Our Noticias: Updates from Marlins Park, minor league camp opens, Jim Leyland stories, breakout players

Tuesday’s game coverage

Alex Krutchik and Luis Davila spent the day in Jupiter as the Marlins picked up another win. Top performers against the Mets included Brian Anderson and right-hander Riley Ferrell, the Rule 5 draft pick who appears to be a lock to remain with the organization once the regular season begins. They still own the worst run differential in the Grapefruit League, though (minus-18).

We’re in the midst of an extended stretch without televised games, so Fish Stripes is committed to providing fans with as much live, on-site coverage as possible. If you don’t already, now’s a good time to follow Alex (@AlexKrutchikFS) and Luis (@luisrdavi) on Twitter.

A trip down memory lane with David O’Brien

Episode 99 of Knockahoma Nation is a beaut. Ordinarily a podcast that covers Atlanta Braves topics and assorted nonsense, this mega episode features a 1-on-1 conversation with The Athletic’s David O’Brien.

O’Brien reminisces about how he was lured onto the Marlins beat for the Sun Sentinel in the mid-1990s, and his career progression since then. He says that the 1997 World Series run was his most “fun” season in baseball, crediting manager Jim Leyland for breaking up the monotony of the 162-game grind with his colorful personality:

”As the years go by, you really appreciate those kind of moments, because those are what you remember. You remember the people...the human interest, the characters.”

O’Brien’s Marlins coverage continued into 1998, giving him a unique perspective on one of the most severe year-to-year declines in modern baseball history following H. Wayne Huizenga’s fire sale. He expands on some of Leyland’s antics during that 108-loss campaign, as chronicled in The Athletic last October.

The chat between O’Brien and Josh Brown begins around the 54:15 mark and goes on for more than an hour.

You can subscribe to Knockahoma Nation on iTunes, Castbox and Stitcher. Follow the pod on Twitter (@KnockahomaNTN).

Marlins minor league camp opens

Many of these players reported weeks ago, but Tuesday marked the start of organized minor league drills at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex.

Joe Frisaro of MLB.com spoke with Marlins vice president of player development and scouting Gary Denbo about several key prospects. The most notable comment from him concerns right-hander Sixto Sánchez.

“He was a little bit behind when he came into camp in terms of being on a set throwing program that we have all of our pitchers in the organization on over the offseason,” Denbo said. As a result, Sánchez will open 2019 at extended spring training, then report to Double-A Jacksonville later in the summer.

The latest from Little Havana

Opening Day is barely three weeks away and the ballpark enhancements still haven’t been completed?!

The Marlins pulled back the curtain for media members to preview new seating areas and concessions. MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola has more visuals and details from executives Derek Jeter and Chip Bowers.

Walk-off Links

• The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum wants to hook you up. Pre-order from them now, or enter to win a special edition Billy the Marlin bobblehead for free!

• If you have children ages 7-14 in South Florida youth baseball leagues, they’re eligible to participate in the Miami Marlins Spring Training Play Ball event this Sunday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium
• Rob Newell joins Dave Shaw on UK Phillies TV to preview the 2019 Marlins season and the state of the franchise:

• Lewis Brinson might be the star we’ve been hoping for, Marshall Thomas writes
• John Sickels of The Athletic acknowledges Tristan Pompey’s “intriguing potential as a top-of-the-order type” as the Canadian outfielder enters his first full professional season (subscription required)
• Outfielder Cameron Maybin was recently arrested on suspicion of DUI, with NBC Sports Bay Area providing the full context. Maybin signed with the Marlins a year ago as a free agent and was regarded as a veteran leader in the clubhouse prior to be traded last July. Surprisingly poor judgement from somebody with an otherwise clean record. Brought to Giants camp on a minor league deal, he’s still projected to crack their Opening Day roster, though this misstep—combined with a .105/.150/.158 Cactus League batting line—doesn’t help his case.