Highs, Lows, and What's Next for the Fish

Season Overview:

The 2025 season marked the Marlins' 33rd in Major League Baseball. Under first-year manager Clayton McCullough, Miami improved significantly, finishing with a 79-83 record and placing third in the NL East division. That was a marked rebound from their 62-100 finish in 2024. Despite the improvement, they were eliminated from postseason contention on September 25, after a 1-0 loss to the Phillies. On the final day of the season, they knocked the New York Mets out of the playoffs by defeating them 4-0. A symbolic moment given Miami's underdog status.

Offense & Key Contributors

Xavier Edwards led the team in hits, posting a batting average of .279. Kyle Stowers paced the Marlins in home runs, with 25 long balls. Otto Lopez was the team RBI leader with 77. A number of rookies and younger players got meaningful opportunities, including Heriberto Hernandez, who debuted in 2025 and finished with a respectable slash line. Overall, the offense showed flashes of potency particularly in late-game comebacks and series wins but lacked consistent depth to sustain momentum throughout the entire season.

Pitching & Defense

The rotation had its bright spots, though injuries and inconsistency hampered full stability. Eury Perez returned from injury and notched his first win since 2023 with a dominant 6-inning one-hit outing. Edward Cabrera delivered a standout performance during a stretch: seven shutout innings contributed to an 8-game win streak. The bullpen had its moments but also showed variability as is typical with younger staffs leaning on less experienced arms. On the defensive side, they had their share of miscues and growing pains expected in a roster mixing youth with inexperience.

Highlights & Turning Points

The sweep of the New York Yankees was historic: Stowers' three-run homer capped a franchise-first 3-game sweep of them. A dramatic 13-12 comeback win over the Yankees included a grand slam and a clutch play by Agustin Ramirez. Their longest win streak of the year reached eight games. In late September, they rallied to defeat the Phillies 6-5 in 11 innings, keeping playoff hopes alive until late in the season.

Challenges & What Held Them Back

1. Inconsistent stretches- while they had spurts of success, they alternated with long stretches of mediocrity or losing.

2. Depth issues- especially through the middle of the lineup and in relief.

3. Injuries and limited experience affected ability to sustain high-level play over 162 games.

4. Tough division- the NL East remains a competitive division, and Miami's upward climb still required more consistency against divisional rivals.

Moving Forward: Outlook & Questions

1. Can Clayton McCullough build continuity and reinforce consistency as a young manager?

2. Which of the roster's young pieces can build on 2025 and emerge as cornerstones?

3. Will the organization add depth- both positionally and in pitching- to support their core?

4. How will the club manage payroll and development balance, especially given that this season's success came in a low-spending context?

Written by: Daniel Torres

Highs, Lows, and What's Next for the Fish