The Miami Marlins are calling up top prospect Joe Mack from the minors and optioning catcher Agustín Ramírez to Triple-A Jacksonville. A source confirmed the moves to MLB.com on Sunday. The club has not officially verified the report.
Miami Marlins fans have awaited the Major League debut of Joe Mack, the organization's No. 4 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 54 overall. The 23-year-old catcher, a 2024 Minor League Gold Glove winner, was hitting .244/.388/.378 with three homers and nine RBIs in 24 games this season. Selected 31st overall in the 2021 MLB Draft, Mack posted an .807 OPS in 2024 and .813 in 2025, earning a spot on the 40-man roster over the offseason. He received significant reps at big league Spring Training camp alongside Agustín Ramírez and Liam Hicks during the World Baseball Classic period. Mack's promotion signals challenges for Ramírez, acquired as the centerpiece in the Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade. Despite an organization-wide vote of confidence in the winter and spring, Ramírez has struggled defensively and offensively as Miami's 2026 Opening Day catcher. In his 2025 rookie season, he led MLB catchers in errors (10) and passed balls (19), throwing out just eight of 91 basestealers. This season, Ramírez ranks in the 1st percentile in blocks above average (-6), 21st in framing (-1), and 29th in pop time (1.98), per Baseball Savant. His slash line fell to .230/.318/.345 after going hitless in Sunday’s 7-2 loss to the Phillies, with an OPS+ of 92 and bWAR of -0.4. Defensively, his four errors tie for the most among MLB catchers, and three passed balls tie for fourth (minimum 100 innings). Advanced hitting metrics have declined, including average exit velocity (89 mph, 45th percentile) and hard-hit rate (40.2%, 45th percentile). Liam Hicks, Ramírez's counterpart, has excelled offensively, leading the Marlins with seven homers and tying for second in MLB with 29 RBIs. His .309 average ranks 11th in the National League. Both Hicks and Mack bat left-handed, limiting platoon options, though Hicks can play first base or serve as designated hitter.
