Offseason Fish—1/28/20

For many players within the Marlins organization, baseball never stops. Just like last year, Fish Stripes will be consistently updating the whereabouts of your favorite Fish during the offseason. At FishStripes.com/offseason, you can find updates on them, including stats, highlights and (small sample size) analysis.

Hard Rock Stadium is hosting “the big game” on Feb. 2, but Marlins Park was the site of Super Bowl LIV Opening Night on Monday. Several thousand temporary seats were assembled for fans, and there were podiums on the field for NFL players and coaches to address national media members.

Lewis Brinson, Garrett Cooper and Miguel Rojas all attended, too.

When last shown earlier this month, the Marlins hadn’t yet completed installation of their new artificial turf. The updated status of that is unclear—the outfield was covered up for this event.

@Marlins/Twitter

Current Marlins leadership puts an emphasis on education in a way that the old regime never did. The latest example of that being the recent graduation ceremony in the Dominican Republic for prospects Diowill Burgos, Cesar Díaz, Yeremin Lara, Josan Mendez, Luis Tejeda, Jeremias Vásquez and Luis Vizcaino. They each earned a high school diploma through classes provided at the team’s academy in the D.R. Vice president of player development and scouting Gary Denbo (pictured above) was among those in attendance.

Aside from Burgos (who was recently acquired from the Cardinals in the Austin Dean trade), none of the 2020 graduates is likely to have much big league impact. But every athlete has a post-playing career to consider. The Marlins recognize they have a responsibility to put them in a position to be successful long term, on and off the field.

Join us in congratulating right-hander Robert Dugger and Hayley Patin on their engagement!

Dugger provided 274 ²⁄₃ innings pitched for Marlins minor league affiliates in 2018 and 2019—second-highest total in the entire organization—before debuting in The Show last August. The Texas native currently ranks 28th on our Fish Stripes Top 30 prospects list. After mixed results in the Miami starting rotation down the stretch, he has an outside shot at the 2020 Opening Day roster, though being optioned to Triple-A Wichita is more likely.

Dominican Winter League

In the pivotal Game 7 of the LIDOM Finals, Jarlin García took the mound for Toros del Este in the sixth inning with the score 0-0 and two runners on base. His strikeout of Socrates Brito kept the shutout intact as the Toros rallied late to win, 8-0. They can clinch the best-of-nine series and the league title Tuesday night.

Regular season and playoffs combined, García has been magnificent this winter: 1.15 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 13 K in 15.2 IP (19 G). He’s made 11 straight appearances since last allowing an earned run.