As Marlins pitchers face live hitters, at least one newcomer has impressed early
The Miami Marlins’ real evaluation of players in spring training will begin once Grapefruit League games begin on Saturday.
But manager Don Mattingly and his coaching staff are getting first impressions as the team takes live batting practice on the backfields of the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex over the next few days.
One of the pitchers who has already turned heads: Sterling Sharp.
Sharp, a 24-year-old right-hander with a four-pitch mix who the Marlins selected in December as part of the Rule 5 draft, threw his first session against live batters on Wednesday with several members of the front office observing.
“It’s good to face the hitters finally,” Sharp said. “Get some competition. It amps up your stuff and gets your adrenaline going.”
And the Marlins apparently liked what they saw, which is a good thing considering Miami needs to get a good eye test on Sharp over the first few weeks of spring training.
As a Rule 5 pick, Sharp not only has to make the Marlins’ 26-man Opening Day roster. He has to stay on Miami’s MLB roster for the entire 2020 season or else he will be returned to the Washington Nationals.
“It’s a tough spot for him and a tough spot for us because we have to make a decision fairly quick in spring training where you don’t like to make quick decisions on guys,” Mattingly said.
Sharp, a lanky 6-3, 170-pound pitcher, primarily uses a sinkerball — a pitch he started using in spring 2017 after watching video of Blake Treinen pitch — and complements it with a fastball, changeup and sinker.
“I went into spring just messing with that grip,” Sharp said of the sinkerball. “It had the action that I wanted.”
He spent most of last season with the Double A Harrisburg Senators, going 5-3 with a 3.99 ERA over nine starts. He struck out 45 while walking 14 in 49 2/3 innings and gave up just one home run last season.
He missed about three months in the middle of the season with an oblique injury.
The Marlins had a chance to scout Sharp during the Arizona Fall League, where he went 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA over six starts for the Surprise Saguaros. He gave up just four earned runs over 24 innings, striking out 24 batters while walking 11.
The Marlins will use him out of the bullpen next season should he make the big-league club.
“I like Sterling,” Mattingly said. “He’s a different look. He’s long and lanky. ... A guy that’s pretty poised, it looks like. It’ll be interesting to watch him work.”
Miami has essentially overhauled its bullpen. Of the 16 pitchers who the Marlins primarily used as relievers last season, just four remain in Adam Conley, Ryne Stanek, Jeff Brigham and Drew Steckenrider.
Marlins spring training observations
▪ Mattingly said the first few days of full-squad practices are more about “getting everybody’s feet underneath them” rather than full-on evaluation when it comes to position players. “It’s the opportunity to go through the bunt plays, go through the picks, cuts, relays, kind of get it back in their mind,” Mattingly said. “It’s pretty much like riding a bike.”
▪ With the Marlins playing their first Grapefruit League game on Saturday against the New York Mets in Port St. Luice, Mattingly said he anticipates having lineups for the first few games finalized by the end of practice on Friday.
▪ Protective netting at the main Roger Dean Stadium field is being extended to the end of the grandstands. It should be complete before spring training games begin at the field on Saturday.
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