The Marlins called pitches from the dugout — exclusively. How did that go?

The Miami Marlins became the first team to call pitches exclusively from the dugout across an entire 162-game season in 2026. First-year assistant pitching coach Rob Marcello led the strategy after testing it in 2025. The process involved regular organizational review sessions with front office staff, including president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and general manager Gabe Kapler, alongside coaching staff members Daniel Moskos and Bill Hezel.

Pitchers shook off signals ten or fewer times per game, with Tyler Phillips shaking the least and Eury Pérez shaking more frequently. Marcello noted that if a pitcher rejected a call, the battery decided the next selection. He also consulted retired catcher A.J. Ellis to navigate the mental strain of calling an entire season.