All-Time Marlins Countdown: Chapter 6

Here’s part six of our 165-part offseason series, starring another seven bit-part players on the Marlins stage.

All players included in this article are part of the first tier: less than 20 PA/BF, and below replacement level.

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595. Scott Strickland

Scott Strickland is a right-handed pitcher who was taken in the 10th round of the 1997 draft by the Montreal Expos. A Houston, Texas native, Strickland got to the major leagues with the Expos two years later. In parts of four seasons for Montreal, he was 6-10 with a 3.28 ERA in 144 appearances, with 18 saves and 158 K’s in 148 ¹⁄₃ innings.

A mid-2002 trade would see Strickland join the New York Mets, for whom he played in 87 games, going 6-11 with a 3.29 ERA, 83 whiffs in 87 ²⁄₃ innings, and a 1.369 WHIP. An injury in mid-2003 derailed a promising career. After elbow surgery, he resurfaced with the Houston Astros in 2005, but was limited to four innings. Four seasons passed with Strickland in the minor leagues.

In December 2009, Strickland signed with Florida, and he appeared in 31 games at the Triple-A level with the New Orleans Zephyrs, going 4-3 with a 4.45 ERA. In June, the Marlins called him back to the majors for the first time since 2005. He played in three games between June 18 and June 24, allowing five hits and a walk in two innings of work. He gave up a pair of earned runs and didn’t strike anyone out. Strickland did not appear in organized ball after the 2010 campaign.

594. Josh Wilson

Infielder Josh Wilson was eventually an eight-season major league veteran, appearing in 431 games for eight different clubs. His best season, by brWAR, was his 2010 campaign with the Seattle Mariners, when he slashed .227/.278/.294 in a career-high 108 contests. Before all of that, Wilson was a Marlins prospect.

A right-handed Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native, Wilson was taken by Florida in the third round of the 1999 draft. Six years later, in September, 2005, Wilson was called up to the Marlins. He started and played shortstop in only one of his 11 appearances, going 0-for-4 on September 28 in an 11-7 loss to the Washington Nationals. Overall, he went one-for-11 with four strikeouts and two runs scored. Defensively, he took 11 errorless chances in 25 innings of work.

In January 2006, the Marlins sent Wilson to the Colorado Rockies as part of a conditional deal. Although he never played at the major league level for the Rockies, he would go on to appear with the Nationals, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the San Diego Padres, the Mariners, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Texas Rangers, and the Detroit Tigers.

593. Dave Davidson

Richmond Hill, Canada native Dave Davidson is a left-handed pitcher drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round back in 2002. Five years later, he appeared in two games for the Bucs, surrendering six runs on six hits and two walks in two innings. He also hit two batters and didn’t strike anyone out.

Understandably, the Pirates didn’t give Davidson another look at their top level again. He did stay in their system for another two years. On April 24, 2009, the Pirates waived him, and the Marlins picked him up for the fee.

Davidson joined the Zephyrs at the Marlins Triple-A level, and played in 10 games. He put up a 2.53 ERA with 14 K’s in 10 ²⁄₃ innings. Florida decided to give him another look at the major league level. On May 22, with the Marlins trailing 8-0 entering the third inning against the Rays, Davidson pitched an inning and gave up five runs on four walks and four hits. It was his only appearance with the club, and his last time in a major league ball game. He closed his Marlins career with a 45.00 ERA and a 8.000 WHIP.

592. Andy González

Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images

Infielder/Outfielder Andy González was originally a fifth round choice of the Chicago White Sox in 2001. A Rio Piedras native, González appeared in 67 games for the Sox in 2007, hitting .185/.280/.249 while also providing somewhat below-level defense at third base and in the outfield. He joined the Cleveland Indians for the 2008 season and went five-for-24 in 10 games for the Tribe.

After the season, the Marlins signed González to a minor league deal. He played most of the season with the Zephyrs, where he hit .259/.351/.358 in 102 games. He made his Marlins debut on July 9, then tripled and scored in the seventh inning of a 14-7 win against the Rays.

Unfortunately, that triple in his first Marlins plate appearance was González’ lone highlight while with the team. He went 0-for-11 with four strikeouts afterward, and didn’t again appear in the major leagues.

591. Johan Quezada

Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images

Six-foot-nine right-handed relief pitcher Johan Quezada was originally signed by the Minnesota Twins in 2012 at the age of 18. After seven seasons in their minor league system, they granted his free agency after the 2019 campaign. The Miami Marlins signed him a month later.

Quezada later became one of a major league record 37 players to pitch for the club in 2020. He made his debut on September 12 in the ninth inning as the Marlins trailed the Philadelphia Phillies 12-6. He pitched a perfect inning, but the Marlins lost by the same score. Three days later in a 2-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox, he pitched another scoreless inning, allowing a walk and racking up his first major league strikeout.

Fish Stripes original GIF

Quezada’s only less-than-exemplary performance was in his final appearance of the season on September 17. In a 5-3 loss to the Red Sox, he gave up three runs on four hits, including a homer. He was assigned to the minors the next day.

Quezada’s story with the Marlins may have a few more chapters.

590. Vinny Rottino

Vinny Rottino was a 22-year-old free agent fielder (catcher, infielder, outfielder) when signed through free agency by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003. A Racine, Wisconsin native, he made his major league debut with the Crew in 2006. In 18 games over three seasons at the top level, he went five-for-24 with four RBI.

The Florida Marlins signed Rottino prior to spring training in 2010. He spent most of that season at the Marlins Double-A level with the Jacksonville Suns, hitting .307/.384/.430 in 116 contests. The following season was mostly with the Zephyrs, where he played in 119 games and hit .304/.374/.443. Called up to join the Marlins in September, he played in eight games, including five pinch-hit appearances. He struck out four times and drew a pair of walks, collecting a pair of base hits in 12 at bats.

Rottino played with the Cleveland Indians in 2012, going three-for-28 in 18 games. He followed that with three seasons of minor league ball, retiring in 2016.

589. Jordan Brown

Jordan Brown is a left-handed first baseman from Walnut Creek, California. In 2005, the Cleveland Indians spent their fourth round selection on him.

Brown joined the Tribe in 2010 for slightly more than a cup of coffee, appearing in 26 major league games and going 20-for-87 with seven doubles but only two RBI. He then spent three years bouncing around the minor league systems for the Indians, the Brewers, and the Houston Astros. After the 2012 season, he signed on with the Miami Marlins.

Brown spent most of the 2013 campaign with the Zephyrs, playing 97 games and hitting .289/.346/.385 with two home runs and 28 RBI. He spent about six weeks on the major league roster, making his Marlins debut on May 21.

Brown spent 14 games with the Marlins, and collected two singles and a double in 15 at bats. He drew a walk and drove in five runs while striking out only once. He spent 2014 in the Texas Rangers system, but didn’t make it back to the majors.