brings back three prospects: infielder Brayden Taylor, infielder Adrian Santana and right-hander Jacob Kisting. Hicks was under team control through 2030 and had been producing a strong 2026 season, so this is the kind of trade that naturally gets attention from a fan base trying to understand where the organization is headed next.
Miami is betting on upside in the return, with all three players sitting among Tampa Bays top 30 prospects before the deal. Hicks, meanwhile, gives the Rays a catcher they view as ready to handle a bigger role, while the Marlins add more young talent to a system that keeps trying to build depth and flexibility for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Catching Need Just Put A New Marlins Trade Target In Play
The Marlins have spent plenty of the summer sorting through trade chatter around their young, controllable bats, and that conversation has only grown louder as the deadline nears. First baseman/outfielder Kyle Stowers has steadied himself since June, while catcher-first baseman Liam Hicks has given Miami a productive option on both sides of the ball, the kind of player other clubs can justify chasing because of the years of control still attached.
Miami is expected to listen on a range of possibilities, and the catching market has become especially interesting with teams looking for help behind the plate. That has pushed Hicks into a more prominent spot in the rumor mill alongside Stowers, with several clubs keeping tabs on the Marlins situation and weighing whether the ask makes sense for a player who could fit a contender's roster for more than just a few months. [Read more 🡒]