Miami Marlins: Predicting the 2024 Everyday Starting Lineup

There is no doubt the Miami Marlins are one of the most exciting young teams in all of baseball.

After making the postseason during the shortened 2020 season, the Miami Marlins are quickly becoming a team that you should pay very close attention to. This is not just because they are currently firmly in the mix in the loaded division that is the NL East once again in 2021, but because you arguably can’t find few teams with a brighter future than the Fish.

While Miami does currently display a team that is able to compete in the big leagues now, they also have one of the top ranked farm systems in baseball. As each of those top players continue to debut in the majors and develop more day-by-day, the future continues to get brighter at a faster pace.

With this line of top prospects debuting seemingly never-ending at this point, it’s clear that the Marlins are about to be very good, very quick.

Could the Miami Marlins be one of the best teams in baseball in 2024?

There is no greater evidence of this than to simply look at the players that will be with the big league team. To do that, I have chosen the 2024 MLB season as a prime example of this.

Not only does this provide prospects that are just now debuting a few years to develop, but also allows a few prospects that may be a few years away from the big leagues to factor into the decision as well.

As you will see, this team is extremely deep with talent, and makes it evident as to why the Marlins could be one of the best teams in baseball in 2-3 years.

So, let’s attempt to look at the future, and see if we can guess correctly. Here is what I think the Miami Marlins everyday lineup may look like in 2024.

Players that just missed the lineup (aka will most likely make-up the bench options):

• OF – Victor Mesa Jr

• C – Will Banfield

• SS – Nasim Nunez

Miami Marlins Pitching Staff

The Miami Marlins pitching staff will be loaded in 2024, even without making a big trade for a starter. Yes, the combination of the current trio in the major league staff and top prospects working their way up is indeed that good.

No. 1 – RHP Sandy Alcantara

The current ace of the Marlins starting rotation is under team control through 2025. Alcantara, still only 25-years old, is in year four of his time in Miami, and has been outstanding posting a combined 3.64 ERA through 56 starts during that time. We’ve seen how good Alcantara is now, but just imagine how good he’ll be in three years from now.

No. 2 – LHP Trevor Rogers

Rogers is currently enjoying a massive break-out 2021 season in which he sports a 6-2 record with a 1.75 ERA. Still only a rookie, Rogers is under team control through 2027, and based on the way he’s currently pitching, it’s near impossible to not imagine him in this rotation going forward. The 2021 NL Rookie of the Year may be in Rogers near future, but will he become one of the best pitchers in the game by 2024?

No. 3 – RHP Sixto Sanchez

The Marlins’ current top prospect was as good as advertised in 2020 making his MLB debut. Sanchez is essentially around the same timeline as Rogers when it comes to team control, and has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the game in a couple of years. When Sanchez returns from his current injury, he should remind everyone just how good he can be to cement himself as one of the top young arms in baseball.

No. 4 – RHP Max Meyer

Meyer was selected with the 3rd overall pick in the First Round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the Marlins, and is already off to a phenomenal start to the 2021 season in Double-A. Listed as the Marlins #3 prospect, as well as the #22 prospect in baseball, Meyer displays an electric fastball and a wipe-out slider that play against anybody. Meyer should be in at least year two of his MLB career in 2024, and could make the case for the best #4 starter in baseball.

No. 5 – RHP Pablo Lopez

Still currently only 25-years old, Lopez would be entering the prime of his career in 2024. Now in year four in Miami, Lopez has continued to improve year-by-year, and is enjoying a current 2.73 ERA which is the best of his career so far. While Lopez could be traded, or Miami could opt-to fill the #5 spot a different way, I’ll say that Lopez is still here as one of the most consistent back-end rotation arms in the game.

Closer – RHP Edward Cabrera

While Cabrera is a potential candidate to fill the #5 spot in the rotation, the closer role seems to be more appealing for the Marlins #4 prospect. The #55 prospect in baseball displays an electric fastball that consistently flirts with triple-digits, as well as a solid slider and changeup. Cabrera has the potential to be one of the best young arms in the game, but making him a multi-inning weapon out of Miami’s bullpen is too-intriguing.

Miami Marlins Infield

We’ve already seen that the Miami Marlins pitching staff will be absolutely loaded, but what about the infield? This group has potential to look very different from what it currently is, but there is however one 100% given in this group.

C – Jorge Alfaro

This might be the hardest position to call. Alfaro would be in the final year of his deal, but would he even still be with Miami by then? I’ll say for now that this will be Alfaro, but if he cannot return to the production from previous years, the Marlins may look at other options.

1B – Lewin Diaz

Current first baseman Jesus Aguilar is unlikely to still be with Miami in 2024, making #5 prospect Lewin Diaz an easy choice here. Diaz is an outstanding defensive first baseman, while also showcasing an ability to hit for power on a consistent basis. While he may not hit as high up in the lineup as Aguilar currently is, Diaz should be one of the top young first baseman in the NL in a few years.

2B – Jazz Chisholm

This is the bonafide 100% guarantee in the Marlins 2024 everyday infield based off of the current roster. While he could play either 2B or SS, I’d say Chisholm will remain at second, and turn into one of the best second baseman and overall players in all of baseball. Plain and simple, Chisholm will be a superstar at the top of Miami’s everyday lineup for years to come.

SS – Jose Devers

While the Marlins could be a candidate in the next year or two to either sign or trade for a superstar shortstop, I’ll say that this spot will be Devers’ to lose. The Marlins current #8 prospect displays an ability to hit for contact, as well as a versatile infielder with the ability to play multiple positions. Still only 21-years old, Devers will only continue to develop, potentially into one of the more versatile shortstops in the game.

3B – Brian Anderson

While this position could look different, I’ll say it will still be Anderson manning the hot corner for Miami. Anderson will be in the last year of his contract before entering free agency, and in the prime of his career. If he makes it to 2024 still a member of the Marlins organization, would Anderson potentially re-sign with Miami as well?