JUPITER, Fla. -- The Marlins’ Grapefruit League schedule comes to a close a week from today, and there are still key decisions to be made regarding the Opening Day roster ahead of the March 27 matchup against the Pirates at loanDepot park.
Here are three key battles that will come down to the wire:
FIRST BASE Who is in the mix?
Matt Mervis, Jonah Bride, Eric Wagaman
From which side do they bat?
Lefty: Mervis
Righty: Bride, Wagaman
How many options do they have?
None: Bride
One: Mervis
Three: Wagaman
What are their Grapefruit League stats (entering Sunday)?
Mervis: .313/.333/.656 with 3 HR, 7 RBIs (both team highs), 1 BB, 10 K in 10 G
Bride: .138/.278/.241 with 1 2B, 1 3B, 6 BB, 4 K in 11 G
Wagaman: .194/.306/.387 with 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 5 BB, 9 K in 10 G
Take Spring Training stats with a grain of salt because they feature small samples, inconsistent playing time and variables like pitchers trying out new offerings or sequences. Manager Clayton McCullough also noted that the staff is looking at the quality of the at-bats and not just the results. What else is there to know? McCullough doesn’t see much defensive separation between the trio, so on any given day the other could serve as the club’s designated hitter. Bride and Wagaman can also play third, plus the latter has seen time in the corner outfield in the past. No. 25 prospect Graham Pauley, who is a corner infielder, could also factor in. |
OUTFIELD Who is in the mix? Derek Hill, Kyle Stowers, Griffin Conine, Dane Myers
Who can play where? All three positions: Hill, Myers, Stowers
From which side do they bat? Lefty: Stowers, Conine Righty: Hill, Myers How many options do they have? None: Hill One: Myers, Stowers Three: Conine
What are their Grapefruit League stats (entering Sunday)? Hill: .242/.375/.424 with 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 7 BB, 10 K in 11 G Conine: .258/.343/.355 with 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 3 BB, 8 K, in 11 G Myers: .286/.429/.286 with 2 RBIs, 7 BB, 10 K, 3 SB in 11 G Stowers: .167/.394/.167 with 2 RBIs, 9 BB, 12 K, 2 SB in 10 G What else is there to know? The Marlins announced Jesús Sánchez will miss the start of the season with a left oblique strain, which likely means every member of the aforementioned quartet makes the club. Miami had been testing out Sánchez and Stowers in center this spring. No. 15 prospect Javier Sanoja is a utility player that has seen time in left and center, and Pauley also played the corners in the Padres’ system.
McCullough’s word of the spring has been “positionality.” He believes the entire outfield group consists of solid defenders, so he would feel good with any combination. |
BULLPEN Who likely has a spot locked in? RHP Calvin Faucher, RHP Jesus Tinoco, RHP Anthony Bender, RHP Declan Cronin, RHP Lake Bachar Who is vying for a spot? RHP Ronny Henriquez, LHP Anthony Veneziano, RHP George Soriano, RHP Connor Gillispie, LHP Josh Simpson What’s their roster status? Non-roster invitee: Simpson 40-man: Henriquez, Veneziano, Soriano, Gillispie How many options do they have? None: Henriquez One: Soriano Two: Gillispie, Veneziano What are their Grapefruit League stats (entering Sunday)? Henriquez: 6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 HR, 2 BB, 8 K in 5 G Soriano: 7 IP, 5 H, 4 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 8 K in 6 G Veneziano: 7 1/3 IP, 8 H, 5 R (4 ER), 7 BB, 6 K in 7 G Simpson: 5 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K in 4 G Gillispie: 8 IP, 1 BB, 4 K in 4 G Assuming the previously mentioned “locks” make the club, that leaves three open spots in the bullpen. The 40-man roster is full, so the Marlins would need to clear space in order to add an NRI. Henriquez and Soriano had minor hiccups on Friday but have been impressive otherwise. McCullough has said if the southpaws don’t show enough consistency, he is confident in some of the righties being able to neutralize lefty sluggers. Miami might also lean on guys being able to go multiple innings rather than carrying a traditional long man. |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Earlier this week, the Marlins unveiled their 2025 bobblehead lineup: Jeff Conine (March 30), legendary Cuban singer Celia Cruz (May 18), Jim Leyland (July 6), Jack McKeon (Aug. 3), Luis Castillo (Aug. 24) and Xavier Edwards (Sept. 14). Conine, Leyland, McKeon and Castillo are part of the Marlins' inaugural Legends Hall of Fame class. For more information, click here. |
Juan Pierre (left) manages Marlins prospects during Spring Breakout. (Jasen Vinlove/Marlins) |
Marlins past, present and future came together during Friday’s Spring Breakout. Juan Pierre, who frequents camp, managed the club’s top prospects to a 3-3 tie with the Cardinals’ prospects at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Pierre was surprised when the Marlins asked him if he would like to manage. While he has no interest in doing so at the MLB or Minor League levels, he does coach his sons’ youth teams. “I was like, ‘You sure? You’ve got much better options than me out there, trust me,’” Pierre said. As Friday’s game got into the later innings, the 47-year-old Pierre was ready to get creative if the showcase dragged on. He wanted to avoid rush-hour traffic to Pembroke Pines, Fla., for a 10U game at 6 p.m. ET. “Good experience,” Pierre said. “I'm glad I stuck around. I told the umpire around the seventh inning, if this game lasts long, I'm going to run out there and just toss me, so get me chucked so I can get on the turnpike a little earlier.” |
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