Grading spring training performances of 3 Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins have another challenging year ahead of them. They are all but doomed this season with the highest hopes being that they can nudge out the Washington Nationals and not finish last in the National League East. This season will be another year of low payroll, benefiting from the luxury tax, and cultivating young talent.

Let’s look at three young Miami Marlins making some noise this spring and if the hype is an overreaction or reality

Eury Pérez

The baseball world waits anxiously for Marlins 6-foot-8 flame thrower Eury Pérez to become the ace he is destined to be. In his three spring appearances, he is showing all the signs Marlins coaches are looking for: triple-digit fastball, 92 mph nasty changeup, and developing a curve and slider.

Rob Friedman posted on Twitter highlighting some off Perez’s heat.

Reigning NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, who has been mentoring Pérez, said. “First pitch of the game, 98 [mph], is something that I didn’t do when I was young like him. You saw it. He was a little nervous. But that happened to me, that happened to everybody. He’s talented. Hopefully, he’ll get the opportunity in September, hopefully, we can see him in September. He’s got to keep working hard, keep being healthy and keep competing, and he’ll get the opportunity.”

While his spring has been impressive, the Marlins won’t be competitive in the NL East this year and have no plans on starting his big league clock just yet. Sadly, Perez’s 2023 hype is an overreaction.

Jesus Luzardo, SP

Jesus Luzardo closed out last season scorching hot, going six innings in each of his last five starts and recording 12 strikeouts in his final start. He has continued this streak into the spring, then to the WBC, pitching for Venezuela, posting 10 strikeouts in 8.2 innings before heading to the WBC and shutting down Israel with 5 strikeouts in 4 innings.

Miami will keep his win total down this year, but he will post a significant ERA, K/BB ratio, and a ton of strikeouts. He should be on all fantasy players’ radars, and his spring performance is a reality.

Jesus Sánchez, LF

Jesus Sánchez is slated to Miami’s everyday left fielder, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Sanchez has gone 9-for-27 this spring with four doubles and three stolen bases. In short, he has been impressive. However, Sánchez sports a high strike-out-to-walk ratio which tells us he may still be carrying the plate discipline issues we saw last year. Nevertheless, I like Sánchez this year. Due to the new baserunning rules, we will see a massive increase in stolen bases, and he can easily swipe a bag. You heard it here first … the spring performance by Sánchez is a reality.

Miami Marlins keep building

It’s unfortunate for the Marlins to be in the division with this years Mets, Phillies, and Braves, all poised for a World Series run. They will have to do what they always do, develop young kids and, when the time is right, spend some of the accumulated cash and make a run … followed by a fire sale.