With formal major league spring training still a month away, dozens of (mostly) young Marlins players reported to the team’s complex in Jupiter on Monday for a hitters camp. Many top prospects were in attendance, as were Opening Day roster probables like Miguel Rojas, Peter O’Brien and Garrett Cooper.
It was organized by vice president of player development and scouting Gary Denbo.
Gary Denbo: “We are much better positioned right now than we were last year...We’ve made a nice jump.”
— Fish Stripes (@fishstripes) January 14, 2019
Praises Michael Hill, Stan Meek, D.J. Svihlik for contributing to that pic.twitter.com/MLr62FYeHl
Outfielders Víctor Víctor Mesa and Víctor Mesa Jr. and shortstop Osiris Johnson took rounds of batting practice. Each of them were acquired under Denbo’s watch, as was athletic outfielder Monte Harrison, who earned some high praise:
Gary Denbo “extremely pleased” w/Monte Harrison’s development during Arizona Fall League.
— Wells Dusenbury (@DuseReport) January 14, 2019
He praised MH’s work ethic, saying he took off just 1 week after AFL & has been at facility 3x a week. Adds he has chance to be “core player” for #Marlins at MLB level. pic.twitter.com/IHp67yHJoE
As first observed earlier this winter, the practice fields surrounding Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium have been updated to match the new branding of the parent club. Here’s the Midnight Black, Caliente Red and Marlin Blue bathed in sunlight:
New #Marlins logo at the facility in Jupiter, where Fish are holding a prospect camp featuring Victor Victor Mesa, Victor Mesa Jr. and Monte Harrison @NBC6Sports pic.twitter.com/IrOJTxC1Jy
— Chris Fischer NBC6 (@FischerNBC6) January 14, 2019
This is now inside the #Marlins dugout at @RDCstadium pic.twitter.com/25SkVZceqh
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) January 14, 2019
Inside those walls, it was time to get to work...
#Marlins top prospect Victor Victor Mesa in the cage at their development camp pic.twitter.com/0XqGLrXVuq
— Chris Fischer NBC6 (@FischerNBC6) January 14, 2019
#Marlins #2 prospect Monte Harrison is built like a NFL Tight End, had multiple scholarship offers to play football, but as he told me “that was a long time ago” you can tell he’s got pop, can see why he’s projected 20/20 guy a least pic.twitter.com/pywn9HnkMw
— Chris Fischer NBC6 (@FischerNBC6) January 14, 2019
#Marlins 1B/OF Garrett Cooper taking some BP at Roger Dean Stadium. Cooper is coming back from right wrist surgery. Limited to only 14 games in 2018 after making the Opening Day roster @TheAthleticMIA pic.twitter.com/wZuNRFtqo0
— Andre Fernandez (@FernandezAndreC) January 14, 2019
#Marlins 1B/OF Peter O’Brien taking swings on the main field. After a strong September, the former #Canes star could be in line to start at first. pic.twitter.com/7Lgnn9PKet
— Wells Dusenbury (@DuseReport) January 14, 2019
Cooper and O’Brien combined for only 36 games played and 112 plate appearances in 2018. Health permitting, those totals will skyrocket this season. The Marlins have been very quiet on the first-base market, indicating that the position is likely to be addressed with these internal options.
Joe Frisaro of MLB.com confirms that these minor leaguers participated, too:
- Joe Dunand
- Riley Mahan
- James Nelson
- Milton Smith Jr.
- Justin Twine
Right-hander Jordan Yamamoto was also at the facility (as a non-hitter, obviously).
Hitters camp continues for the next several days, though it’s unclear if there will be the same media availability.