How Does Harold Ramirez Fit in the New Marlins Outfield?

The Marlins outfield has grown by a significant amount since Harold Ramirez played in 119 games as a rookie last season.

Harold Ramirez is one of eight outfielders on the active 40-man roster for the Marlins at present. Non-roster invitees include J.J. Bleday, Brian Miller, Victor Victor Mesa, Jerar Encarnacion, and Matt Kemp to make a total of 13 players vying for three positions.

That’s not even taking into consideration the possibility of Jon Berti, Brian Anderson, and Jonathan Villar clogging up possible paths to the big leagues for some. Of the NRI’s, only Kemp has a significant chance of making the team. I’d say Miller has a ghost of a chance, but only barely (for now at least).

Of the 40-man roster, I’d say that Matt Joyce, Corey Dickerson, and Garrett Cooper are proven major leaguers, with the other five of somewhat questionable pedigree.

Lewis Brinson‘s struggles are very well documented, and Monte Harrison is a true-outcome (HR, BB, SO) type of player if there ever was one. Remember he led the entire minor leagues with 215 strikeouts in 2018. Not just the Marlins minors or the Southern League, but every player in every league.

Magneuris Sierra performed well below replacement level in an extended look in 2018, but acquitted himself nicely by hitting .350 in a 14-game look last season. Jesus Sanchez is the future, but is the future today?

As things stand today, Ramirez fits. Sometimes though, things change in Spring Training.

Bleday, Mesa, Encarnacion, and Miller will all look more ready to make the team in 2021. Miller could be a callup late this season.

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Ramirez looked pretty good last season, but remember that he was only 0.2 bWAR. Fangraphs was slightly more forgiving, weighing in with a 0.4 fWAR. Maybe he only looked good in respect to those he was sharing playing time with. Only six Marlins finished with a wRC+ over 100, and Tyler Heineman (130) and Bryan Holaday (104) are gone. Sierra’s 117 mark was in a very small sample size.

Only Anderson (114), Cooper (111), and Berti (104) really counted in that metric. Ramirez, at 92, was far better only than other possible outfield options. Austin Dean and Curtis Granderson both weighed in at 71, J.T. Riddle had 54, Peter O’Brien had 43, and Brinson landed at 25. Of those five, only Brinson remains.

In lieu of better options available, Ramirez will likely make the team, maybe even as part of the Opening Day lineup. For my money, I’ll predict Cooper, Dickerson, Joyce, and Ramirez make the team out of camp. The fifth outfield slot could go a number of different ways. Sierra, Sanchez, Kemp, and Brinson stand the best chance of filling that slot.