The Miami Marlins season has not gone as planned, and they are last in the National League East.
They currently have a 45-61 record and are 10.5 games away from the first-place New York Mets.
However, the 2021 campaign left some good things for the Marlins with an eye on the future.
Here are some of them.
3. Jesus Aguilar’s Power Production
It’s true that he has slipped a bit recently, but the Marlins can be content knowing that they have a competent hitter in Jesus Aguilar, at least for next season.
The team will have to do a better job surrounding Aguilar with on-base threats and similarly talented offensive players, but there is no denying that the hulky slugger has been a bright spot in 2021.
For the season, Aguilar is hitting .263/.327/.463 with 18 home runs.
He has a 114 weighted Runs Created Plus, or wRC+, which means he has been 14 percent better than the average.
It may not sound like much but for the Marlins, any above-average offensive performer is gold.
Aguilar’s performance in the last couple of months of the season will likely dictate whether his future is in Miami (hence, he becomes an extension candidate) or if he will become another trade piece.
2. Jazz Chisholm’s Present And Future
Jazz Chisholm may have his flaws as a player, but there is no denying he has flair and enormous raw talent.
His presence as a starter at second base for the future is one of the bright spots for the Marlins in 2021.
A team like the Marlins, with so little payroll room to offer free agents, needs their homegrown players to start contributing very early in their careers, and Chisholm is doing just that.
So far, the burgeoning star has 11 home runs and 11 steals in 2021, proving he can be a dangerous two-way threat, both today and tomorrow.
His speed and athleticism are impressive and game-changing.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. beat this out for an infield single… What????
His max sprint speed on the run to first was 30.5 ft/sec (30 ft/sec is considered elite).#Marlins pic.twitter.com/ny4aNChd82
— Jordan McPherson (@J_McPherson1126) August 1, 2021
His approach could use some work, as he is hitting .254/.317/.430 with a 106 wRC+.
He has struck out in 30.3 percent of his plate appearances, so he could use the second half to try and lower that mark.
But the Marlins can be happy about his overall progression this season, and he still has potential to grow even more as a ballplayer.
1. Impressive Pitching Depth
Even if injuries have significantly affected the Marlins in 2021, and they aren’t in contention at this point, they can rest easy knowing that they will enter 2022 with the firm objective of improving the offense and qualifying for the playoffs.
The pitching, thankfully, is taken care of.
The Marlins have witnessed Trevor Rogers (2.45 ERA in 110 innings) ascend to ace status, and Sandy Alcantara (3.12 ERA) and Pablo Lopez (3.03 ERA) are fantastic mid-rotation stalwarts.
Zach Thompson has also appeared out of nowhere to be an important rotation contributor, and Elieser Hernandez and Sixto Sanchez are very good when healthy.
Braxton Garrett and Cody Poteet have a lower ceiling, but are phenomenal depth arms to have around for Miami.
And that’s not all: the best is yet to come, as top prospects Edward Cabrera and Max Meyer are already knocking at the door.
Do you want more?
The Marlins got perhaps the prize of the deadline in lefty starter Jesus Luzardo.
This is a team with enough pitching to make a lot of noise in 2022.
The #Marlins will likely be working with Dodgers-like rotation depth by mid-2022
Sandy Alcantara
Trevor Rogers
Pablo Lopez
Sixto Sanchez
Elieser Hernandez
Edward Cabrera
Max Meyer
Jake Eder
Cody Poteet
Nick Neidert
Braxton GarrettYup. That's deep.
— Pro Baseball Radar (@BaseballRadar) June 24, 2021
Will they be able to bring enough bats?
NEXT: Projecting Jesus Luzardo’s Future In Miami