Marlins' Nick Fortes activates, starts against A's

Miami Marlins catcher Nick Fortes has been reinstated from the injured list after missing nearly a month with a Grade 1 oblique strain and is starting behind the plate. Fortes began the season as the team’s primary catcher and performed well offensively, but during his absence, prospect Agustin Ramirez excelled in the role with impressive hitting numbers. Ramirez, still developing his defensive skills as a catcher, is expected to continue splitting duties with Fortes, possibly also serving as designated hitter when not catching. Meanwhile, rookie Liam Hicks has quietly contributed both offensively and defensively, and as a Rule 5 pick, must remain on the Marlins’ roster or be offered back to his previous team. The Marlins now face a roster crunch at catcher, needing to balance development and roster requirements among Fortes, Ramirez, and Hicks.