Liam Hicks keeps producing in the middle of Miami Marlins’ surge
The national media is starting to take note of the Miami Marlins for a variety of reasons.
Liam Hicks usually isn’t one of them.
But for a 27-year-old who led the league in RBI earlier this season and now has his batting average hovering near .300, Hicks has become one of the quieter catalysts behind Miami’s recent surge.
“He has the ability to get hits to all parts of the field,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “Liam’s been phenomenal. Early on, it was the power that was a little bit surprising with how he was hitting so many home runs out of the gates, recently it’s been getting him back to shooting some balls all over the field.”
During Tuesday’s 6-5 win against the Seattle Mariners, Hicks went 3-for-4 with a run scored, continuing a stretch in which he has been one of the Marlins’ most consistent bats.
Quietly near the top
As of Tuesday, July 7, Hicks ranked among the National League’s top 20 in batting average, RBI and on-base percentage.
In his first game back from a lower-back strain, he went 2-for-6 out of the leadoff spot in Miami’s 14-3 win over the Rockies at Coors Field.
By Tuesday night, he had extended his hitting streak to 17 games and his on-base streak to 19, both of which lead MLB. His hitting streak is also the longest by a Marlin since Dee Strange-Gordon hit in 17 straight games from Aug. 27-Sept. 14, 2017.
His .296 batting average would be the best mark on most teams, but Miami’s lineup has been good enough that two Marlins were still ahead of him: major-league batting leader Otto Lopez, who entered at .346, and second baseman Xavier Edwards, who was hitting .301.
While Hicks didn’t drive in any runs Tuesday, he has served as one of the team’s primary run producers.
“His bat quality is high. He’s come back from injury and picked up right where he left off,” McCullough said. “He controls the strike zone very well and makes a lot of contact. And he just doesn’t miss a whole lot.”
For a Marlins team that has suddenly become difficult to pitch to, Hicks has been easy to overlook and hard to replace.
Beyond Hicks’ contributions, Heriberto Hernandez and Owen Caissie hit home runs, while Lopez and Edwards each tallied a hit, while Jakob Marsee ended the game with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Meyer goes for five after All-Star news
Pitcher Max Meyer got the start for Miami, allowing four hits and two runs over five innings.
Although the 27-year-old earned his first All-Star selection over the weekend, it was revealed earlier in the day that he will not pitch in the game.
Meyer’s next start is expected to come Sunday, while Miami’s next game is Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. against the Seattle Mariners at loanDepot park.
The expected starting pitching matchup is Tyler Phillips for Miami against George Kirby for Seattle.
Phillips has a 1-3 record and a 3.52 ERA while Kirby at is at 7-7 with a 3.81 ERA.
This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 10:49 PM.