In Jupiter, Florida, the Miami squad saw the return of an All-Star and a new position experiment during a 7-7 rain-shortened tie with St. Louis. This split-squad game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium was packed with intriguing developments for Miami fans.
Kyle Stowers, the left fielder who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury, made his much-anticipated return to Grapefruit League action. In his first appearance since late February, Stowers showed his readiness by reaching base once in three plate appearances, scoring a run in the process.
His sprint from first to third on Xavier Edwards’ single was a standout moment, as he later scored on Connor Norby’s hit. Stowers reflected on his hustle, saying, “Pretty much any time the ball hits the dirt on the right side and goes through, I'm going to push the envelope.”
Miami manager Clayton McCullough was briefly concerned when Stowers stumbled rounding second but was relieved to see him recover and continue. “Once I saw him re-accelerate and get to third, he was fine,” McCullough commented, indicating no lingering worries about Stowers' condition. With no setbacks, Stowers is expected to be ready for the season opener.
Stowers, who had a breakout season last year with a .288 average, 25 home runs, and 73 RBIs, is poised to continue his upward trajectory. McCullough expressed confidence in Stowers' potential, saying, “If last year is what Kyle does every year, we would take that.”
Meanwhile, Connor Norby, also part of the 2024 trade with Baltimore, tried his hand at first base for the first time. Despite his lack of experience at the position, Norby adapted quickly.
“I felt pretty good as the game went on,” he said, showing promise in his new role. McCullough explained the move as part of a strategy to increase versatility and depth, giving players more opportunities to contribute.
Norby’s performance at first was solid, handling routine plays and even starting a double play with finesse. McCullough praised his adaptability, noting, “He looked comfortable over there, the chances that he got.”
With plans to further test Norby in the outfield, Miami is clearly focused on maximizing their roster's flexibility. These developments are exciting for fans, as the team continues to build on its strengths and explore new possibilities.