Marlins Lose Star Sluggers to Injuries Before Opening Day

Miami will be without Kyle Stowers and Esteury Ruiz to start the season due to hamstring and undisclosed injuries.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:19pm

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The Miami Marlins received tough news on a pair of their star sluggers, Kyle Stowers and Esteury Ruiz, who will both start the season on the injured list. Stowers is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, while Ruiz's injury timeline is unclear. The losses are a big blow to the Marlins' lineup, which relied heavily on Stowers' power and Ruiz's speed and production last season.

Why it matters

The Marlins were hoping to build on a promising 2025 season, but these early injuries to key offensive contributors could hamper their start and make it more difficult to compete in the NL East division.

The details

Stowers, 28, had a breakout 2025 campaign, making his first All-Star team and leading the Marlins with a 3.6 rWAR, 25 home runs, and 73 RBIs. Ruiz, 27, was acquired from the Dodgers in the offseason after setting the American League stolen base record with 67 in 2023 while also hitting 16 home runs and driving in 61 runs at Triple-A.

  • The Marlins received the injury news on Sunday, March 22, 2026, just before the start of the MLB regular season.

The players

Kyle Stowers

A 28-year-old outfielder for the Miami Marlins who had a breakout 2025 season, making the All-Star team and leading the team in several offensive categories.

Esteury Ruiz

A 27-year-old outfielder acquired by the Marlins in the offseason, who set the American League stolen base record with 67 in 2023 while also producing strong power numbers in the minors.

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What’s next

The Marlins will need to rely on their depth and hope for a speedy recovery from Stowers and Ruiz in order to stay competitive in the NL East early in the season.

The takeaway

These early injuries to key offensive pieces are a tough blow for the Marlins, who were hoping to build on their promising 2025 campaign. Their ability to weather these losses and get production from their depth will be crucial to their success in the season's opening months.