After a Rule 5 rookie season, Liam Hicks explains what he learned in the big leagues and how the Marlins expect him to grow in 2026.
The Miami Marlins didn’t just stash Liam Hicks on the roster last year -- they threw him into the deep end and asked him to swim.
A Rule 5 pick who had never played above Double A, Hicks entered 2025 knowing there was no easing into the big leagues. He had to stick with the team all season or risk being offered back to the Detroit Tigers. Instead of shrinking under that pressure, he quietly built a case that he belongs -- and maybe more than just as a backup.
What Hicks learned in his first MLB season, as reported by the Miami Herald, wasn’t just about mechanics or game-calling. It was about understanding how to survive -- and eventually thrive -- in a role that constantly changed.
The raw numbers won’t wow you at first glance: six home runs, 20 extra-base hits, a .692 OPS in 390 plate appearances. But context matters.
Hicks posted a .346 on-base percentage, fourth among Marlins hitters with at least 250 plate appearances. More impressively, his underlying discipline metrics were elite. His 17.6-percent chase rate ranked in the 98th percentile. His 14.4-percent strikeout rate and 11-percent walk rate both graded among the best for qualified rookies.
For a team that has often struggled to manufacture offense, having a left-handed bat that refuses to expand the zone is a legitimate asset. If Hicks adds even modest power -- something that could come naturally with physical maturity and selective aggression -- his offensive floor rises significantly.
Hicks started 49 games behind the plate, 23 at first base, and 20 at DH. Manager Clayton McCullough moved him around to keep his bat in the lineup, and Hicks embraced that shifting.
That adaptability may ultimately define his long-term value.
With Agustín Ramírez expected to share catching duties and top prospect Joe Mack near-ready to arrive, Hicks’ ability to move around the diamond gives Miami flexibility. On a roster built around pitching depth, led by arms like Sandy Alcántara and Eury Pérez, carrying a bat-first catcher who can also play first base or DH provides matchup options late in games.
One area Hicks openly acknowledged needing growth? Pinch-hitting. He hit just .190 in 26 pinch-hit plate appearances. That adjustment -- staying ready without the rhythm of everyday at-bats -- is something many young players struggle with. The difference is that Hicks knows it and has attacked it.
His quote about the April version of himself not being the September version speaks volumes. He understands development in the majors is constant, not linear.
For 2026, Hicks’ goal is simple: be in the lineup every day.
If his discipline holds and the power ticks up even slightly, the Marlins may not just have found a Rule 5 success story, they may have found a foundational piece hiding in plain sight.
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