Miami Marlins Top 10: Miggy, Hanley and José
By Tab Bamford
The Marlins are undergoing another rebuild this season, and sit light years away from their world championship years. The South Florida team won World Series titles in 1997 and 2003, claiming both within the franchise’s first 10 years of existence. Latinos figured prominently on both of the Marlins’ World Series teams. Indeed, from its early days and at the franchise’s highest point, the Miami-based team has enjoyed the contributions of many talented Latinos — fitting for a city transformed not only by Cuban migration, but that of South Americans and, in the aftermath of Hurricane María, Puerto Ricans.
Luis Castillo was a mainstay at second for both World Series winners. While his double-play partner changed from ’97 to ’03, both were Latino: Alex González (’97) and Edgar Renteria (’03). Bobby Bonilla and Moíses Alou paced the 1997 Marlin attack. Mike Lowell was a key contributor to the offense of the 2003 team. Who can forget Livan Hernández’s pitching performance in 1997? And then there was Ivan “Pudge” Rodríguez behind the plate in 2003, remembered for hanging onto the ball after being barreled into by J.T. Snow.
Talented Latinos, whether a fresh-faced Miguel Cabrera just breaking into the starting lineup or veterans like Bonilla and Rodríguez, have been key contributors to the Marlins. But where do they rank? Who comes out on top?
This season, La Vida Baseball is celebrating the greatest Latino players in the history of all 30 organizations in the major leagues. So far, we have looked at the top 10 players (based on WAR) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Colorado Rockies. Now we head south – to South Beach.
So which ten players made the Marlins Top 10? Let’s take a look.
Miami Marlins
1. Hanley Ramírez
26.9 WAR, 7 years with Miami, Rookie of the Year, 3-time All-Star, 2 Silver Sluggers, one batting title
Dominican Republic
Hanley was traded to Miami in the deal that sent another player on this list, Mike Lowell, to Boston. He proceeded to become the face of the Marlins, hitting 263 home runs and scoring more than 100 runs in four consecutive seasons (2006-09). He was runner-up to Albert Pujols for the National League MVP in 2009 when he led the league with a .342 batting average.
2. Luis Castillo
22.5 WAR, 10 years with Miami, 3-time All-Star, three Gold Glove Awards
Dominican Republic
Castillo was one of the elite speed merchants in the National League while with the Marlins between 1996 and 2005, during which time he stole 281 bases. He led the league in steals twice, with 62 in 2000 and 48 in 2002. Castillo was also a critical piece of the Marlins’ 2003 World Series championship.
3. Miguel Cabrera
18.3 WAR, 5 years with Miami, 4-time All-Star, 2 Silver Sluggers
Venezuela
The world was introduced to a baby-faced Miggy when the 20-year-old burst onto the scene late in the season and helped the Marlins win the 2003 World Series. In the four years that followed, Cabrera established himself as one of the best hitters in the game. He drove in at least 112 runs in all four full seasons he spent with the Marlins and hit 138 home runs.
4. Mike Lowell
14.2 WAR, 7 years with Miami, 3-time All-Star, one Gold Glove Award
Puerto Rico
Lowell was exactly the third baseman the Marlins needed in 1999 when he was acquired from the Yankees. Over the seven seasons that followed, Lowell drove in more than 90 runs in four consecutive seasons (2000-03). He and Hanley combined to hit 291 home runs for the Marlins.
5. Marcell Ozuna
14.1 WAR, 5 years with Miami, 2-time All-Star, 1 Gold Glove Award, 1 Silver Slugger
Dominican Republic
Ozuna had his best year in the majors in 2017, winning his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards after hitting 37 home runs and driving in 124 runs. Now going into his age-27 season, Ozuna figures to have a bright future ahead of him… in St. Louis.
6. Aníbal Sánchez
14.1 WAR, 7 years with Miami, 44-45, 676 strikeouts
Venezuela
The Marlins acquired Sánchez in the same deal that brought Hanley Ramírez to Miami. He showed up in Miami in 2006 as a 22-year-old and appeared in 18 games – and won 10. His no-hitter of the Diamondbacks during his rookie season was an incredible performance.
7. José Fernández
12.8 WAR, 4 years with Miami, 2-time All-Star, 38-17, 589 strikeouts
Cuba
What could have been? In four short years, Fernández accumulated the fourth-highest WAR among all pitchers in Marlins’ history and overcame Tommy John surgery to become one of the most dominant starting pitchers in the National League. He appeared in two All-Star Games with the Marlins, but sadly not the one played in his home park in 2017 — he was killed in a high-speed boating accident in September 2016.
8. Ricky Nolasco
10.9 WAR, 8 years with Miami, 81-72, 1,001 strikeouts
Mexico/USA
Acquired when the Marlins traded Juan Pierre to the Cubs, Nolasco made his debut in 2006 and won 11 games his first year in the majors. His 81 wins and 1,001 strikeouts are still the all-time best marks for the franchise. Nolasco established career highs in wins (15) and innings pitched (212.1) in 2008.
9. Martín Prado
7.4 WAR, 3 years with Miami, .292 BA
Venezuela
The Marlins acquired Prado from the New York Yankees along with David Phelps in exchange for three prospects. The Venezuelan has provided a solid bat while manning third base for Miami. He accumulated his 7.4 WAR in just over two seasons. One can expect Prado to climb further up the Marlins’ rankings as he bounces back from injury in 2018.
10. A.J. Ramos
6.5 WAR, 6 years with Miami, 1-time All-Star, 92 saves
Mexico/USA
It’s always fun when a closer makes the top 10, and Ramos earns a spot in the Marlins’ list after piling up 92 saves in three years. Ramos ranks fourth in club history with 175 games finished and represented the Marlins in the 2016 All-Star Game.
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