Why one Marlins prospects reminds Schumaker of Soto, Tatis. And Miami’s other CF options
The rain quite literally put a damper on what had to be one of the more exciting days of spring training for the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.
Eury Perez, the top prospect in the organization and one of the top prospects in all of MLB, was set to make his spring start before rain washed away the Marlins’ game against the Washington Nationals at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. It would’ve been the first-ever Grapefruit League start for the 19-year-old, who has already appeared three times out of the bullpen this preseason.
Miami won’t take long to take another look at Perez: The Marlins are off Thursday, then will play a pair of split-squad games Friday and Perez will start one of them against the Mets in Port St. Lucie.
Even though the starting pitcher’s numbers have been pedestrian so far in the spring, the Marlins are salivating over Perez’s potential and have seen major flashes of it throughout his 7 2/3 innings. It prompted Skip Schumaker to throw out some lofty comparisons for the Dominican pitcher.
“It just looks different in a good way, so you know the guys that are going to be potential superstars one day,” the manager said. “We knew [Fernando Tatis Jr.] was going to be that way, you had an idea [Juan] Soto was going to be that way and we feel the same about Perez.”
Tatis and Soto, both Padres stars, are two of the teenagers Schumaker most clearly remembers crossing paths with in past springs and they both left an indelible impression on the new manager. Schumaker was a first base coach in San Diego when Tatis was rising through their ranks and impressed in spring training as a 19-year-old shortstop, and he was still playing for the Reds when they faced Soto during one of the All-Star outfielder’s teenage preseasons with the Nationals.
Soto, he recalled, belted an opposite-field home run in the first at-bat he saw.
“I think the first guy that I saw was Soto,” Schumaker said. “He actually hit an opposite-field home run and I was like, That just looks different.”
Perez, as a pitcher, is obviously different than two of the best hitters in the Majors, but his moments of excellence against Major Leaguers — even in the preseason — are a commonality he shares with the two superstars.
The 6-foot-8, 220-pound right-handed pitcher has seven strikeouts so far this spring, although he has also given up 10 hits, five earned runs and two home runs, and walked one batter and hit another. He’s the No. 1 prospect in the organization and No. 13 overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com’s rankings.
“There’s so much still to learn for him, but the talent is—you guys all see it: It’s real and it’s exciting to see where he’s at this early on in his career, facing a big-league lineup when he should be facing like Cal State Fullerton,” Schumaker said. “It’s pretty sweet. We had Fernando Tatis do the same thing a few years ago when I was in San Diego. It’s really exciting. You try not to push too hard as a 19-year-old, but there’s always these teaching moments and learning lessons, and that’s why I think the games are fun for us to watch and to help him grow.
“And then the post reviews on the next day in showing certain situations and how you can get better is just as valuable, so the more starts he can get at the big-league level right now in spring is not only better for him, but better for us.”
Marlins keep CF options open
Miami still expects superstar second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to make the full-time move to center field this year, but the Marlins are still keeping their options open behind him.
Outfielders Jesus Sanchez and Bryan De La Cruz are both potential backup plans in center, Schumaker said.
“We’re comfortable with both of them,” he said.
Utility man Garrett Hampson, who was added to the 40-man roster Wednesday, could be another possibility, if he makes the team.
These are all just backup plans, though. Even though Chisholm’s play in center is still a work in progress, Miami is hoping the 25-year-old Bahamian will be able “to play the majority of the games.”
“If that happens and he’s playing 140, 150-plus games,” Schumaker said, “then we’re in a good spot.”
Marlins place Bender on IL
To make room for Hampson on the 40-man roster, the Marlins placed Anthony Bender on the 60-man inured list.
This is just a clerical move to clear space as the relief pitcher is still recovering from Tommy John surgery.
This story was originally published March 15, 2023 at 2:38 PM.
