The Miami Marlins have been named one of MLB’s sneaky teams to watch in 2026 thanks to a young core led by Sandy Alcántara, Kyle Stowers and Eury Pérez.
The Miami Marlins may not be the first team that comes to mind when discussing contenders in the National League, but they are quickly becoming one of the more intriguing clubs heading into the 2026 season.
With a mix of emerging young talent and high-upside pitching, Miami has quietly positioned itself as a sneaky team to watch this year.
MLB.com analyst Will Leitch recently highlighted the Marlins as one of the most "sneaky-fun" teams to watch in baseball for 2026. While the club may still be developing, the roster is filled with players who could make the team far more competitive than many expect.
Miami enters the season with one of the youngest cores in Major League Baseball. That youth movement alone makes the Marlins a compelling team to follow, especially as several players continue to take major steps forward in their development.
Much of the excitement around the Marlins centers on their group of young position players. Outfielders Kyle Stowers, Owen Caissie, and Jakob Marsee represent a dynamic trio capable of injecting speed, power, and athleticism into the lineup.
Stowers is coming off a breakout campaign that helped establish him as one of Miami’s most productive hitters. Caissie, meanwhile, remains one of the organization’s most exciting young bats, while Marsee brings strong on-base skills and defensive versatility.
The Marlins also received a promising rookie season from catcher Agustín Ramírez, giving the club another emerging offensive contributor behind the plate.
In the infield, players such as Otto Lopez, Xavier Edwards, and Connor Norby provide different offensive profiles that could help Miami generate runs in multiple ways. Edwards brings elite contact ability and speed, Lopez has shown flashes of power, and Norby has proven capable of delivering timely hits.
While the offense is promising, Miami’s pitching staff may ultimately determine how competitive the team becomes in 2026.
Former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara continues to anchor the rotation and remains one of the most dominant starters in baseball when healthy. Behind him, the Marlins have several intriguing arms with significant upside.
Young pitchers Eury Pérez and Max Meyer both possess electric stuff and could emerge as key pieces of Miami’s future rotation. If both pitchers take the next step in their development, the Marlins could suddenly field one of the most dangerous young rotations in the league.
Free-agent addition Chris Paddack also adds experience and depth to a pitching staff that could become one of the team’s biggest strengths.
The Marlins may not yet be viewed as a clear playoff contender, but their combination of youth, talent, and upside makes them a team that fans across baseball should keep an eye on in 2026.
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