If the first two games are any indication, the Miami Marlins are set to make waves on the basepaths this season.
Sure, two games is a small slice of the 162-game pie. But Miami's penchant for stealing bases isn't new-they ranked seventh in MLB last season. Early buzz this spring hinted at a more aggressive approach, and it's starting to show.
The chatter mostly focused on the usual speedsters like Xavier Edwards, who’s eyeing a 40-plus steal season, and Otto Lopez and Agustin Ramirez, both aiming for 20/20 seasons. Then there's Jakob Marsee, ready to unleash his speed in his first full year.
But here's the twist: it's not just the usual suspects making noise. Xavier Edwards hasn't even swiped a bag yet. Meanwhile, Lopez, Ramirez, and Marsee have, joined by unexpected contributors Owen Caissie and Griffin Conine.
Could the Marlins have a surprise 20/20 contender? Could they lead the majors in steals this year? It's early days, but the signs are promising.
After two games, the Marlins sit second in MLB steals with five, just behind the Brewers' eight. Last year, they were seventh and nearly 60 steals off the lead. This year, they seem determined to close that gap.
Looking at the unexpected base stealers, last season showed that speed isn't the only factor. Josh Naylor swiped 30 bases despite an average sprint speed of 24.5 feet per second.
Caissie clocked in at a brisk 27.9 ft/sec on his first career steal, just above league average. In today's MLB, with new base-stealing rules, that’s enough to make a difference.
Even Juan Soto, slower than both Caissie and Conine, pulled off similar feats last year.
While Soto is a generational talent, the Marlins' newfound aggressiveness could make for an exciting season on the bases. If the first games are any indication, they're ready to run wild.