The Marlins will activate Kyle Stowers off the injured list on Sunday, clearing the way for the All-Star outfielder to make his season debut after being sidelined with a hamstring strain, providing a significant boost to a team currently sitting second in the NL East with a 9-11 record.
Manager Clayton McCullough said before Saturday's game against Milwaukee that Stowers, who was at the ballpark, is ready to go. "Everything from the rehab checked out," McCullough said. "He continued to check the necessary boxes. I think certainly there was a physical component with how he felt, how the hamstring was."
Rehab Process Complete
Stowers, who strained his right hamstring in spring training, made five rehab appearances with Triple-A Jacksonville, including outings on Thursday and Friday. "He got back-to-back, nine-inning games," McCullough said. "I think he came out of that feeling like he's in a really good spot physically. Also, I think mentally now he feels like, 'OK, I'm kind of over this.'"
The return addresses a clear need for offensive production. This season, the Marlins are sixth in the league in total hits with 171, 11th in runs with 93, and 10th in RBIs with 90. "Getting Kyle back in the lineup will really be a nice boost to help lengthen some things out," McCullough said.
Career Breakout in 2025
Stowers is coming off a career-best year in 2025 when he recorded 115 hits, 25 home runs and 73 RBIs in 117 games, earning his first career All-Star nod before a left oblique strain sidelined him for the final stretch of the season. He led Miami in home runs and RBIs while becoming the first Marlins outfielder to be named an NL All-Star since Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton in 2017.
Before breaking out last season, Stowers was shuffling back and forth between Triple-A Norfolk and Baltimore—which drafted him in the second round of the 2019 amateur draft—trying to establish himself as a major leaguer. The Orioles eventually dealt him to Miami, where he batted .186 in his first 50 games. But last season was the start of his ascension. He began that year by singling in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Paul Skenes and Pittsburgh on opening day.
Team Impact Beyond Statistics
McCullough emphasized Stowers' value extends beyond his offensive numbers. "Kyle is a really steady teammate. A lot of guys lean on him. He's not usually too up and down. I think he handles things in stride very well. And a lot of that probably is due to just his path of getting here. He's been knocked down a lot, but he keeps getting up."
The Marlins are currently second in the NL East behind Atlanta, which holds a 13-7 record, looking to build on the momentum from last year's surprising 79-83 season.
Why This Matters:
Stowers' return provides the Marlins with proven production at a critical position, addressing offensive deficiencies that have left the team in the middle of league rankings for key batting categories despite a competitive division standing. His 25 home runs and 73 RBIs from last season represent significant power that the current roster lacks, particularly as the team attempts to build on last year's improvement and compete in a division led by Atlanta. Beyond statistics, his presence offers leadership stability during the early-season grind, with McCullough noting teammates rely on his steady approach. For a franchise seeking to establish consistent competitiveness after years of rebuilding, retaining and developing talent like Stowers—who persevered through minor league shuttling before breaking through—demonstrates the value of organizational patience and player development over costly free agent acquisitions.