Tag Archive for: Miami Marlins

Marlins OF Kyle Stowers Debuts at First Base

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Miami Marlins star outfielder Kyle Stowers played his first game as a big leaguer at first base on Sunday. 

Stowers went 0-for-4 and the Marlins lost 6-3 against the San Francisco Giants, dropping their fourth straight road series to start the season. 

Stowers is normally an outfielder and Gold Glove finalist at left field last year. The last time Stowers played first base was as a collegiate player at Stanford, which isn’t far from San Francisco. 

“To go out there in a Major League game, I thought he moved around well,” Clayton McCullough said during his postgame press conference. “We’ll see how he felt out there, but the first one, he stood up well. He handled himself well and he’s looked solid when he’s done his ground-ball work.”

The idea behind Stowers adding first base to his range of positions came up after the 2025 season, where he broke out with 25 home runs and 73 RBIs in 117 games. In six games back from injury this year, Stowers has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with three doubles.  

Both his previous season ended with injury and this season started with injury. During his minor league rehab assignment, Stowers played his first professional game at first base in Triple-A Jacksonville. 

McCullough previously stated the Marlins value versatility and sees first base as an option for Stowers to remain in the lineup during times of needing to reduce physical stress on the field. 

“We’ll see how much more we utilize him there,” McCullough said. “It’s certainly nice to have that option to start or maneuver in during a game.”

The Marlins head south to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers on Monday. Chris Paddack (0-4, 6.38 ERA) takes the mound for Miami against Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-2, 2.48 ERA). 

Jakob Marsee Homers But Marlins Lose to Cardinals

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MIAMI — Jakob Marsee went 3-for-4 with a home run, but it wasn’t enough as the Miami Marlins fell to the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 on Tuesday.

In a very odd plate appearance, Marlins centerfielder Jakob Marsee lost grip of his bat and watched it fly above the St. Louis dugout. As a young Cardinals fan pried the bat from the netting like King Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, Marsee picked up another bat and hit a solo home run to tie the game 1-1 after the first inning.

The Cardinals struck first with a leadoff double by JJ Wetherholt, who scored on Alec Burleson’s single.

Wetherholt drew a walk in the third inning and advanced to third base on a single by Ivan Herrera. Burleson struck again, scoring Wetherholt on a fielder’s choice after the throw from Marlins first baseman Connor Norby went past catcher Liam Hicks.

The Cardinals added to their lead in the fourth inning. Masyn Winn led off with a single and scored on a two-run home run by Nathan Church, putting St. Louis up 4-1.

Burleson doubled to center field and scored on a single by Nolan Gorman in the fifth inning. Burleson went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Church, Herrera, and Winn each collected two hits for the Cardinals, who amassed 10 hits against Miami’s pitching.

Marlins right-handed pitcher Chris Paddack gave up five runs on eight hits with one walk and a season-high seven strikeouts. The Marlins bullpen combo of John King and Tyler Phillips combined to go 4.1 innings with only two hits allowed with five strikeouts.

Former Marlins reliever Ryne Stanek was tagged for two runs on one hit with three walks and two strikeouts. A series of walks loaded the bases for Heriberto Hernández to hit a two-run single to pull the Marlins within two runs in the eighth inning.

The rest of the St. Louis bullpen held the Marlins to one hit in three scoreless innings. Riley O’Brien secured his seventh save of the season and has maintained his 0.00 ERA.

Marlins right-handed pitcher Janson Junk (0-2, 4.50 ERA) will finish the six-game homestand he started on Wednesday at noon, while the Cardinals will send Kyle Leary (2-2, 5.21 ERA) with the series on the line.

Miami Marlins Reinstate Kyle Stowers Ahead of Brewers Finale

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MIAMI – After four straight losses and one win in the last seven games, the return of their star outfielder couldn’t come fast enough.

The Miami Marlins are set to reinstate All-Star Kyle Stowers from the 10-day injured list and drape him in teal for his season debut on Sunday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers at loanDepot park.

“Everything from the rehab checked out,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He continued to check the necessary boxes.”

Stowers spent five games at Triple-A Jacksonville for a minor league rehab assignment starting April 10. He played three games at left field, once at designated hitter and played his first game as a professional at first base on Friday. He was placed on the 10-day IL for a Grade 1 right hamstring strain in spring training.

“Certainly, there was a physical component with how he felt, how the hamstring was,” McCullough said. “I think he came out of that feeling like he’s in a really good spot physically, and also, I think mentally, now he feels like, ‘OK, I’m over this.’”

