- Giancarlo Stanton has the most bWAR in Marlins history.
- Josh Johnson has the most bWAR among Marlins pitchers.
- Miami won two World Series in its first 11 seasons.
They might have only been part of MLB odds since 1993, but there are still plenty of players to choose from when narrowing down the best Miami Marlins players of all time.
The Marlins won two World Series in their first 11 seasons. While team success has been hard to come by over the last 15 years, several players have put in spectacular individual performances, including the franchise’s lone MVP and Cy Young wins in 2017 and 2022, respectively.
Here are my five greatest Marlins ever:
Best Miami Marlins Players of All Time
| Rank | Player | Position | Marlins Years |
| 1 | Giancarlo Stanton | Right Fielder | 2010-2017 |
| 2 | Hanley Ramirez | Shortstop | 2006-2012 |
| 3 | Josh Johnson | Starting Pitcher | 2005-2012 |
| 4 | Sandy Alcantara | Starting Pitcher | 2018-Present |
| 5 | Miguel Cabrera | Third Baseman | 2003-2007 |
1. Giancarlo Stanton
Giancarlo Stanton leads all Marlins in bWAR and homers. He’s got the second-highest OPS+, and only two hitters have clocked more plate appearances.
While injuries limited Stanton’s playing time after signing his record-breaking contract, he still registered five All-Star selections during his time in Miami. The 2017 season was by far his best, with 59 homers resulting in the franchise’s first MVP award.
Marlins fans are right to feel frustrated about getting a minimal return when Stanton was traded to the Yankees, but that doesn’t stop him from being the greatest Marlin ever.
2. Hanley Ramirez
The Marlins acquired Hanley Ramírez from the Red Sox when he had made just two plate appearances in the majors. The deal was immediately a masterstroke as Ramírez won Rookie of the Year in 2006 and earned All-Star honours in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
.@josefernandez77 becomes the fourth #Marlins #RookieoftheYear, joining:
Dontrelle Willis (2003)
Hanley Ramirez (2006)
Chris Coghlan (2009)— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) November 11, 2013
Runner-up in the 2009 MVP race after winning the batting title, Ramírez quickly established himself as a Marlins great. He has the quality (fifth-best OPS+) and quantity (second-most hits, third-most homers).
3. Josh Johnson
The pitcher with the best ERA+ in franchise history had to slot into these rankings. Josh Johnson had a 133 ERA+ as a Marlin and earned a couple of All-Star selections.
Johnson’s peak was unfortunately truncated by arm and shoulder injuries, meaning his fifth-place finish in the 2010 Cy Young voting was the best of his career. He still, however, has the lowest ERA and highest pitching bWAR in franchise history.
4. Sandy Alcantara
Sandy Alcántara could well climb this list in the coming years. Alcántara is already fourth in innings pitched as a Marlin while ranking second in ERA+ and first in WHIP.
The former Cardinal became the first Marlin to win the Cy Young in 2022, delivering a throwback season with a majors-leading 228.2 innings pitched and six shutouts.
He has established himself as one of the sport’s most durable pitchers and should still be at his peak once he returns from injury.
5. Miguel Cabrera
Miguel Cabrera might have only spent five years as a Marlin, but his impact was significant. A World Series winner as a rookie, Cabrera earned the first four of his 12 career All-Star berths during his time in Miami.
His 143 OPS+ is the third-best in franchise history, with only Stanton and Ramírez amassing a higher offensive bWAR.
There’s no question trading Cabrera away was a franchise-altering mistake, but the future Hall of Famer was good enough in his early 20s to earn the fifth spot in my rankings.