Marlins catcher Fortes impresses on defense in first game back — a 3-2 loss to the A’s

As Miami Marlins catcher Nick Fortes prepared Sunday to play his first game in three and a half weeks, he noted that it felt good to be able to throw a ball and swing a bat without pain in his side.

“And cough and sneeze without feeling it, as well,” he added.

Then in the second inning of Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Athletics at loanDepot park, Fortes made a stellar defensive play that showed he’s fully recovered from the left oblique strain that sidelined him for 20 games.

He snared center fielder Dane Myers’ 94-mph throw home — wide and short of the plate — on Jhonny Pereda’s single, lunged left with his glove and, from his backside and fully extended, tagged Gio Urshela’s ankle to rob the A’s of their third run of the inning.

“Welcome back Nick FORTress” the Marlins’ official X account posted with an accompanying video clip of the play.

Back, and newly mustachioed.

“Rehab makes you do crazy things, honestly,” Fortes said of his facial hair, smiling. “Just sitting back not being with the team for a week when they were on the West Coast, I drove myself insane. So, I needed a new identity.”

Much like Fortes’ face, the Marlins’ catching situation has a fresh look upon his return. In his absence, Agustín Ramírez, who made his MLB debut April 21 against the Reds, joined the rotation.

Along with fellow rookie Liam Hicks, who shared catching duties with Fortes before Fortes’ injury and split starts with Ramírez the past two weeks, the Marlins have multiple options behind the plate.

“I think we’ve got a great dynamic,” Fortes said. “We really get along. We’re all helping each other get better, and we all want the best for each other. And I think there’s a lot we can learn from each of us.”

How will the catchers share starts moving forward?

“It’ll sort itself out,” Marlins’ manager Clayton McCullough said. “All of them will be in the mix. We know ‘Gus’ big development is on the defensive side, and we believe this is the best place for him to continue that development, and he’ll still get behind the plate. … It will be kind of mixing and matching and moving around. They’re all going to get opportunities to start.”

Ramirez served as the designated hitter Sunday — a role he filled in four recent games when Hicks was behind the plate. McCullough said there’s no plan to play any of the three catchers at first base to keep a bat in the lineup.

Forte also singled in his return Sunday — one of five hits for the Marlins.

“Nick looked great. Got off some really good swings in his at-bats and the play at the plate, great throw by Dane, but I think Nick, a lot of athleticism to go up the line like that, catch, and tag,” McCullough said. “He had some really good blocks, received well. It’s nice to have Nick back. He jumped right back in there and did a really solid job.”

Ramirez was hitless for the fourth time in five games, a stretch in which he is 1 for 20. As with Hicks, “there is still a lot of meat on the bone” regarding ways he can improve, catching coach and assistant catching director Joe Singley noted before the game. That includes learning nuances of the position, he said.

“They’re having to sink or swim. They’re figuring it out right now at the major-league level, and they’re doing a pretty good job of that,” Singley said. “It’s continuing every day to put the work in and stay prepared for when those opportunities arise.”

Paired with his usual catcher Sunday, Marlins starter Edward Cabrera had a solid outing, allowing two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.

“This was a really good version of Eddie,” McCullough said. “He was in control. He really spun the ball well, and he kept the count in his favor for the most part. That allowed him to use all his weapons. It was [a start] Cabby can certainly build upon.”

“I truly trust in my curveball,” Cabrera said via team interpreter Luis Dorante Jr.

Of working with Fortes again, Cabrera said, “Nick is a really good guy behind the plate. He has a lot of experience in the league and every time we have a start, we talk between innings and always stay on the same page.”

▪ Second baseman Otto Lopez was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Friday, with a right ankle sprain. Javier Sanoja replaced Lopez in the lineup again.

▪ Myers’ outfield assist was his fourth of the season, tied for second in the majors. Two innings later, his two-run double off starter JP Sears knotted the score at 2.

▪ Sandy Alcantara will start Monday against the Dodgers, with fellow right-handers Cal Quantrill and Valente Bellozo scheduled to throw against them Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Alcantara, who was rocked by the Dodgers in his last start Wednesday in Los Angeles, said his approach will be to, “be more aggressive. Attack them. It doesn’t matter the situation. Don’t let them take too many pitches from me. Because when I’ve been all the time behind the count, they got the advantage.

“But let’s see [Monday],” he added. “I’m going to be out there and compete with my best stuff.”