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Miami Marlins 2021 Position Preview: Middle Infield Mash-Up

By Sean Millerick

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Jazz Chisholm #70 of the Miami Marlins and Miguel Rojas #19 celebrate defeating the Atlanta Braves 8-0 at Truist Park on September 8, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Jazz Chisholm #70 of the Miami Marlins and Miguel Rojas #19 celebrate defeating the Atlanta Braves 8-0 at Truist Park on September 8, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Jon Berti, Miami Marlins  Pos: 2B/SS/OF  2020 Stats: .258, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 9 SB

Projected Starter: No        Fantasy Value: 5 OF Leagues/Roto      Chance To Make Team: 100% 

If Jon Berti is starting for the Miami Marlins come Opening Day, it probably means something didn’t go according to plan this spring.

Berti’s value, for both the Marlins and deep fantasy baseball rotisserie leagues, is as a super utility option. Berti made multiple starts at five different positions in 2020: 2B, CF, RF, 3B, and SS. Those outfield appearances should be fewer and farther between in 2021, however, given Miami’s recent signing of Adam Duvall and the need of keeping Garrett Cooper‘s bat in the lineup. Having a player that flexible is huge though, especially if the NL does indeed go back to playing without a DH.

Berti did take a big step back in batting average last season, hitting .258 after recording a career high of .273 the year before. However, he did just post a career high .388 OBP, good for second on the team among qualifiers. Perhaps more impressive, or at least more exciting, is the fact that Berti maintained his exact stolen base pace (.23 per game) from 2019 in 2020: if he ever plays 162 games for whatever reason, he is stealing over 40 bases.

So why not start him then? It’s all about potential. With less than 400 MLB at bats to his name, it’s easy to forget that he’s been a professional baseball player since 2011. At 31 years old, the drop off is coming, and his best skills (athleticism and speed) do not age well. Despite being as controllable as anyone on the roster, Miami needs to see what they have in the rest of their options, as all of them project much higher ceilings.

Berti should start Opening Day, but Miami will do everything possible to make sure that honor goes to another name on this list.

Berti Best Case: Wins starting job, hits .265 with 10 HRs and 40 steals

Berti Worst Case: Age wins, .250 or worse with 10 SBs, but he does it as a starter because the competition disappoints.

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