Marlins Spring Training Update: Pérez and Meyer Take the Mound
In the early days of spring training, it's not unusual to see two starting pitchers getting some work in the same game. That's exactly what happened on Monday when Miami Marlins right-handers Eury Pérez and Max Meyer took the mound against the St.
Louis Cardinals. Let's dive into their performances and other key takeaways from the game.
Eury Pérez and Max Meyer on the Hill
Eury Pérez had an intriguing outing, throwing 19 pitches in his lone inning. He gave up one run on one hit, walked two, and struck out one.
His strikeout came against Nolan Gorman, who couldn't catch up to a 99.0 mph fastball. Pérez also debuted his new sweeper, which he plans to keep refining.
"The sweeper felt good," Pérez mentioned, acknowledging some challenges with grip due to the weather.
Pérez faced a pitch-clock violation, a hiccup from last season that resurfaced due to miscommunication with catcher Agustín Ramírez. Despite this, Pérez took the opportunity to work on pitching from the stretch, even with empty bases.
Max Meyer, making his return after hip surgery, impressed in his brief appearance. Over 11 pitches, he struck out two with his slider, topping out at 96.7 mph.
"It felt great to be back and get on top of the slider," Meyer shared, emphasizing the comfort he found in his pitches. After his inning, Meyer continued his work in the bullpen, gradually building up his arm strength.
Jakob Marsee's Power Display
Jakob Marsee kicked off the bottom of the first inning with a bang, launching a 401-foot home run to right field off Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy. Marsee, who had a strong stint with Triple-A Jacksonville last season, showed promise with a .292/.363/.478 slash line in 55 games for the Marlins. "He's ready for a full season in the majors," said Marlins coach McCullough, praising Marsee's power and readiness.
Relievers Making Waves
Josh White and William Kempner, both new to the Marlins' big league camp, made strong impressions. White, coming off a stellar Triple-A season, struck out two without allowing any runs, showcasing his unique arm slot and deceptive breaking balls.
Kempner, acquired in a trade with the Giants, also struck out two and managed to work around a walk and hit-by-pitch. "His stuff is undeniable," McCullough noted, highlighting Kempner's potential.
Additional Notes
- Several other pitchers, including Michael Petersen and Garrett Acton, saw action, with Patrick Monteverde making the first multi-inning appearance of the spring.
- Matthew Etzel hit a 109.7 mph double but misjudged a fly ball in center field, leading to a double.
- Chris Paddack is set to start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, while Tyler Phillips will take the mound for a bullpen game against the Astros on Wednesday.
- Injury updates include Graham Pauley's right forearm tightness and Andrew Nardi's progress from a finger blister.
Anthony Bender is working on increasing his fastball velocity, and Janson Junk is expected back on the mound soon.
Looking Ahead
The Marlins will host the Philadelphia Phillies in Jupiter on Tuesday afternoon. Chris Paddack, one of the team's offseason acquisitions, will make his spring debut, expected to pitch one inning. While the game won't be televised, fans can catch the action on the MLB app.