All-Time Marlins: January 10th Birthdays

Nearly a dozen current and former Marlins are celebrating birthdays on January 10th. In this new daily feature, we’ll take a few minutes to recognize those who came before.

Going from youngest to oldest, todays first birthday is 18-year-old Jorge Caballero. He spent last season in the DSL and slashed .268/.382/.359 in 61 games, and also stole 10 bases.

Anderson Castro, who played with DSL in 2015 and 2016, is turning 20. He slashed .194/.220/.227 with 16 RBI over 66 games, but did not play anywhere last season.

Another DSL alum, Jhondervisth Caracas, turns 26. Caracas pitched 3 ¹⁄₃ innings with the 2010 DSL club over two games.

Also turning 26 today is former Greensboro Grasshopper Victor Castro. Castro spent two-and-a-half seasons with DSL, a year each with GCL and the Batavia Muckdogs, and part of 2014 with the Hoppers. Castro slashed .234/.312/.366 with 13 round-trippers and 92 RBI over 206 minor league games.

Current Marlin Drew Steckenrider is 27 today. Selected in the eighth round of the 2012 draft, Steckenrider made his major league debut in 2017, and struck out 54 guys in under 35 innings. He was 1-1 with a 2.34 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The former Tennessee Volunteer figures heavily into Miami’s 2018 bullpen picture.

Adam Westmoreland was chosen in the 26th round in 2013. He posted an 0-6 record and a 6.40 ERA in 32 innings, striking out 33 batters for the ‘13 GCL Marlins. He’s 28 today.

Hunter Jones was an undrafted free agent who came up through the Red Sox system. In 2010, he struck out three batters over 1 ²⁄₃ innings of hitless relief for the Florida Marlins, then never again appeared on any major league affiliated roster. Hunter is 34 today.

Turning 41 today is Matt Postell, a member of the 2001 Kane County Cougars. After getting picked by the Marlins in the 29th round of the 1999 draft, he played over a season with the Utica Blue Sox. He slashed .284/.364/.442 in 34 games with Kane County.

Peter Jezerinac is 42 today, although you may not have heard of him. He never appeared in any level of affiliated ball, but the 1994 Marlins thought enough of him to spend a 79th round pick on the 6’2” shortstop out of Marietta, GA.

Also drafted but never appearing is 43-year-old Michael Logan. The Marlins chose him in the 81st round of the 1993 draft.

Last on today’s list is 56-year-old Mario Diaz. The middle infielder came up through the Seattle system, and after bouncing around the major leagues for a few years, the 1994 Marlins picked him up as a free agent. Over that strike-shortened season and the next, Diaz appeared in 81 games for Florida, and slashed .274/.306/.360.

Thanks for reading, check back tomorrow for more in Marlins history.