What Liam Hicks learned in first MLB season and how he can help Marlins in 2026
Liam Hicks’ first MLB season was a trial by fire. The catcher was a Rule 5 selection by the Miami Marlins, so he had to stay on the major-league roster all season or else Miami risked having to send Hicks back to the Detroit Tigers, the team whose system they plucked him from, despite the fact he never played above Double A in the minor leagues.
All that said, Hicks held his own in the big leagues as a rookie.
But he knows there’s more in him as he gets ready for his sophomore season.
“My goal is to be in the lineup every day,” Hicks said. “Obviously, I’m going to try and try and do everything I can to prove that.”
Hicks made the team as the Marlins’ backup catcher — first to Nick Fortes and then to fellow first-year player Agustin Ramirez — but saw his role expand as the season progressed.
In addition to starting 49 games behind the plate, Hick also made 23 starts at first base and 20 as designated hitter as Marlins manager Clayton McCullough found ways to keep his left-handed bat in the lineup as often as possible.
While Hicks didn’t hit for power — he had just six home runs and 20 total extra-base hits in 390 plate appearances and a .692 on-base-plus-slugging mark — the catcher had a knack for getting on base with his patient approach and simple swing. His .346 on-base percentage was fourth among 11 Marlins players with at least 250 plate appearances and eighth overall in MLB among qualified rookies.
He ranked in the top-fifth of qualified MLB hitters last season in chase percentage (just 17.6%, 98th percentile), whiff percentage (15.1%, 91st percentile), strikeout percentage (14.4%, 87th percentile) and walk percentage (11%, 80th percentile).
Steady playing time, Hick said, helped him get more comfortable and adjust to the league even if it meant moving around defensively.
Now, he wants to build on that.
“There are constant adjustments to be made throughout the season,” Hicks said. “The player you are in April is not going to be the player you are in September. I think you’ve got to continue to keep working just because you’re in the big leagues; you can’t just get complacent and just assume that you’re going to stick around. There’s work to be done every day. You know, it’s a long season, but you need to, even if your body’s tired, you need to be doing something to keep getting better every day. And then also just knowing your role and embracing it.”
One of those roles Hicks had to embrace: Pinch-hitting. As a full-time starter in the minor leagues, he never really had to worry about pinch-hitting or getting ready at a moment’s notice mid-game.
Miami used him plenty in that regard in 2025. He led the Marlins with 26 pinch-hit plate appearances, but only hit .190 (4 for 21, with three walks a hit-by-pitch and sac fly) in those situations.
“That’s something that’s going to be my role going forward,” Hicks said. “As the season went on, I think I did a lot better job learning how to get ready and be ready for those late-inning opportunities.”
At least to start the season, it’ll be Ramirez and Hicks manning things at catcher. Joe Mack, the No. 5 prospect in Miami’s system and the No. 70 overall prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline who is strong defensively behind the plate, is waiting in the wings and could be an early call-up if he impresses to start the season.
They’ll be working with what should be a solid pitching staff.
Miami has a dozen players it feels could be competitive in the rotation even after trading away Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers. However, the five starters to begin the season will likely be Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, Max Meyer, Braxton Garrett and Chris Paddack in some order to start the season assuming they all stay healthy through spring training.
As for the bullpen, the team will be without Ronny Henriquez, one of their top high-leverage arms in 2025, but beefed up the group by signing closer Pete Fairbanks and lefty John King this offseason. They’ll join a core that should also include Anthony Bender, Tyler Phillips, Calvin Faucher and Cade Gibson with a couple other spots up for grabs this spring.
Faucher loses arbitration case
Right-handed relief pitcher Calvin Faucher lost his arbitration case with the Marlins, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported Saturday. Faucher will make the $1.8 million the Marlins filed for this season. Faucher filed at $2.05 million, a difference of $250,000.
Faucher led the Marlins last season with 15 saves in 20 save opportunities while pitching to a 3.28 ERA with 59 strikeouts against 24 walks over 60 1/3 innings in 65 relief appearances. The 30-year-old is expected to once again be a high-leverage reliever for Miami in 2026 but likely more in a setup role this season following the signing of Pete Fairbanks this offseason.
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