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Who is the Next Marlins Player To Reach the Hall?

7 Apr 1997: Gary Sheffield of the Florida Marlins makes contact with a pitch during the Marlins 11-5 spring training win over the Cleveland Indians at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport

Last year, it was catcher Pudge Rodriguez. This season, it’s Trevor Hoffman. Who will be the next Miami Marlins player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.?

Matt Whitener of MSN.com posed the question which player from each team would hear they named called to the hallowed fraternity of players who have standout careers in Major League Baseball. For the Miami Marlins, it could be Gary Sheffield who is the next in line to carry his bust into the building.

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"“As things currently stand, there is a chance of this never happening — as in a Marlins cap may never adorn a HOF plaque. Giancarlo Stanton could have been the best chance, but his departure for the Bronx and the likelihood of the greatness that stands ahead there could overshadow his Marlins tenure in full,” Whitener writes."

The current Miami roster is void of players who would be considered Hall of Fame worthy unless one of the rookies like Brian Anderson or pitchers Sandy Alcantara or Pablo Lopez become the next Steve Carlton. The player who hit 122 home runs in 558 games is Miami’s best shot.

"“So that leaves the very unlikely outcome that Sheffield overcomes his bad showings early on in the ballot and makes it via the Veterans Committee eventually,” Whitener added. “In the meantime, Miami fans will likely get to watch plenty of former Fish, such as Miguel Cabrera and Stanton, easily make their way to Cooperstown.”"

Sheffield played for eight teams during his 21-year career that started in 1988. He held the record for home runs in a season by a Marlins player (42) until Stanton crushed that record last season with 59. He was a member of Miami’s first World Series team in 1997.

Miami has had such an influx of free agents and traded players of the life of the franchise. Stanton figured to be the team’s first home-grown star to make it, but a trade this offseason prevents that from happening.

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