Stowers emerged as one of the best hitters in the National League. In 117 games, he hit 25 homers with 73 RBIs before a left oblique strain last August ended his season early. The Marlins managed a 8-5 record to start the season without him but with the Fightin’ Fish sputtering, it’s time for him to create a spark.

“He’s certainly a huge part offensively,” McCullough said. “It helps really lengthen out the lineup. The type of season that he had last year, the power, the on-base that he displayed. So getting Kyle back in the lineup will really be a nice boost, help lengthen some things out. And then also, Kyle’s a really steady teammate. A lot of guys lean on him. He’s not usually too up and down.”

Marlins fall to Brewers in extra innings

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The Miami Marlins forced extra innings but fell in the 10th inning to the Milwaukee Brewers in a 7-5 contest on Friday in Miami.

Otto Lopez led the Marlins at the plate with a 3-for-5 night in which he was a double shy of the cycle, The 27-year-old Lopez is having the best start of his career, slashing .347/.400/.583 in 19 games.

The Brewers (11-8) jumped on Marlins reliever Calvin Faucher in the 10th inning. Gary Sanchez drew a walk and Jake Bauers singled to load the bases with no outs. Luis Rengifo grounded on a fielder’s choice but the throw to the catcher didn’t connect, resulting in a run. Garrett Mitchell later opened the game up with a two-run double.

The Marlins (9-11) tied the game 4-4 in the eighth inning after Agustín Ramírez doubled to left field, scoring Edwards, who reached on a walk. Edwards also reached on a double in the sixth inning and scored on a two-run homer by Lopez.

The Marlins got their first run of the game in the fourth, when a sacrifice fly by Owen Caissie scored Lopez, who had reached on a triple.

Jones attempted to steal second base and Ramírez threw towards second base with nobody there to receive, resulting in a throwing error and the Brewers’ third run of the inning.

The Brewers added another run in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Rengifo, who went 2-for-4 on the night. Bauers led the Brewers at the plate with a 3-for-4 night and three runs scored.

Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, two walks, and three strikeouts in 5.1 innings. John King struck out two batters in 1.1 hitless innings and Tyler Phillips punched out three batters in 1.1 scoreless innings. Pete Fairbanks redeemed himself from two rough outings with a perfect ninth inning.

Brewers starting pitcher Coleman Crow allowed two runs on four hits and four strikeouts in 5.1 innings during his MLB debut. Abner Uribe earned the win after a hitless ninth inning after allowing two walks and a strikeout. Trevor Megill earned his fourth save of the season after giving up an unearned run and a hit with two strikeouts.

Marlins’ Andrew Nardi solid in return from injury

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For Miami Marlins reliever Andrew Nardi, the early portion of the 2026 season is an adjustment period.

In his return from missing an entire season due to injury, Nardi has made the physical adjustments leading up to his return to his mental adjustments playing in front of a crowd and in serious situations.

Nardi said in an interview with Five Reasons contributor Tyler Boronski that “it is a feeling that you have to get used to.”

“Definitely some new feelings I got to get used to again with the fans,” Nardi said. “I still hold the standard high. I obviously want to be doing well. I also have to give myself a little adjustment period to get back into the swing of things again, get used to the adrenaline rushes and stuff like that.”

While never an innings guy, Nardi has been Miami’s main weapon in high-leverage situations. He goes in, gets strikeouts, and calls it a day. In five appearances this year, the 27-year-old Arizona alum struck out six batters in four innings with only one earned run allowed.

“You just have to keep throwing strikes and your stuff will play,” Nardi said. “Just got to trust yourself.”

Nardi was nearly derailed by injuries since late 2024. He was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Aug. 24, 2024, due to an elbow injury and was transferred to the 60-day IL on Sept. 7 of that year. His 2025 was over before it started when he was placed back on the 60-day IL on March 15 due to severe lower-back inflammation that required extensive treatment, including an epidural.

“Last year was just a grind mentally and physically,” Nardi said.

Nardi described how he got through the mental hurdle post-rehab in spring training. He saw that the velocity of his pitches was lower than normal and made the conscious decision to trust that his body would not break under the force of his power.

He instantly saw the radar gun rise and hit 94 mph in his first spring training appearance.

“Just seeing my body be able to jump up and level each time just felt really good,” Nardi said. “As spring training kept going on, just sitting around 92-93 mph felt really good. I just felt like once I got to that point, I was able to compete.”

Nardi made his MLB debut on Aug. 16, 2022, and his first full season turned out to be his best season. He struck out 73 batters in 57.1 innings over 63 appearances with a 2.67 ERA, helping the Marlins reach the 2023 postseason. Before injuries cut his 2024 season short, Nardi struck out 70 batters in 49.2 innings over 59 games.

