This season, the Miami Marlins found stability behind the plate with 23-year-old rookie catcher Joe Mack, who put on a complete defensive clinic, showing off Gold Glove-caliber skills and making his absence as a finalist a real head-scratcher.

Even though he didn't get called up until May 4, Mack stepped right in and instantly turned into a total defensive game-changer. Packing an absolute absolute hose for an arm, he completely ruined game plans for opposing base-runners: in just 105 games, he gunned down 26 runners to lead all of MLB. Every single guy he threw out at second or third wiped out a scoring threat and kept speedsters glued to their bases, letting Fish pitchers focus on throwing heat instead of worrying about the running game.

Beyond his cannon of an arm, Mack was steady as a rock all year. And his defense went beyond just throwing guys out. He finished with a .995 fielding percentage, combined with 744 putouts, 44 assists, 12 errors, and five double plays. The first-year big-league backstop stayed fully in control of every single play behind the dish.

His smooth glovework, dirt-blocking, and a terrific line of communication with the pitching staff had skipper Clayton McCullough raving about the rookie all season long.

"What Joe has brought, we've seen it," McCullough said during Mack's breakout in 2026. "We've seen how our team has been elevated and how we've played, how we've pitched since Joe has been up here, and I don't think that's [a] coincidence. He's been phenomenal.”

“His defense has been terrific, and he's really blocked the ball well. He's received well. That throw tonight was impressive - the exchange, the accuracy, and what he was able to get on it.”

McCullough also pointed out Mack's lightning mechanics—quick pop time, effortless transfer, and dead-center throws. That praise means a lot coming from the skipper, since catching is about a whole lot more than just showing off a big arm. An elite catcher needs clean mechanics, quick instincts, tons of prep, and the right feel for guiding pitchers through nine innings.

On top of that, the kid has a little bit of swagger when it comes to showdowns over against would-be base burglars. He sounds like a true gunslinger, and he's new sheriff in town.

"I want them to steal. I'm hoping that they steal. I'm like, 'Please run.'" Mack said during the year, according to Fish on First. It's my favorite part of my game and I know my ability to throw people out and get a guy off scoring position."

Mack showed off all of those traits while handling big-league hitters and taking on the grind of an everyday catcher workload.

There's also a strong advanced stats case for his award candidacy. According to FanGraphs, Mack ranked near the top of MLB catchers in overall defensive value and pitch framing while coming in third in Defensive Runs Saved. Those metrics highlight the underlying value he brings that standard fielding percentage just misses.

The other three National League finalists at the catcher's spot were Freddy Fermin of the San Diego Padres, the Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno, and the New York Mets' Luis Torrens. All three had great years. But the real question isn't whether those guys deserved to be recognized... It's how Mack ignored entirely.