Marlins observations: Max Meyer to round out rotation, team’s message to Dane Myers
The final spot in the Miami Marlins’ rotation to begin the season is set.
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker informed right-handed pitcher Max Meyer, the club’s No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and their first-round pick in the 2020 draft, that he will be the No. 5 starter to begin the season. His first start will be on April 1 when the Marlins begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels at loanDepot park.
“I’m excited for him,” Schumaker said. “He’s earned it. He deserves it.”
Meyer, who missed all of the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, will be the lone right-handed pitcher in Miami’s rotation to start the season. The first four pitchers are lefties Jesus Luzardo, A.J. Puk, Ryan Weathers and Trevor Rogers.
The club had initially optioned Meyer to Triple A Jacksonville on March 12, but opted to bring him back with their starting pitching depth to begin the season thinning following injuries to lefty Braxton Garrett as well as righties Eury Perez and Edward Cabrera.
Meyer threw seven shutout innings over three spring training appearances before being sent to minor-league camp.
While Meyer will break camp with the club, Miami still plans to be cautious with him over the course of the season.
“I thought he was our best available [pitcher] to help us win,” Schumaker said. “Max was really good in spring training. He’s coming off injury, so [we’re] trying to monitor his innings and pitch counts. All that is real this year. I mean, that’s just the reality. He’s part of the future of the Marlins, so he’s not going to throw 200 innings this year, but I do feel like right now he’s our best shot. ... It’s a nice option to have.”
Schumaker said Meyer threw 75 pitches in his most recent outing on the backfield and is slated to pitch in an intrasquad game at loanDepot park on Tuesday to get closer to the 90-pitch range before his first start of the season.
The Marlins’ message to Dane Myers
While Meyer has made the club, outfielder Dane Myers will not break camp with the team despite a stellar spring training.
The Marlins optioned Myers to Triple A Jacksonville on Saturday.
Over 34 spring training at-bats, Myers hit .412 with a 1.209 on-base-plus-slugging mark, three home runs and four stolen bases.
However, he was the casualty of the Marlins’ roster construction.
Barring something happening over the final two days of camp, the Marlins’ 13 position players for the Opening Day roster will be as follows:
▪ Catchers: Christian Bethancourt and Nick Fortes.
▪ Starting infield: First baseman Josh Bell, second baseman Luis Arraez, shortstop Tim Anderson and third baseman Jake Burger are the primary infield.
▪ Outfielders: Jazz Chisholm Jr. , Jesus Sanchez, Avisail Garcia and Bryan De La Cruz.
▪ Utility players Jon Berti, Vidal Brujan and Nick Gordon, the latter two of whom are out of minor-league options and were acquired this offseason.
“This was the toughest decision of anybody in camp,” Schumaker said. “He played his tail off. He did it the right way. He competed and he honestly deserved to make the team. There’s no sugarcoating it. The way the roster is right now, he was just unfortunately the guy that couldn’t make the team, but I think we’ll probably see him at some point very soon. He has given himself every opportunity to be the next man up, the first guy called up no matter what, because he’s so valuable. So, yeah, that was a tough one. Usually you have something to say to these guys when they get sent down for whatever they did in spring about why they didn’t make it. I didn’t really have too much other than we just didn’t have a spot for him. And that’s that’s a tough thing to hear because he did everything he could. But I do think he’ll be I know he’ll be helping us at some point.”
Myers’ thoughts on the decision?
“Just keep going,” Myers said. “I did all I could in the spring. It’s just kind of the way the roster worked out that there wasn’t a spot for me, which I understand but I think I deserve to be on the team. If you don’t think that way, you’re you’re not thinking the right way. I’ll just keep doing my work, keep pressing the door down and try and make the team soon.”
This and that
▪ Right-handed pitcher Sixto Sanchez, on learning he made the Opening Day roster: “[Schumaker] pulled me to his office and told me that I made the team and that I’m going to. be with them for Opening Day. They were happy to see the results and what I’m doing right now with the team this spring. I’m very happy to have to be back and be able to help the team.”
▪ First baseman Trey Mancini opted out of his minor-league deal with the club. Catcher Curt Casali will not make the Opening Day roster but has not yet decided if he plans to stay in the organization or pursue other opportunities.
▪ Garrett threw a two-inning live batting practice session on Saturday, while Cabrera threw a bullpen.
This story was originally published March 23, 2024 at 3:23 PM.
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