Miami Marlins prospect Deyvison De Los Santos had quite the MLB debut, rocking that iconic teal jersey and snagging his first career hit. Plus, he went viral celebrating the Marlins' walk-off win on Sunday. Not a bad way to start.
However, it’s back to AAA for De Los Santos as the Marlins make room for their new infielder, Leo Jimenez. If you were hoping Jimenez would bring some first base experience, you might be let down.
He’s primarily a middle infielder, backing up Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez. First base remains a bit of a mystery, though Marlins insider Craig Mish hints that Connor Norby could see most of the action there.
I might have been a bit hasty in declaring the start of the De Los Santos era for the Marlins. In sports, an "era" usually means more than just a single game. But for now, that’s all Marlins fans will see of De Los Santos.
For De Los Santos, returning to AAA is likely best for his development. It’s not about service time manipulation; he still has areas to improve.
Even with Christopher Morel sidelined, the Marlins, under President of Baseball Operations Peter Bendix, are sticking to their process. They haven’t been pressured into rushing prospects since Bendix took over.
I’ll stand by the idea that De Los Santos was a key plan for first base. The Marlins' quiet offseason regarding first base or designated hitter acquisitions highlights their focus on his development.
The fan base might start buzzing, especially with the White Sox visiting, featuring free agent slugger Munetaka Murakami. Despite his strikeout issues in Japan, his power could have changed Miami’s offseason narrative.
Sending De Los Santos back after a promising debut delays the first base decision until Morel returns. This gives Norby a chance to secure the spot-he’s already shown promise and comfort there, more so than Morel did in spring training. At least until De Los Santos is ready for another shot.
As for Jimenez, he’s a bit of an enigma. Once a buzzworthy prospect, he was let go by his previous team.
But given Bendix’s track record, there’s reason for optimism. Jimenez doesn’t need to be a star to justify his acquisition.
For now, De Los Santos remains a tantalizing prospect, and Jimenez adds another layer of intrigue. Not a bad situation for the Marlins, especially with their strong start to the season.