Miami Marlins: Origins for the Current Active Roster

Have you ever wondered where each of the current Miami Marlins‘ players came from? What about where they played before, and how they got to Miami? Were they traded for, signed, or drafted? Those are only a few questions that could hopefully be answered in this article.

Where do the players on the Miami Marlins active roster come from?

The Marlins current active roster may be a bit unfamiliar to fans as much of the regulars are on the IL. Out of playoff contention, Miami will most-likely play many of their younger players for a remainder of the 2021 season meaning the current active roster may be unknown to some fans.

So why not discuss where the current active roster comes from? To do this, I have decided to use the Marlins active roster as of August 10, 2021, beginning with the starting rotation.

Starting Rotation

Sandy Alcantara – Trade

The current ace of the Marlins staff, Alcantara however did not begin begin his professional career in the Miami organization. Signing as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals back in July of 2013, Alcantara emerged as a top pitching prospect in the Cardinals system before he was traded along with others to Miami in December of 2017 as the focal point of a deal that sent Marcell Ozuna to St. Louis. Now in year four in the Marlins organization, the 25-year-old right-hander has posted a combined 3.69 ERA in 68 starts with Miami, which also includes a 2019 NL All-Star selection.

Zach Thompson – Free Agency

One of the greatest surprises of the 2021 Marlins season has been Thompson, a 27-year-old right-hander who has posted a 3.09 ERA through 10 starts in his first big league action. Originally a 48th Round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2011 MLB Draft, Thompson opted-to attend UT-Arlington for three seasons before being selected in the 5th Round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox. Thompson would spend seven seasons in the White Sox organization before being granted free agency in November of 2020 where he would shortly after sign with Miami as a free agent.

Braxton Garrett – Draft

The first player on this list to spend his entire professional career in the Marlins system, Garrett was selected in the First Round (No. 7 overall) out of high school in the 2016 MLB Draft. The Marlins current No. 7 prospect, Garrett has made six starts in the big leagues this season posting a 4.65 ERA.

Jesus Luzardo – Trade

One of the newest members of the Marlins organization, Luzardo was originally drafted by the Washington Nationals in the Third Round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Traded to the Oakland Athletics in 2017 as part of a multi-player deal, Luzardo would reached the big leagues as one of the Athletics top prospects in 2019. The 23-year-old southpaw was traded to Miami back in July in a deal that sent Starling Marte to Oakland.

Catcher

Jorge Alfaro – Trade

Originally signed as a free agent back in 2010 by the Texas Rangers, Alfaro was traded in July of 2015 to the Philadelphia Phillies as a focal point of a multi-player trade that sent Cole Hamels to Texas. Reaching the big leagues with the Phillies, Alfaro was then traded once again to the Marlins as a member of the JT Realmuto deal. Now in year three in Miami, Alfaro has slashed .250/.298/.391 during his Marlins career.

Alex Jackson – Trade

One of the newest members of the Marlins organization, Jackson was originally a first round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners. Traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2016, Jackson reached the big leagues with Atlanta in limited action before being traded to Miami in July as the return for Adam Duvall.

Sandy Leon – Free Agent

A 10-year MLB veteran, Leon originally signed with the Washington Nationals as a free agent back in 2007. After reaching the big leagues with Washington, Leon spent a majority of his career with the Boston Red Sox, as well as with the Cleveland Indians before signing with Miami as a free agent back in January.

Infield

Jesus Aguilar – Waivers

The current NL leader in RBI’s, Aguilar originally began his professional career back in 2007 signing as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians. Aguilar was claimed off waivers in 2017 by the Milwaukee Brewers, but was then traded to the Tampa Bay Rays after three phenomenal seasons with the Brewers. Selected off waivers by the Marlins in December of 2019, Aguilar has so far slashed .269/.339/.470 during his two seasons in Miami.

Miguel Rojas – Trade

The current longest tenured Marlin at the big league level is Rojas, however he did not begin his professional career with Miami. Originally signed by the Cincinnati Reds as a free agent back in 2005, Rojas was granted free agency in 2012 where he would sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Traded to Miami in 2014 as part of a multi-player deal, Rojas is now in year seven with the organization.

Brian Anderson – Draft

The second homegrown Miami Marlins product on this list is Anderson, whom the club selected in the Third Round of the 2014 MLB Draft. Currently in year five with Miami in the big leagues, Anderson has a career slash line of .264/.346/.424 with the Marlins with 47 HR’s and 196 RBI’s.

Isan Diaz – Trade

Originally a Second Round Pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2014 MLB Draft, Diaz was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016 as part of a multi-player deal. Almost two year later, Diaz was traded to the Marlins as part of the return that sent Christian Yelich to Milwaukee.

Joe Panik – Trade

An eight-year MLB veteran, Panik was originally a First Round pick by the San Francisco Giants in the 2011 MLB Draft where he spent a majority of his career until 2019. Also spending time with the Mets and Blue Jays, Panik was traded to Miami in late-June.

Deven Marrero – Free Agent

Originally a first round pick by the Boston Red Sox in the 2012 MLB Draft, Marrero reached the big leagues with Boston before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in March of 2018. Marrero was granted free agency that offseason before signing with the Marlins in 2018. Marrero was granted free agency in 2019, but resigned with Miami back in May.

Outfield

Lewis Brinson – Trade

Arguably the hottest hitter in baseball at the moment, Brinson was originally a First Round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers. Later traded in 2016 as part of a multi-player deal to the Milwaukee Brewers, Brinson emerged as a top prospect before being traded to Miami in 2018 in the previously mentioned Yelich trade. Now in year four with the Marlins, it appears that the former top prospect is enjoying a breakout season in 2021.

Bryan De La Cruz – Trade

Another one of the newest members of the Marlins organization, De La Cruz originally signed with the Houston Astros as a free agent in September of 2013. Spending his entire career in the Astros organization, De La Cruz was recently traded to Miami in July as part of the Yimi Garcia trade.

Magneuris Sierra – Trade

The final player on the Miami Marlins active roster, Sierra originally signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent back in July of 2012. Traded to Miami in the previously mentioned Ozuna deal, Sierra is now in year four in the largest single-season sample size of his young career.