The Miami Marlins witnessed the return of their star pitcher, Sandy Alcantara, last season after he was sidelined mid-2023 and missed the entire 2024 campaign due to Tommy John surgery. Although his performance in 2025 didn’t meet expectations, there are signs that Alcantara is on the path to reclaiming his former dominance as he prepares for a pivotal year ahead.

The Injury Is in the Past

After finishing the previous season with a career-high 5.36 ERA across 31 games and two years removed from surgery, Alcantara’s return to the mound this season offers hope for both Marlins fans and the broader MLB community.

Prior to his injury, Alcantara was one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League. In the season before he was shut down, he led the league in several key categories: complete games (six), innings pitched (228.2), batters faced (886), shutouts (one), and WAR (8.0). That impressive performance earned him his first Cy Young Award. While the injury set him back, his talent remains intact, and it’s crucial for him to recognize that.

According to Baseball Savant, Alcantara’s fastball velocity has remained well above average compared to other pitchers in the league. However, his overall pitching value was slightly below average. This season, he has the opportunity to elevate that value, making him a formidable presence on the mound.

Essentially a Contract Season

Whether or not Alcantara is traded this season, the Miami Marlins will need to make a decision about his future. He is under contract for 2026, and the team has placed a club option for 2027, which would see him earn $21 million, according to Spotrac.com.

Alcantara is set to make $17.3 million this season, and the 2026 season holds significant value in determining whether he can still perform at the level he did before his injury. Players like Alcantara have a competitive mindset, and if he knows that the $21 million isn’t guaranteed, he will do everything possible to ensure he earns that money in 2027, regardless of where he ends up playing.

Second Half Success

Alcantara’s first half of the season was challenging, as he posted an ERA above 7.00 in 18 games. It was expected that he would be slow to regain his form following his injury, but the way he finished the year showed that he was almost back to his usual self.

After the All-Star break, Alcantara recorded a 3.33 ERA in 13 games. He struck out the same number of batters as he did in the first half (71) while walking fewer hitters. Additionally, he missed more bats, allowing only 67 hits compared to 98 in the first half.

In the final two months of the season, Alcantara maintained an ERA below 4.00 and accumulated 61 strikeouts in 10 games. If he can carry this success into spring training and beyond, it will be a strong indication that Alcantara is once again a pitcher to fear in 2026.