Christopher Morel’s oblique injury forced the Marlins to adjust fast on Opening Day, with Connor Norby and Liam Hicks emerging as top first base substitutes.
Christopher Morel’s injury created a problem for the Miami Marlins before the 2026 season had barely started.
Just two hours before first pitch on opening day, the Marlins scratched Morel from the lineup with a left oblique strain, abruptly taking away one of their most intriguing offseason additions.
Miami signed Morel to a one-year, $2 million deal with the hope that his bat and defensive flexibility could help patch multiple holes on the roster. Instead, the club is now left trying to answer a question it had only just begun to explore: Who handles first base if Morel misses time?
That uncertainty matters because Morel was not just another bench piece. He was expected to get a real opportunity at first base despite never having played the position in the majors. The Marlins were betting that his athleticism and versatility could make the experiment work. With Kyle Stowers and Esteury Ruiz already sidelined, losing Morel only adds to a growing list of early injury complications for a team that can’t afford to lose much more depth.
The first option is the most obvious one. Connor Norby stepped in at first base Friday after Morel was scratched, and the Marlins had already been preparing for that possibility. Clayton McCullough said before the game that Norby was expected to see quite a bit of action there this season. That makes Norby the clearest internal substitute, even if it comes with some defensive growing pains as he continues adjusting to yet another position.
Liam Hicks is another realistic way for Miami to cover the position. His ability to move around the diamond helped keep him in the lineup last year, and he already has major league experience at first base. Hicks played 28 games there and held his own defensively, which gives the Marlins a safer short-term option if they want to avoid overloading Norby.
The more dramatic solution would be calling up Deyvison De Los Santos, the only player on the 40-man roster who truly considers first base his primary position. But that looks more like a desperation move than a smart one right now. De Los Santos still has real development concerns, especially with his power production lagging behind expectations in Triple-A.
For now, the Marlins’ best path is probably a shared solution. Norby appears to be first in line, Hicks offers insurance, and Miami may need to shuffle the roster further if Morel’s absence stretches beyond a few days. It is an early test of the club’s commitment to versatility, and one the Marlins did not expect to face this soon.
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