Marlins shut down by Reds in 2-0 defeat

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Tyler Stephenson hits a solo home run and Brandon Williams threw 6.2 shutout innings as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Miami Marlins 2-0 on Monday.

Williamson allowed three hits with four strikeouts and a walk. His gem lowered the Reds’ starting pitchers’ ERA to 3.00 on the season.

The Marlins (6-3) didn’t get their first hit of the game until Otto Lopez hit a single in the fourth inning. Lopez was the only Marlins hitter to get multiple base hits.

Agustin Ramirez hit a triple in the sixth inning, but was stranded after a strikeout by Reds reliever Brock Burke ended the inning. The Reds’ bullpen combined for one walk and two strikeouts in 2.1 hitless innings of work to end the game. Emilio Pagán earned his fourth save of the season with a perfect ninth.

Elly De La Cruz doubled and scored on a single from Sal Stewart in the fourth inning to score Cincinnati’s first run of the game. The star shortstop led the Reds at the plate along with Friedl with two hits each.

Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk tossed a career high 7.1 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in the loss. Junk has thrown seven innings only three times for the Marlins, all in 2025. Tyler Phillips came into the game in relief and finished it with 1.2 hitless innings and a strikeout.

The Marlins will send the ace back to the mound on Tuesday. Sandy Alcantara (0.00 ERA) threw a complete-game shutout with fewer than 100 pitches in his previous outing.

Kyle Stowers injury update

The Marlins started the season with their best hitter, left fielder Kyle Stowers, on the injured list (retroactive March 22) with a hamstring strain. The original projection was three to four weeks but was seen on Monday with the team during batting practice.

“Kyle is still here with us,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He was running today, and looks like he’s trending in a good spot, see how these next couple of days go, and then decide when and what a rehab assignment will look like.”

Braxton Garrett thriving in Jacksonville

Braxton Garrett shut down Sugar Land’s bats in 4.2 innings with eight strikeouts while allowing only two hits in Triple-A Jacksonville’s 2-0 win on Easter Sunday. He may be the clear choice for MVP of the defending national champions, as two of Jacksonville’s three wins this season were on days Garrett started. His 0.96 ERA is the third lowest in the International League.

Garrett missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John after other injuries derailed his 2024 season. When healthy, Garrett proved to be a solid pitcher for the Marlins. He made his MLB debut in the middle of a playoff race in 2020. His best season was in 2023, where he recorded a 3.66 ERA with an 8.79 K/9 in 31 outings, as well as starting in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series against Philadelphia.

 

Miami Heads to The Bronx for An Early Season Test

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Miami FL – The Miami Marlins have opened the season 5-1, taking care of business against some of Major League Baseball’s weaker teams. More importantly, they have done so in dominant fashion, backed by strong performances both at the plate and on the mound.

Several players have stood out early:

  • Owen Caissie: 7-for-20, 8 RBIs
  • Liam Hicks: MLB leader with 12 RBIs
  • Javier Sanoja: 7-for-12
  • Otto Lopez: 7-for-22
  • Sandy Alcantara: 2-0, 16.0 IP, 12 strikeouts
  • Pete Fairbanks: 3 IP, 2 saves, 5 strikeouts

As a team, Miami ranks in the top five in both offense and defense to begin the season

A Major Early Test in New York

The Marlins now head to New York for a three-game series against the Yankees, who also sit at 5-1. This series represents Miami’s first real test of the season.

The Yankees have been dominant, posting a remarkable 1.01 team ERA. They have allowed just six runs and already recorded three shutouts. This matchup will challenge Miami’s young and surging offense in a way they have not yet experienced.

Game 1: Eury Perez vs Will Warren

Game 1, the home opener at Yankee Stadium, will set the tone for the entire series. The Marlins will send their young potential ace Eury Perez to the mound, while the Yankees counter with another promising young arm in Will Warren.

This projects to be a pitcher’s duel. Miami’s best path to making this a competitive series will be getting into the Yankees’ bullpen as early as possible. A strong outing from Perez combined with early offensive pressure against Warren could give the Marlins a real opportunity to take control.

Game 1 feels like the swing game and the most important matchup of the series.

Game 2: Max Meyer vs Ryan Weathers

Game 2 presents an interesting matchup against former Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers. In the Yankees’ only loss this season, Weathers did not factor into the decision and lasted just four and a third innings.

