‘The kids’ have started strong this spring. The Marlins hope it’s a sign of what’s to come.
Don Mattingly relishes these chances. The Miami Marlins’ manager rolls through his spring training lineups and sees what could be in the not-so-distant future.
Top prospects on the cusp of their Major League Baseball debuts. Talent making its way through the system. Young players, most of whom weren’t in the organization or weren’t seen as major pieces in the long-term plan as recently as three years ago, making a strong first impression.
And there has been a lot to like with the early returns.
It could be first baseman Lewin Diaz or outfielder Jerar Encarnacion belting out opposite field home runs.
It could be outfielder Monte Harrison stealing bases.
It could be shortstop Jazz Chisholm or outfielder JJ Bleday putting together lengthy, professional at-bats and playing slick defense.
It could be pitcher Edward Cabrera flashing his 99 mph fastball and showing solid command of all three of his pitches.
It reminds Mattingly of some of the spring trainings when he was managing the Los Angeles Dodgers, when top players such as Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager were getting their first tastes of MLB spring training.
“You look forward to getting those guys in there where you’re going to see them on a daily basis because that’s where you get a better read on how they’re handling things,” Mattingly said. “It’s fun watching these guys compete and watching them grow. You know they’re getting closer to this point. It’s good.”
It’s also a signal that this Marlins rebuild, orchestrated by the Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter ownership group when they took over in October 2017, could finally be turning the corner.
The highest-leveled prospects in the Marlins’ consensus top-10 minor-league system are finally bubbling toward being MLB ready, the start of the first full wave of new blood moving up to the organization’s highest level.
The returns from those big-name trades in the first two offseasons — the ones that shipped away Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and J.T. Realmuto — are starting to come around for the Marlins. So, too, are the prospects acquired at the July 31 trade deadline last year.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’ve seen the talent since I got here,” said Chisholm, acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Zac Gallen last July. “It’s just amazing talent from rookie ball up. I’m going to keep repeating it. I see it coming.”
Nine of the Marlins’ top-12 prospects and 22 of their top 30 overall were brought into the organization under the new regime.
Four of those top five — pitcher Sixto Sanchez, outfielder Jesus Sanchez, Chisholm and Harrison — are all expected to play major roles for the team in the not-so-distant future.
“Guys are going to start pushing, so that’s a good thing,” said Jeter, the Marlins’ CEO and Hall of Fame shortstop with the Yankees. “I came up in an organization that preached competition.
“When you’re ready to play, you’re going to get the opportunity.”
‘They’re not afraid’
While spring training performance doesn’t necessarily guarantee future MLB success, the effort level the Marlins’ prospects have shown through the first week of Grapefruit League games has been enough to please Mattingly.
The results they have put up is a bonus.
The Marlins enter Friday with a 6-0 record in spring training with the wins coming in large part because of the younger players stepping up in key situations.
Chisholm is 3 for 3 with three walks, two RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Harrison, part of the Yelich trade, has stolen three bases and has impressed in the outfield.
Encarnacion, one of the holdovers from the previous regime, has hit two towering home runs — one through the wind to right-center field against the Mets on Saturday and one to straightaway center against the Houston Astros on Tuesday.
Diaz, part of the July 31 trade with the Twins last season, has impressed defensively at first base and has power potential as a left-handed hitter.
“The kids are playing well,” Mattingly said. “You get kids with talent, they want to show you they can play. And they’re not afraid. That’s what happens when you get good young players who are talented and confident.”
‘Show your true colors’
The players throughout the clubhouse — from the veterans to the prospects to the nonroster invites — recognize the increased talent this spring training and the competition it is creating as a result.
“With guys coming up through the system, you’re either competing to get up here or you’re competing to stay up here,” said Garrett Cooper, who was the Marlins’ Opening Day right fielder each of the past two seasons. “You see all the young guys hitting. There’s just tons and tons of talent all throughout.”
And eventually — quite possibly sooner than later — those young guys could force the Marlins’ hand and create some difficult decisions for the front office.
Most, if not all, of the big names will start the season in the minor leagues, creating a possible super team of prospects in Triple A Wichita, Kansas.
But strong enough performances through the rest of spring training and quick starts once the season begins could be enough to open the floodgates and start infusing the kids into the big-league roster.
“Competition either makes you or breaks you,” Harrison said. “It’s one of those things that puts you in a position to be successful or it’s going to show your true colors. A lot of the guys in the locker room, we know it’s a competition but at the end of the day, it’s all love. We all know individually, we have to do what we have to do.”
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 12:24 PM.
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