Highlights from Marlins FanFest

Marlins FanFest is a wrap! Scroll down for our coverage from Saturday’s big event, including photos, interviews, announcements and much more. 17,000-plus fans coming together to unofficially kick off the 2020 season.

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2020 promotional schedule

Fish Stripes has acquired the full list of giveaways for the 2020 Marlins season, including bobblehead days for Sandy Alcantara (Jul. 11), Jorge Alfaro (Jun. 20) and Caleb Smith (Jun. 27) and Marlins alum Kevin Millar (Jun. 6).

Single game tickets went on sale to the general public on Saturday morning.

Starting rotation competition

MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports that José Ureña, who made Opening Day starts for the team the past two seasons, is back in the mix for a 2020 rotation spot. During the winter, Michael Hill had said he’d be viewed as a reliever. Coming off a mediocre year that was interrupted by a back injury (5.21 ERA, 4.74 FIP, 1.48 WHIP, 0.6 fWAR in 84.2 IP), Ureña is signed for $3.75 million.

This news means that Jordan Yamamoto and Elieser Hernandez—both of whom had mixed results as starters in 2019—will really have to earn their place on the active roster during Spring Training.

New-look field still work in progress

@CDeNicola13/Twitter

Between now and Mar. 26, the Marlins must install their artificial turf. It is replacing the natural grass that was difficult and expensive to maintain the previous eight seasons.

The distance to straightaway center field has been reduced from 407 feet to 400 feet. The right-center gap is now 387 (previously 392). Next step is painting/smothering those fences in advertising.

Comments from team leadership

CEO Derek Jeter, president of baseball operations Michael Hill and manager Don Mattingly were available early on to express their positivity about the Marlins’ short- and long-term outlook:

Plus other current events topics:

Main event highlights

Shortstop prospect Jazz Chisholm trusts what the organization is building around him:

Like Chisholm, many of the Marlins players on hand this year are first-time FanFest participants.

OF Matt Kemp

RHP Sixto Sánchez

1B Lewin Díaz

OF Víctor Mesa Jr.

INF/OF Jon Berti

INF/OF Sean Rodriguez