The 3 Miami Marlins players that I expect to surprise in 2024

2023 is coming to an end and the 2024 season is coming up. There are some surprising players who I expect to make a difference in the upcoming season. It's a difference that the Miami Marlins badly need. In fact, you may already have an idea about some of them. I'm also hoping that I'm right due to the need for good pitching depth for the team. So who are these players?

The Miami Marlins have three players who I expect to make an unexpected difference in 2024.

3. SP MAX MEYER

Let's start with the obvious, as I just recently wrote about him. I'm obviously talking about starting pitcher Max Meyer. There's a reason why Meyer was an elite prospect at one point. He has elite stuff and just needs to stay healthy to showcase it. He's expected to be healthy in 2024, and while he will be on an innings limit, he should still provide enough innings to make a difference.

Max Meyer had a 7.50 ERA/6.45 FIP, with 9.0 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9, in 2 games and 6.0 innings pitched in 2022. The numbers might not look impressive at first glance, but the strikeout rate clearly is. More importantly, is just how good he was in the Minor Leagues. For example, he had a 2.27 ERA in AA and AAA in 2021, with 10.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9. He had 10.2 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 2022 in single A and AAA.

I fully believe that Max Meyer can provide 70 or so innings of sub 4.00 ERA ball.

NEXT: A SURPRISING HITTER....

2. RF JESUS SANCHEZ

Jesús Sánchez may not have been a superstar in 2023, but there's definite untapped potential in that bat. Sanchez debuted in 2020 with a .040/.172/.080 batting line, with 0 home runs and 2 RBI. He did this in 10 games and 25 AB. It wasn't an impressive debut, but he would get another cahnce.

Sanchez got that chance in 2021, when he batted .251/.319/.489 with 14 home runs and 36 RBI, in 64 games and 227 AB. It was obvious that he had power and true potential. He continued this in 2022, when he batted .214/.280/.403, with 13 home runs and 36 RBI in 98 games and 313 AB. That was disappointing, but in 2023 he batted .253/.327/.450 with 13 home runs and 36 RBI, in 98 games and 313 AB.

13 home runs in 313 AB is pretty good. He was also worth 1.7 WAR. I can see him getting more AB's in 2024, if he does, I could see a 20 home run+ season in that case. If we roughly double the WAR along with the AB's, we're looking at 3.4 WAR. That's above average. Now obviously there will be cold streaks and the WAR won't double exactly, but there is definite potential for a breakout in 2024. Oh and don't forget his 90.0 Exit Velocity from 2023.

NEXT: A POTENTIAL ACE