5 Marlins franchise records that could be broken in May 2017

What keeps you engaged with the Miami Marlins so early in the regular season? Maybe it’s accepting that the universe works in mysterious ways, and today’s game could be the last one you’ll ever get to enjoy. Talk about seeing the Fish tank half empty! Personally, I’m excited about several franchise records potentially changing hands in May 2017, and I don’t want to miss a single one.

Longtime Marlins players, acquisitions from this past winter and even the fans themselves will determine whether or not we witness history being made this month.

Highest career slugging percentage

Current record holder: Gary Sheffield (.543 SLG)

Giancarlo Stanton is on the cusp of reclaiming his rightful place as the leading power threat in Marlins history. Stanton boasted a .547 career slugging percentage through his age-25 season before an inconsistent 2016, which dragged him slightly beneath Gary Sheffield's mark. Stanton enters May with some ground to make up (.539 SLG), but he’s no stranger to monster months:

• .769 SLG, 108 AB in May 2012
• .759 SLG, 83 AB in August 2012
• .800 SLG, 90 AB in June 2015

Most career extra-base hits

Current record holder: Hanley Ramirez (406 XBH)

Stanton again! He’s only 27 years old and has lost significant playing time due to injuries, yet it would take nothing more than his usual production to seize sole possession of first place (currently 397 XBH). Miami’s next several weeks are heavy on inter-league matchups, including four games where the designated hitter will be in effect. As if Stanton needed any more help, he has slashed .325/.386/.625 with six extra-base hits in 10 lifetime starts at DH.

Fastest to 100 stolen bases

Current record holder: Juan Pierre (288 games)

Five players have swiped 100 bags for the Fish, and that club will soon need to make room for another member, Dee Gordon (92 SB). It’s just a question of how long he takes to achieve the milestone. Cracking triple digits at any point in May—or even the first half of June—would mean unseating Pierre. Gordon doesn’t reach base quite as often (.338 OBP in his first 247 Marlins games), but has cherished each stolen base opportunity (76.6 SB%).

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

Largest Marlins Park attendance for a single month

Current record holder: June 2012 (472,652)

This month begins with Miami tied in the loss column for the National League’s second Wild Card spot. You could interpret that as an encouraging sign, considering that April included only nine home games (among the lowest totals in the majors). The upcoming schedule makes up for that deficit with 17 May games at Marlins Park. Average attendance (24,996 per game) is as high as it’s been since the stadium’s debut season. Maybe the combination of promotions, giveaways, winning baseball and a Memorial Day weekend rush allows them to challenge the record.

Most consecutive starts without a win to begin Marlins career

Current record holder: Kevin Olsen (10 GS)

Edinson Volquez’s three hits this season are as many as the rest of the team’s pitchers have combined, so at least he’s “helping his own cause.” However, everything else has been an issue, most notably run support (2.8 RS/GS) and elevated pitch counts forcing him to exit early. He’s already halfway to matching this unfortunate streak without any easy victories on the horizon. Alex Cobb, Matt Harvey and Julio Teheran are listed as the probable opposing starters for Volquez’s next three outings.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference unless otherwise specified.