Marlins Canadian Trio Enjoys Homecoming in Toronto

Prior to their three-game road series against the New York Mets, the Miami Marlins played a three-game series at Toronto that some of their rising stars won't soon forget. 

Three of the Marlins' best hitters — Liam Hicks, Owen Caissie, and Otto Lopez, are Canadian. They played for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic and got to play on their home soil against the Blue Jays. 

Lopez, who was born in the Dominican Republic but grew up in Montreal, previously played for the Blue Jays in 2021-22 before the Marlins claimed him through waivers in 2024. The 27-year-old shortstop entered Friday leading Major League Baseball in hits (75) and batting average (.339). 

Caissie has been swinging a hot bat since May 13. In his last 13 games, the “Maple Masher” is batting .333 (8-for-24) with a .934 OPS, two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI. 

Caissie, from Burlington, Ontario, previously made his big league debut in Toronto as a member of the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 14, 2025. He picked up his third multi-hit game of the season on Memorial Day to help the Marlins defeat the Blue Jays 8-2 on his return home. 

Caissie told the Marlins broadcast after Monday’s game that it was great “to get a hit in the homeland.”

“I always loved coming back to Canada,” Caissie said, “and to get a W on the day that we come back is great.”

Hicks leads the Marlins with 44 RBI, which is tied for third in the Majors and one short of his rookie total of 45 last year. Hicks got a hit and scored two runs during the win.

He told Marlins radio that his first game in Toronto was a “really good atmosphere.”

“It was really fun,” Hicks said. “I could really hear a lot of family and friends cheering. It made it pretty special.” Hicks also said that the most memorable moment of the game was seeing his friends and family afterwards and knowing “how much it means to them to kind of be able to watch me.”

“A lot of them have helped me get here,” Hicks said. “I wouldn’t be able to be here without them.”

The Marlins dropped the final two games of the series with a combined margin of 10-2. Miami (26-31) recently completed a stretch of 26 games in 27 days prior to their series against the Mets.

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