Marlins Catchers Set for WBC, Creating Opportunity and Challenge in Spring Camp
JUPITER, Fla. - The Marlins are about to get a little thinner behind the plate - but not without good reason.
Eight players from Miami’s 40-man roster are headed to the World Baseball Classic next month, including the club’s top two catchers, Agustín Ramírez and Liam Hicks. That’s a big shift for a team trying to build chemistry and evaluate talent during Spring Training. But it’s also a golden opportunity for some of the organization’s up-and-coming backstops to step into the spotlight.
Let’s break down what this means for the Marlins - both in terms of who’s leaving, and who’s stepping up.
Ramírez and Hicks Headed to the WBC
Ramírez will depart camp on February 28 to join the Dominican Republic squad in Santo Domingo, where they’ll play a pair of exhibition games against the Tigers before heading to Miami for pool play. Hicks follows a few days later, leaving on March 1 to join Team Canada in Clearwater for tune-ups against the Phillies and Blue Jays before flying to Puerto Rico for Pool A action.
That timeline gives both catchers about a week of Grapefruit League games before they shift gears to international competition. In the meantime, the Marlins will be adjusting on the fly.
Manager Clayton McCullough isn’t changing the build-up plan for his catchers just because two of them are stepping away for the Classic. The approach, he said, is still about pacing - alternating days, managing workloads, and making sure everyone’s ramping up the right way.
“I already told them it’s kind of going every other day until you go,” McCullough said. “And then the same thing with Joe [Mack] and the other catchers.
Joe’s not going to go catch five days in a row once they leave. It’s still about what we feel is the best build-up for each guy heading into the season.”
Next Man Up: Joe Mack and the Backup Brigade
With Ramírez and Hicks temporarily out, the door swings wide open for Joe Mack - the club’s No. 62 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline - and a handful of other catchers to get meaningful reps.
Mack had a taste of big-league camp last spring, logging 19 plate appearances across 10 games as a non-roster invitee. This year, he’s on the 40-man roster and poised to take on a bigger role during the WBC window. He’ll be joined by Minor Leaguers Brian Navarreto (who made his MLB debut in 2025), Ryan Ignoffo (Double-A), and Bennett Hostetler (Triple-A).
That group will be tasked with handling a wide range of arms - from established starters to bullpen hopefuls - and building rapport in the process. For players like Ignoffo and Hostetler, it’s a rare chance to get early-game action and work with pitchers they haven’t caught much before.
“Obviously, the two guys are going to the WBC, so [we’ve] got to have somebody fill in,” Mack said. “So hopefully I can get as many opportunities as they’ll give me.
I’m looking forward to this year, and I’m looking forward to facing all the best guys, all the stars, as they say. It’s going to be really cool.”
Building Chemistry Before Departure
Until they leave camp, Ramírez and Hicks are making every pitch count - literally. They’re using bullpen sessions, pitch design work, and live batting practice to get reacquainted with the Marlins’ returning arms and start learning the tendencies of the new additions.
That familiarity matters. In 2025, Ramírez and Hicks each spent time catching Miami’s projected rotation.
Ramírez caught Sandy Alcantara 11 times and Eury Pérez 10 times. Hicks worked with Alcantara on six occasions and Pérez seven.
Both also logged time with Max Meyer - Ramírez seven games, Hicks three.
Hicks even caught lefty Braxton Garrett three times this offseason as Garrett works his way back from Tommy John surgery. With new arms like Chris Paddack, Pete Fairbanks, and John King joining the mix, the clock is ticking for the catchers to get up to speed.
Hicks, who made the 2025 Opening Day roster as a Rule 5 Draft pick, is also expected to get some reps at first base before heading to Team Canada. But for now, his focus is squarely on the Marlins.
“It’s tough to look ahead right now,” Hicks said. “Obviously, I think everyone’s kind of in the same boat.
You don’t have much time to get to know those [Classic] guys. But once I’m there, I’ll focus on that.
Right now, it’s all Miami, because we’ve got some guys coming back that I need to get comfortable with as well.”
Big Stage, Bigger Opportunity
For both Ramírez and Hicks, the WBC isn’t just a detour - it’s a high-stakes proving ground. They’ll be playing in intense, playoff-like environments before the MLB season even begins. That kind of early exposure can only help sharpen their game.
Hicks is particularly eager to soak up knowledge from veterans like Russell Martin, James Paxton, Jameson Taillon, and Mike Soroka once he joins Team Canada. Ramírez, meanwhile, is hoping for a chance to catch his Marlins teammate Sandy Alcantara on the international stage - a full-circle moment if it happens.
For Ramírez, this spring is special for more than just the WBC. It’s his first as a big leaguer, and he’s soaking it all in.
“I have a lot of emotion, a lot of excitement, and I’m not thinking about, ‘Oh, it’s weird I’m leaving camp,’” Ramírez said. “I want to play.
I want to enjoy that moment. I’m excited I’m here, too, because it’s my first Spring Training [after making the big leagues].”
What It All Means
The Marlins will have to juggle a bit more than usual this spring, especially behind the plate. But that’s not a bad thing.
While Ramírez and Hicks chase international glory, the organization gets a closer look at its next wave of catching talent. And when the regular season rolls around, both veterans and prospects will be better for the experience.
It’s a balancing act - but one that could pay dividends all season long.