Miami Marlins: 3 Players we cannot wait to see in 2020

Who are the new players on the Miami Marlins roster fans are anxious to see play this coming season?

The Miami Marlins front office and coaching staff saw more of their future this weekend when other prospects made their debuts for the organization on Saturday.

According to MLB.com, “After missing the first week of camp, Jazz Chisholm made his first appearance, as the 22-year-old was assigned to train with the organization’s top prospects at the complexes at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.”

Chisholm’s arrival was highly anticipated after the shortstop had an impressive start to Spring Training. He was expected to make his MLB debut at some point this season, but how much time he now sees on the diamond during the 60-game season is still to be determined.

“It’s good to have Jazz back,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said during a Zoom call Saturday. “The good thing about Jupiter is there’s lots of reps, so there’s lots of at-bats there.”

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Chisholm is expected to be the Miami Marlins shortstop of the future, creating a double-play duo with Isan Diaz over the next decade. The Marlins brass has raved about the start of the second part of camp for Monte Harrison, Lewin Diaz, and Jesus Sanchez. Chisholm and Diaz are part of the cornerstone pieces that CEO Derek Jeter and Michael Hill, the team’s president of baseball operations, have brought in to change the team’s fortunes for the better in 2020 and beyond.

Since many of the roster spots are filled based on the performance of the team prior to MLB halting spring game, there are only a few details left to complete. There are players on the roster who fans are excited about seeing, including Chisholm.

Here are three Miami Marlins I personally want to see in their debut on the diamond in 2020.

Jonathan Villar

Jonathan Villar has a chance to be the most exciting player on the Miami Marlins roster this year. I am curious more than anything to see exactly where he plays and how much of an impact he has defensively for this team.

As it has been discussed by Skipper Don Mattingly, Villar will fill many roles. Whether it’s in centerfield, or at third base or he takes turns at shortstop or second base, it is Villar who will wear many hats.

Because of his speed, the Marlins should be able to score more runs in 2020. He and Jon Berti become the team’s best hope to move runners around the base pads.

If this were a full season, I would see the addition of the former Baltimore orioles player as a “rental” but there is a chance he builds on this season and remains in Miami for 2021.

Lewin Diaz

It’s another one of those cases where I want to see just how good this prospect can be.

Lewin Diaz is the best first base prospect the Miami Marlins have had some time. He is starting to show the coaching staff and the front office how good he can be for the future. Whether that means he makes his Major League debut this year may be up in the air.

For now, he is part of the 60-man pool to draw from. And if he continues to swing a bat like he has been this week, hopefully, he will crack the Miami Marlins parent club at some point in 2020.

Diaz was acquired right before the trade deadline in 2019 from Minnesota for reliever Sergio Romo. While Romo will help the Twins in the interim, it is Diaz who will serve the Marlins well as a slugging first baseman for a longer period of time.

Brandon Kintzler

It’s hard to look at a veteran like Brandon Kintzler and get excited wanting to see him on the mound. But the Miami Marlins have not been great at acquiring a closer and keeping him around for a longer time.

The former Chicago Cubs pitcher had a chance to solidify a roll this organization has failed miserably at to find a keeper for the long-haul.

His versatility and experience are just what the Marlins bullpen needs. If he can come in and shut the door in the eighth and ninth inning to help a starting pitching staff that is expected to be better this year, this veteran could become the team’s MVP in 2020.

Even more exciting is the fact that Kinsler has already spoken about how the pitching staff has plenty of upside, and the building of this organization is something he wishes to be part of moving forward.