Marlins Juggle Roster Flexibility as Injuries Mount

Kyle Stowers' return, Griffin Conine's hamstring, and Deyvison De Los Santos' status test Miami's depth

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:42am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a Marlins baseball game broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the team's need for strategic flexibility in the face of injuries and roster challenges.The Marlins' roster juggling act, with injuries and positional flexibility, is reflected in a cubist-inspired illustration that captures the team's strategic adaptability.Today in Miami

The Miami Marlins are navigating a complex roster situation as they manage injuries to key players like Kyle Stowers and Griffin Conine. With Stowers potentially shifting to first base and De Los Santos' status uncertain, the team is leveraging its depth and positional flexibility to maintain competitiveness despite the setbacks.

Why it matters

The Marlins' approach reflects a broader trend in MLB roster construction, where teams prioritize versatility and depth over rigid position specialization. This allows them to adapt to injuries and matchups, but also raises questions about maintaining consistency and cohesion.

The details

The Marlins are considering playing outfielder Kyle Stowers at first base, despite no prior experience there, in order to maximize their lineup flexibility. This comes as they juggle a makeshift first base situation with players like Connor Norby, Liam Hicks, Graham Pauley, and Deyvison De Los Santos. Meanwhile, the potential loss of the hot-hitting Griffin Conine to a hamstring injury underscores the fragility of early-season surges. De Los Santos' mid-game removal also raises concerns about the team's depth at first base as they aim to sustain their contention push.

  • Stowers is set to return from a hamstring setback.
  • Conine has been hitting at a .300/.390/.650 pace with 2 homers and steals.
  • De Los Santos was removed from a recent game due to an undisclosed issue.

The players

Kyle Stowers

A Marlins outfielder coming off a breakout 2025 season, now potentially shifting to first base to add roster flexibility.

Griffin Conine

A Marlins outfielder who has been on a hot start, but is now dealing with a hamstring injury.

Deyvison De Los Santos

A Marlins prospect who was recently removed from a game due to an undisclosed issue, potentially impacting their first base depth.

Connor Norby

A Marlins infielder who has been part of the team's makeshift first base situation.

Liam Hicks

A Marlins infielder who has been part of the team's makeshift first base situation.

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What’s next

The Marlins will monitor Stowers' transition to first base and Conine's recovery from the hamstring injury. They will also need to determine De Los Santos' status and how it impacts their first base depth.

The takeaway

The Marlins' approach to roster construction, emphasizing versatility and depth over rigid position specialization, reflects a broader trend in MLB. This strategy allows them to adapt to injuries and matchups, but also presents challenges in maintaining consistency and cohesion.