This will also be his first start at Yankee Stadium in a Yankees uniform, which adds another layer of pressure. The Marlins’ approach remains the same. They must work counts, force Weathers out early, and capitalize on the bullpen.

Max Meyer will need to deliver a quality start to keep Miami in position, especially with the pitching disadvantage looming in Game 3.

Game 3: Chris Paddack vs Max Fried

Game 3 heavily favors New York on paper. Yankees ace Max Fried will take the mound against Chris Paddack, who struggled in his previous outing, allowing eight runs in a loss to the White Sox.

For Miami, success in this game may depend on how well they managed the first two matchups. If they can limit bullpen usage early in the series, manager Clayton McCullough may have more flexibility to treat this game with a playoff-like approach.

The Marlins’ disciplined lineup will need to be at its best to challenge one of the top pitchers in the league.

Prediction: Yankees Take Two of Three

The Marlins taking one game in the Bronx would represent a successful road trip. The Yankees are the more complete team, they are playing at home, and they have the advantage of starting their ace in the final game.

This series will be an early measuring stick for Miami. Their lineup, starting rotation, and improving bullpen will all be tested in a difficult environment.

It is a valuable opportunity for the Marlins to show how competitive they can be and to give a clearer picture of what this team may become.

Ex-Marlins pitcher Valente Bellozo re-emerges with Rockies

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A former Miami Marlin emerges with a new team.

The Colorado Rockies have called up right-handed pitcher Valente Bellozo from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, just in time for their weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Bellozo spent the previous two seasons with the Marlins, both as a starting pitcher and in the bullpen. The Marlins acquired him in a trade with the Houston Astros for Jacob Amaya on April 6, 2024. His best season came as a rookie in 2024, where he posted a 3.67 ERA in 13 starts as the Marlins were trading away veterans for prospects.

Bellozo started last season in the rotation but spent most of his appearances out of the bullpen, pitching in 32 games (6 starts) with a 4.65 ERA in 81.1 innings pitched. His WHIP remained consistent through both seasons (1.31-1.33) and he allowed 15 home runs each year regardless of his role.

The 26-year-old signed a minor league contract with the Rockies over the offseason. He made five appearances in spring training but only one start and he allowed 11 earned runs in 15.2 innings pitched (6.32 ERA) before being optioned to the minor leagues.

Bellozo made one start in Triple-A for the Isotopes before getting called up. He gave up three runs with four strikeouts in three innings in a 13-6 loss against the Oklahoma City Comets (Dodgers) on March 28.

Bellozo’s call-up coincides with Colorado placing veteran pitcher Jose Quintana on the 15-day injured list on Thursday (retroactive to March 30) with a right hamstring strain. Quintana, a 37-year-old veteran, began his 15th big league season against the Marlins on Sunday, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched. The teal-clad Fightin’ Fish won the game 4-3 on a walk-off home run by Owen Caissie. 

As an example of the Rockies’ push to improve on the highest starting rotation ERA in history last year (6.65) with veteran free agents, Michael Lorenzen is slated to start in the Rockies’ (2-4) home opener on Friday, and Tomoyuki Sugano is set to appear on Sunday. Quintana’s start on Saturday is left open, however, it remains to be seen whether or not it will be filled by Bellozo.

Marlins trade with Twins

The Marlins traded right-handed pitcher Garrett Acton to the Minnesota Twins for minor league pitcher Logan Whitaker on Thursday, just before their first road series of the season

Whitaker showed his promise in Double-A Wichita last year when he allowed only three earned runs in 11 appearances with 16 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched. He will report to the Marlins’ Double-A affiliate in Pensacola.

Acton made six spring training appearances for the Marlins, but missed out on the Opening Day roster despite not giving up a hit and striking out six in 5.1 innings of work. He continued to shut down batters in Triple-A early this season, having allowed only one hit while striking out four in 2.1 innings pitched for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.

The Marlins claimed Acton off waivers from the Rockies over the offseason, shortly after Colorado claimed him from the Tampa Bay Rays, where he made only one appearance in 2025. Acton made his MLB debut with the Athletics and made six appearances in 2023.

Acton was traded after being designated for assignment in a roster move corresponding with the Marlins trading for Toronto infielder Leo Jimenez on March 29. Jimenez, who made his Marlins debut on Wednesday, appeared in 18 games for the Blues Jays last season and 63 games in his rookie season in 2024.

Sandy Alcantara Begins His Cy Young Campaign As the Marlins Move to 5-1

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The Miami Marlins dropped the first game of the series to the Chicago White Sox to end their perfect 3-0 start to the season. After the White Sox spoiled Chris Paddack’s debut, the Marlins bounced back in a big way, led by back-to-back complementary baseball games.

