Observations from the Miami Marlins’ first team workout ahead of shortened MLB season
The sounds of baseballs popping into gloves and cracking off bats along with a mix of hip-hop and Latin music and some trash talking from players filled the mostly empty Marlins Park on Friday afternoon.
For the first time in three-plus months, here they were. A group of more than 30 Miami Marlins players and their coaching staff back together for the team’s first organized workout since the coronavirus pandemic brought the sport to a standstill on March 12.
It’s the next step to getting ready for the shortened 2020 season, a 60-game sprint that starts on July 23.
“You do feel that same excitement that you feel early in spring or when you first get into spring training,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “You can see the guys are legitimately excited about being back. I’m sure they have fears and are dealing with a lot of just change with the protocols and testing. ... All that’s different, but when we got out on the field and guys start working, it felt a lot like the beginning of spring training knowing that our opportunity is here.”
Some observations from Day One of the Marlins’ summer camp...
▪ Not all of the 42 players designated to practice at Marlins Park were in attendance, which isn’t surprising. A group of players are still waiting the results of their COVID-19 test taken during intake screening on Wednesday. The Marlins are not announcing how many or which players test positive, but Mattingly did note the team did not have to send any players who attended practice home because they were experiencing symptoms.
The Miami Herald identified 33 players who were part of Friday’s workouts, which were split into two sessions: Pitchers Sandy Alcantara, Sterling Sharp, Jeff Brigham, Caleb Smith, Jordan Yamamoto, Elieser Hernandez, Pablo Lopez, Ryan Cook, Ryne Stanek, Adam Conley, Jose Urena, Robert Dugger, Stephen Tarpley, Drew Steckenrider, Yimi Garcia, Nick Neidert, Brandon Kintzler and Josh A. Smith; catchers Jorge Alfaro, Francisco Cervelli, Ryan Lavarnway and Chad Wallach; infielders Miguel Rojas, Isan Diaz, Garrett Cooper and Eddy Alvarez; and outfielders Monte Harrison, Harold Ramirez, Jonathan Villar, Corey Dickerson and Magneuris Sierra; and utility players Jon Berti and Sean Rodriguez.
Pitchers warmed up and stretched down the third-base line. Position players were down the first-base line.
Another 18 players, primarily top prospects, are practicing in Jupiter at the team’s spring training facility at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
▪ Rojas, Dickerson and Cervelli participated in the first set of batting practice. Mattingly primarily stayed with the hitters during the first day of workouts. He, hitting coach Eric Duncan and bench coach James Rowson gave feedback throughout batting practice.
Alvarez, Rojas and Diaz were among those who took part in infield drills.
▪ President of baseball operations Michael Hill, chief executive officer and part-owner Derek Jeter, and chief operating officer Caroline O’Connor watched a portion of batting practice from the stands behind home plate.
▪ Coaches wore gloves as they threw to hitters, a new requirement under MLB’s 2020 operations manual to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Players did not have to wear masks while on the field. Everyone else did.
This story was originally published July 3, 2020 at 2:44 PM.
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