Bench roles are not the sexiest in Major League Baseball. There is a pinch-hit here, maybe a pinch-run there, mixed in with spot starts to give the real stars a rest now and again. They are also tougher than they look—bench players constantly deal with the pressure of the inevitable next top prospect call-up, having to consistently produce in order to avoid being sent back down to the minors—in some cases—for the umpteenth time.
Over the years, the Marlins have rarely sported a particularly competitive bench (1997 and 2003 being exceptions to the norm). Recently, the likes of Miguel Rojas and Derek Dietrich were impressive in a reserve role.