Alcantara rebounds from poor spring start and gives Marlins a reminder of his talent
Sandy Alcantara’s first three innings on Friday were what the Miami Marlins have been wanting to see — and frankly need to see — this spring training. The start of the fourth? There’s room for improvement. The 24-year-old right-handed pitcher and potential ace for this Marlins staff is coming off a season in which he was named an All-Star and strung together 10 solid starts to finish the season.
And after two rough starts to begin his spring regiment, Alcantara finally looked like the pitcher the Marlins know he can be early against the Washington Nationals.
Alcantara threw three scoreless and hitless innings before running into trouble in the fourth with a one-out walk and base hit to consecutive batters before reaching his pitch count. Both runners eventually scored.
Alcantara struck out three batters, allowed just four baserunners (two walks, one hit, one fielding error) and 35 of his 56 pitches went for strikes.
“I felt really good,” Alcantara said. “My command was there. I attacked the zone. I don’t have to think about the bad things. I just have to get out there and compete.”
Alcantara knows expectations are high this season, and he could have been putting extra pressure on himself as spring training began.
A simple reset, a self-reminder of what talent he has when he doesn’t overthink on the mound, helped the soft-spoken pitcher get his aggressive mentality back.
“Sometimes, I get too cute,” Alcantara said. “Sometimes, you’re going to be lost in the game, but you don’t have to think about that. All you have to do is keep improving and keep getting better.”
There was an uptick in velocity, too. Alcantara’s four-seam fastball and sinker averaged 95.6 and 95.3 mph, respectively, last season. On Friday, the four-seam fastball topped out at 99.1 mph on the stadium’s radar gun. That pitch resulted in an Asdrubal Cabrera swinging strikeout to cap a seven-pitch first inning.
Alcantara then won a 10-pitch battle with Yadiel Hernandez to start the second by getting him to fly out to Lewis Brinson in left field. Six of the 10 pitches registered at 98 mph. He then worked around a walk with a lineout and flyout.
Emilio Bonafacio reached base on a fielding error by second baseman Jon Berti in the third before Alcantara forced Wilmer Difo and Kurt Suzuki to fly out to center and left, respectively.
Alcantara struck out Cabrera a second time to begin the fourth before walking Hernandez and giving up an infield single to Wellington Castillo.
Overall, it was a needed showing from Alcantara, who gave up seven earned runs and walked seven batters in just 3 2/3 innings over his first two starts this spring training. He projects to be the Marlins’ Opening Day starter should he round into form before the season begins against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 26.
“I’m confident in Sandy and who he is and who he’s going to be,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s working, and that’s my main thing. It’s not like he’s walking guys and going ‘Oh, it’s no big deal.’ You want the confidence to know that he’s going to be fine, but he’s also got to continue to get himself in good spots and be in good positions when he’s throwing the ball.”
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