This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Entering 2023, the Marlins were an afterthought among pundits, and who could blame them?

Miami was coming off a 93-loss season, tasked with competing in the National League East and led by first-time manager Skip Schumaker. 

Eight months later, the Marlins' magical run came to an end in a two-game National League Wild Card Series sweep against the host Phillies. After reaching the postseason in a full season for the first time in 20 years, it has left the players, coaches, front office and fans wanting more. 

"Since we've got here now, and we've already been here now, we know what it takes to win now," Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. "We know what it takes to play hard and win every pitch and make every play. That's how you get to the championship. [We've] just got to go hard every second and every pitch and make sure you stay focused and locked in. Don't listen to the crowd. It's just a lot."

Let's reflect on 2023 while also looking ahead to '24:

Defining moment

For the first time in seven years, the Marlins were buyers ahead of the Trade Deadline. General manager Kim Ng wanted to provide reinforcements after the existing roster continued to surprise the baseball world by being in the thick of the postseason picture. Third baseman Jake Burger and first baseman Josh Bell made the lineup deeper. Left-hander Ryan Weathers was seen as a reclamation project like Jesús Luzardo two years ago. Reliever David Robertson, who had an expiring contract, was brought in to add another late-inning option.

What we learned

Schumaker's primary objective was to build a winning culture, and he did so in his first year at the helm. The Marlins produced a 15-win turnaround in large part because of their ability to rally; their six wins when trailing by three-plus runs at the end of the seventh were the most by an MLB team in a season in the Modern Era, according to OptaSTATS. Miami also reversed its fortune in one-run ballgames. After being historically bad in 2022, Miami finished 33-14 with an MLB-best .702 winning percentage. Resilience will once again be crucial in '24 and beyond, since the organization will likely remain the perennial underdog.

"Skip said it best: We set the standard, we feel, going forward," left-hander Braxton Garrett said. "It's just something that we'll expect now. The expectation in the locker room during the regular season and coming around this time will be a lot different than what it's been. But again, we should be proud of what we've done, and we've set a good expectation."

Best development

When ace Sandy Alcantara and rookie Eury Pérez went down with injuries, breakout performers Luzardo and Garrett picked up the slack to help the Marlins reach the postseason. Luzardo finished with the eighth-highest FanGraphs WAR among NL pitchers. Garrett held opponents to one earned run or fewer in 16 starts -- second in MLB behind NL Cy Young frontrunner Blake Snell (17). Both Luzardo and Garrett blew past their previous career highs for innings, so they should be without restrictions come 2024.

Area for improvement

Despite the acquisitions of Burger and Bell, as well as All-Star seasons from Luis Arraez and Jorge Soler, the Marlins still finished with the fifth-fewest runs and tied for the eighth-fewest homers in the Majors. The inability to score more runs taxed the bullpen, which seemed to always be put in high-leverage situations as a result of close games. Miami needs to add more offense, in particular at shortstop (.578 OPS, lowest in MLB) and catcher (.570 OPS, second lowest). Sluggers Bell and Soler have player options, meaning they're not guaranteed to return in 2024.

Take your pick of closer Tanner Scott, switch-hitting infielder Xavier Edwards and No. 22 prospect Troy Johnston. Scott drastically cut down his walk rate and led NL relievers in strikeouts. He was most dominant in September/October, garnering NL Reliever of the Month honors. In his first year with the organization, Edwards batted .351 and was named Triple-A Jacksonville's MVP. He kept on hitting in the Majors, with a .295 average in 30 games. Marlins Minor League Player of the Year Johnston paced Minor League Baseball with 116 RBIs between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Jacksonville. 

Team MVP

Though the Marlins technically clinched a postseason berth without Arraez, whose left ankle sprain limited him over the season's final week, they wouldn't have gotten that far without him. Arraez, the reigning AL batting champion whom Miami acquired for Pablo López and two prospects, recorded a .354 average -- the highest in MLB since 2010. Not only did the 26-year-old spark the lineup primarily from the leadoff spot, with a penchant for timely knocks, but he also provided above-average defense at second base (four Defensive Runs Saved).

"He was the heartbeat of our lineup," Schumaker said. "He started the engine. I know it's cliché, but you hear that stuff, that is the one guy that I will say really changed the culture from Day 1 when he walked in our clubhouse. 'This is what work looks like. This is how you prepare every day. Jump on board.' I'm grateful for that trade because ... we talked about setting the standard. He definitely set that standard."