The Miami Marlins have added another Canadian into the mix.
In a video posted to the team's social media accounts on Friday, Miami revealed that Toronto catcher Liam Hicks has earned a spot on the opening-day roster. Manager Clayton McCullough gave Hicks the news after calling him in to a meeting.
Hicks was selected second overall by the Marlins in December's Rule 5 Draft from the Detroit Tigers. The 25-year-old spent 2024 with the double-A affiliates of the Texas Rangers and Tigers, posting a combined .264/.379/.357 slash line with six homers and 47 RBIs.
Through 12 games with Miami this spring, Hicks has reached base at a .424 clip while getting acclimated to his new organization.
Since he was selected in the Rule 5 Draft, if Hicks didn't crack the Marlins' 26-man roster to begin the season, he would have had to be offered back to Detroit and, now, must remain on the active roster for the entirety of 2025, unless he gets hurt.
Hicks was originally drafted by Texas in the ninth round of 2021 draft out of Arkansas State University. The left-handed hitting backstop had slowly climbed the organizational ranks before being dealt to the Tigers for fellow catcher Carson Kelly ahead of last year's trade deadline.
Hicks joins infielder Otto Lopez and right-handed starter Cal Quantrill as Canadians set to play in the big leagues with Miami this season. He and Nick Fortes will form the Marlins' catching duo to begin the year.
The Marlins begin their 2025 schedule at home on March 27 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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