Wednesday was about as perfect as you can get. Sandy put up a zero in the first, and the Marlins scored first, scoring in each of the first three innings.

A four spot in the 1st led by Liam Hicks, Connor Norby, and Owen Caissie rbi hits. The Marlins cashed in on the should have been double play that was hit straight back to Shane Smith.

In the second, it was Liam Hicks again, the MLB’s rbi leader hit a sky-high two run homer to drive in Xavier Edwards.

In the third, the Marlins tacked on two more thanks to the bottom of the order as Heriberto Hernandez and Graham Pauley got on for Javier Sanoja who drove them both in with an rbi single.

Hicks would later add another rbi on a single (off a lefty!) in the 6th, driving in Otto Lopez after his 1 out triple.

Otto Lopez homered in the bottom of the 8th for the Marlins 10th run of the game.

Elite Pitching Yet Again

But beyond the bats which were hot for the second straight night, the story was the Marlins pitching staff again, this time, Sandy Alcantara.

Alcantara made his second start of the year and has officially begun his Cy Young campaign, something I predicted he would once again be in the running for. Sandy has picked up where he left off last season with two strong starts both allowing no earned runs.

Against the White Sox, Alcantara was as dominant as you could imagine. He got through 9 innings only allowing three hits while striking out 7 in under 100 pitches for his fifth career shutout. It was his first complete game since 2023 and the first complete game from a Marlins pitcher since Braxton Garrett in 2024.

It was Alcantara’s 13th career complete game, trailing only Dontrelle Willis and AJ Burnett for the most complete games in Marlins history.

The Marlins 5-1 start provides some good cushion before they head up to the Bronx for their first big test on the road against the New York Yankees.

Other Notes

  • Per Marlins Communications: C Liam Hicks has set a Marlins record with 12 RBI through his five games to start the season, surpassing the previous record of 10 RBI by Casey McGehee from March 31-April 4, 2014.
  • Per Marlins Communications: 2B Xavier Edwards is the first player in Marlins history to collect at least one hit and score at least one run in six-consecutive games to start a season. The last player in MLB to record such a streak was Christopher Morel, who set a MLB record with one hit and one run in 12-straight games to start his 2023 season.
  • Per Marlins Communications: RHP Sandy Alcantara today completed his fifth career shutout and first since April 4, 2023 vs. Minnesota.   It marks his 13th career complete game, marking the third-most complete games in Club history trailing only Dontrelle Willis (15) and A.J. Burnett (14).
  • The Marlins sit alone in first place (NL East)
  • Every starter reached base today (Marsee was the only one without a hit)

White Sox Spoil Chris Paddack’s Marlins Debut Leading to First Loss

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Miami FL – The Marlins never had a chance against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Monday.

After two strong innings from newly acquired Chris Paddack, everything fell apart. Paddack cruised through the first two innings with four strikeouts and two scoreless frames. Then in the top of the third the White Sox offense picked up where they left off in Milwaukee. With two outs, Miguel Vargas hit an RBI single and Austin Hays followed it up with a three-run homer to make it 4-0.

In the top of the fourth, the Sox added four more as Paddack got hit around by the bottom of the order, leading to a Miguel Vargas grand slam that put the game well out of reach.

The Marlins bullpen only allowed 1 run in 5 innings to continue their hot start to the season as Lake Bachar, John King, and Michael Peterson finished up the last five frames.

Offensively, the Marlins scratched across four runs, much in thanks to the top of the order today as Jakob Marsee, Xavier Edwards, and Liam Hicks all had two-hit ball games. Hicks homered in the bottom of the fourth and later hit an RBI single as he was the Marlins’ most productive player tonight.

The performance from Paddack was most certainly disappointing, especially as the Marlins brought him along with the hopes of returning him to some of his previous form and making him a usable back-of-the-rotation starter. It is too early to make any judgments, but an 8 spot is just not good (No walks and six strikeouts are a positive however).

Paddack will need to be better than this going forward as the Marlins have multiple young prospects waiting for their big-league opportunity.

The Marlins will tee it up with the White Sox again tomorrow with Janson Junk on the hill against Erick Fedde, a good chance to even the series.

Some Other Notes

  • Edward Cabrera dominated the Angels in his first performance as a Cub
  • Owen Caissie had his first hitless game
  • Leo Jimenez joined the active roster for Deyvison De Los Santos
  • Connor Norby is now 2-for-12 to start the season