Miami Marlins 2016: End of the Season Grades, Analysis

1 of 4

The Miami Marlins bid adieu to 2016. How’d they do? Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

The Miami Marlins 2016 campaign came to an end of few weeks ago and there were many ups and downs for the ball club. Some guys had breakout seasons, while other guys struggled to be consistent. From having four Marlins represent the team at this season’s All Star game, to players missing games due to injuries, to the tragic death of superstar ace Jose Fernandez, the team dealt with a lot over the past six months.

So how did the manager and players do this season?

More from Marlin Maniac

Don Mattingly: B

Donnie Baseball had a solid first season as the Marlins’ manager. The Marlins finished in 3rd place in the National League East with a record of 79 wins and 82 losses which is a nice improvement from last season’s 71 wins and 91 losses. For most of the season the Marlins were one of the few teams to be in the wild card hunt for one of the last two playoff spots in the National League. There were ups and downs that Mattingly dealt with this season. But for the most part Mattingly did a solid job and finally gave the Marlins’ stability at the manager’s position which is something that the Marlins’ organization hasn’t had in a long time.

J.T. Realmuto: A

Realmuto had a great overall season both on the offensive end and on the defensive end. In his second full season as the Marlins’ starting catcher, Realmuto hit a career high .303 and added 11 homeruns and 48 runs batted in. He also added 12 stolen bases to his statline, which is rare for a catcher to do. Realmuto’s leadership behind the plate and maturity continue to grow as he guides the pitching staff. He threw out 35% of the base runners that attempted to steal bases against him. The Marlins organization should be extremely pleased and excited for the player they have behind the plate.

Justin Bour: B-

Bour started off the season really strong but was limited to just 90 games because of an ankle injury. Bour hit 15 homeruns and 51 rbi with most of that production coming before he was sidelined with the injury. His injury had a major impact on the ball club as production from the first base position declined drastically. If the club wants to push for a playoff spot in 2017, Justin Bour will need to be a key contributor for the Fish.

Dee Gordon: D-

One of the biggest disappointments this season was Dee Gordon. Gordon was suspended 80 games this season for performance enhancing drugs use. He let his teammates and the organization down, especially after being rewarded a nice contract extension for the great season that he had in 2015. Gordon was limited to just 79 games and when he played he was average at best. He batted .268 with 1 homerun and 14 rbi. He did steal 30 bases in limited games.

Adeiny Hechavarria: C-

Hechavarria’s defense is always spectacular and this season he once again wow’d everyone with more amazing plays. He’s definitely one of the better defensive shortstops in the league but his offense was nonexistent this season. He regressed with his offensive game as he hit just .236 with 3 homeruns and 38 rbi while playing in 155 games. He’s shown potential to give the team some offense in the past as he hit .281 in 2015, and the Marlins would like to see more consistency from him as a hitter in the future.

Martin Prado – A-

There were only a few Marlins that were consistent from the beginning of the year all the way to the finish and Prado was one of those guys. The team captain batted .305 with 8 homeruns and 75 rbi. For his consistency, at the end of the season the Marlins offered Prado a 3 year, $40 million contract extension, which Prado agreed to. His defense at third base is always solid, but his leadership is one of his best qualities. He is known to be respected around the league, and he is definitely respected in the Marlins’ clubhouse.

Home/Marlins News