Alcantara shelled again. And Conine out for year, new uniforms, some prospects on a roll
Pitchers coming off Tommy John surgery sometimes don’t return to their presurgery form for months, sometimes even a year.
But Sandy Alcantara’s return from the elbow procedure that sidelined him all of last season has gone worse than anyone could have expected.
After being shelled in a 15-2 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday, Alcantara has an 8.19 earned-run average, fourth worst among 125 qualifying pitchers.
Against Los Angeles, Alcantara allowed seven runs, seven hits and five walks and threw two wild pitches while allowing four stolen bases in 2 2/3 innings.
Twice this season, he has allowed at least six runs in three or fewer innings.
“I feel good physically, but I feel terrible just being out there and having the same result and I can’t do nothing when my teammates need me the most,” Alcantara said after the game, via mlb.com. “I know this is a process, but I’m tired. I’m tired of having the same success out there, and I don’t feel happy about it.”
The Marlins began the season unsure if they would trade Alcantara, who is under contract for $17.3 million in 2025 and 2026, with a $21 million team option for 2027.
But with his value diminished by his poor start, a trade is unlikely anytime soon.
“We just have to kind of go back to work there and try to figure that out,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said after Tuesday’s game. “It’s so uncharacteristic for him, and so that’s probably No. 1, just getting command back and strike-throwing. It was really a struggle from the first inning tonight, just never really could catch a rhythm and get settled in. Some pitches that were kind of more heart of the plate, they put some good swings on. But I think for me, it’s just as much trying to get back to commanding and executing pitches at the rate that we’re all accustomed to.
“We’ll put our heads together with him and just see what we think is the next best step to try to right the ship a little bit. We certainly all know there’s a much better version there. Right now, it’s not clicking for him, and so we’ll just have to go in tomorrow and see what we can all do to try to get it going.”
Conine out for year
Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine is expected to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his dislocated left shoulder on Tuesday. He will be ready for spring training next year.
Conine, 27, was hitting .281 (with a .352 on-base average) with seven doubles, one home run and seven RBI in 71 plate appearances in 20 games.
He dislocated his shoulder sliding into second base on an RBI double in the Marlins’ 11-10 loss to the Phillies a week ago and subsequently was placed on the 60-day injured list.
Minor-league teams rolling
The Marlins’ top two affiliates are off to impressive starts.
The Marlins’ Triple A team, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, has the best record in all of the minors at 21-7.
The Marlins’ Double A affiliate, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, are 16-6.
Several prospects are off to good starts.
At Jacksonville, catcher Joe Mack is hitting .348 with two homers in his first six games, while first baseman Deyvison De Los Santos is hitting .278 (.343 on base) with two homers and 14 RBI. Right-hander Adam Mazur has a 1.44 ERA in five games.
At Pensacola, left-hander Robby Snelling has a 1.61 ERA in four starts, with 29 strikeouts in 22 innings. Most of the Double A pitching prospects are pitching well, including Dax Fulton (3.46), Zach McCambley (3.10), Evan Fitterer (0.87) and Jacob Miller (3.10).
New uniforms
The Marlins are unveiling new “Retrowave” uniforms, to be worn for Saturday home games, beginning this weekend against Oakland at 4:10.
“Our new Retrowave uniform combines the Marlins rich history with an innovative, forward-thinking approach that mirrors our organization’s trajectory,” Marlins president of business operations Caroline O’Connor said. “We aimed to celebrate our club’s storied past and special moments made in the teal, while looking forward to a bright future, all woven in a style that embodies the spirit of South Florida.”
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM.
