One of the most fascinating people to rank on a list of all-time Marlins is Liván Hernández, the star of the 1997 Playoffs.

Liván Hernández arrived in South Florida in 1996 as a figure of immense political and athletic intrigue, having defected from Cuba just a year earlier. While he possessed a high-velocity arm and a signature "slow" curveball, his residency in Miami was ultimately defined by a singular, lightning-strike October that transformed him from a rookie prospect into a postseason immortal.

After a solid 1997 regular season with a 9-3 record and a 3.18 ERA, Hernández reached a career highlight in the playoffs. He delivered one of the franchise's most memorable performances in Game 5 of the NLCS, striking out a record 15 Atlanta Braves in a complete-game performance. This achievement earned him the NLCS MVP award, but he continued to excel. Hernández demonstrated complete command during the Fall Classic, winning two additional games against Cleveland to secure the World Series MVP, becoming only the fourth player to earn both honors in the same season.

Following a grueling 1998 campaign in which he logged a career-high 234.1 innings, Hernández’s efficiency began to waver, and the organization finalized a trade sending him to the San Francisco Giants in July of 1999. Hernandez would have greater individual success with the Expos/Nationals, representing them in the All-Star Game twice.  As a Marlin, Hernandez had a record of 24-24, with a 4.39 ERA and 333 Strikeouts.  Notably, he was also an excellent defensive player and an above-average hitting Pitcher, accumulating 35 Hits with a .222 Batting Average for the team.

Mark Kotsay came to South Florida in 1997 as the top amateur, after winning the Golden Spikes Award and College World Series at Cal State Fullerton. Drafted ninth in 1996, he quickly reached the majors in under a year.

In 1998, Kotsay excelled defensively, leading all Major League outfielders with 20 assists. He had a strong, cannon-like arm that discouraged baserunners. Despite team struggles after the veteran purge, Kotsay's rookie season was impressive, batting .279 with 11 home runs and a 3.9 bWAR, the highest on the team. He demonstrated complete control of center field, showing that his amateur skills translated well to the professional level.

Kotsay plateaued in offensive efficiency over the next two summers. In 2000, he achieved a career-high .298 average, 12 home runs, and 19 stolen bases.  Just days before Opening Day in 2001. In a move that shocked the fanbase, the organization finalized a trade that sent Kotsay to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Matt Clement and Eric Owens.

Kotsay compiled 439 hits, 31 home runs, and a .282 batting average as a Marlin.

Mike Redmond arrived in South Florida in 1992 as one of the first building blocks of the expansion Marlins, signing as an undrafted free agent out of Gonzaga. While he didn't carry the "first-round" pedigree of his teammates, he operated with a gritty, professional durability that kept him in the organization for over a decade.

After six years of grinding in the system, Redmond hit an immediate impact peak in May 1998, going 3-for-3 with a home run in his first major league game. He demonstrated complete strike zone control during his rookie year, batting.331 and showing his bat was a key asset even in part-time play. Quickly earning a reputation as a reliable mainstay who could stay "locked in" despite limited playing time, he won the Charlie Hough "Good Guy" Award in 1999 for his conduct on and off the field.

In '02, he set a career high with 89 games and a.305 batting average, serving as a specialized foil to starters. His Marlins legacy was cemented in 2003 when he backed up Iván Rodríguez on the way to the World Series. Though his hits mostly were singles, 380 in total, his skill in managing pitchers and delivering clutch hits made him a clubhouse giant.

Redmond signed with Minnesota after the 2004 season.

Steve Cishek arrived in Miami as a fifth-round pick in 2007, a gangly right-hander whose sidearm delivery and sinking velocity made him an immediate intrigue for the organization's bullpen. After a brief run in 2010, in which he threw over four scoreless innings, he returned in 2011 to become a permanent fixture in the late innings.

While he showcased an ability to induce ground balls and missing bats, his 2012 transition to closer sealed his status as a top late-inning reliever. Taking over for struggling Heath Bell, Cishek led the National League with 62 games finished, recording 15 saves. His funky delivery proved a reliable asset against top hitters in high-pressure situations.

During 2013-2014, he showed consistency, converting 34 of 36 saves in '13 with a 2.33 ERA, and set an MLB record for saves on a team losing 100 games. In 2014, he hit a career-high 39 saves and achieved 33 consecutive saves, marking historic milestones.

After a tough start that lowered his efficiency, the organization traded him mid-season to the St. Louis Cardinals for prospect Kyle Barraclough. Cishek finished 191 Games for the Marlins with 94 Saves.