Marlins C/1B Hicks Emerging as One of MLB’s Top Catchers

Miami Marlins catcher Liam Hicks has spent the entire season rewriting the narrative around his career, and there’s no sign he’s finished rewriting that narrative yet.

Hicks has already surpassed his 2025 totals in both home runs and RBI, hitting 12 home runs this season compared to six last year, while driving in 46 runs after recording 45 in 2025. What has made it surprising is that he has done it in 60 fewer games.

Hicks credits part of his success at the plate to maintaining his “same approach” and “staying aggressive” regardless of where he hits in the lineup.

He also points to the hitting coaches for helping to keep things simple. And when there are stretches of unproductive at-bats and feeling bad, and wanting to scrap everything. 

“They have been really good at just getting you to put your head down and just getting to work,” Hicks said. 

The work they have put in is clearly paying off. Hicks ranks in the top five in nearly every major catcher offensive category. He is leading the position with 46 RBI. And ranks fourth in average (.269), OPS (.825), runs scored (30), hits (53), walks (22), and OBP (.348), and sits fifth in slugging (.479).

The most impressive stat, however, could be that Hicks has drawn more walks (22) than strikeouts (21) this season, even with trying to be aggressive.

In under two seasons with the Marlins, Hicks has developed into one of the Marlins' most reliable bats in the lineup. And while he went unnoticed in 2025, this season has been a completely different story. The Marlins’ catcher is now emerging as one of baseball's most remarkable stories, and it's becoming almost impossible to ignore.

Hicks arrived in Miami as a forgotten prospect, became a feel-good Rule 5 Draft story, emerged as a potential All-Star, and is now adding his name to the list of top offensive conversations with the numbers he is putting up.

He’s been so good that Brent Maguire of MLB.com even referred to him as “borderline elite."

And elite may be the best way to describe Hicks' performance at the plate this season, and the Marlins have needed it. His offensive production has played a key part in the Marlins remaining only 5.5 games back in the Wild Card hunt.

While Hicks may have seen this breakout coming, few others expected him to emerge as one of the game's most productive catchers.

Ian Finlayson, who covers Toronto sports, called the Canadian-born catcher “the least expected to break out in 2026."

The 27-year-old, who came over from the Detroit Tigers in a Rule 5 Draft, is turning into quite the success story. Looking back, the Tigers may be regretting not protecting the minor leaguer now, especially with his ability to move between catcher and first base.

Born in Toronto, Hicks' road to the majors was anything but typical. He wasn't drafted out of high school or recruited to play high-level Division I baseball; instead, it began at Mineral Area College before transferring to Arkansas State.

Despite playing at smaller schools, Hicks overcame the odds and played his way into professional baseball.

His professional journey to becoming one of the best offensive catchers in the game began when the Texas Rangers selected him in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Over the next three seasons in the Rangers organization, he worked his way to  Double-A.

The journey took a new direction in 2024 when the Rangers dealt him to the Detroit Tigers. Hicks spent his time in Double-A Erie, but after the Tigers elected not to protect him, the Marlins selected him in the Rule 5 Draft, and he was on his way to South Florida.

The move south gave him the opportunity he needed, and he took it and ran, and is now establishing himself as one of the best offensive catchers in the game.

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