Offseason Fish—11/2/21

Continuing a tradition from recent years, Fish Stripes will be providing weekly updates about Marlins who are actively playing/training during the offseason. At FishStripes.com/offseason, you can find stats, highlights and (small sample size) analysis. These articles will typically drop on Tuesdays.

Arizona Fall League

Active Marlins

• C Will Banfield—25 PA, .238/.320/.286, 0 HR, 3 BB, 3 K
• OF JJ Bleday—60 PA, .400/.500/.680, 3 HR, 10 BB, 8 K
• RHP Justin Evans—6.0 IP, 10.50 ERA, 2 HR, 4 BB, 6 K, 2.50 WHIP
• 1B Troy Johnston—48 PA, .250/.375/.300, 0 HR, 7 BB, 12 K
• LHP Zach King—2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 HR, 1 BB, 2 K, 1.50 WHIP
• OF Kameron Misner—58 PA, .178/.328/.444, 3 HR, 10 BB, 18 K
• LHP Josh Simpson—7.2 IP, 8.22 ERA, 1 HR, 7 BB, 10 K, 1.69 WHIP
• LHP Jefry Yan—5.0 IP, 12.60 ERA, 0 HR, 8 BB, 11 K, 3.20 WHIP

JJ Bleday is the only Marlin who’s had an unambiguously successful stint in the desert. Even after adjusting for league averages, his production through 12 games tops any of his hottest stretches from the regular season. Bleday is reaching base safely in half of his plate appearances, leading the Mesa Solar Sox with a 1.180 OPS and sitting atop the entire AFL with 18 RBI.

MLB.com Christina De Nicola confirms that Evan Fitterer (7.0 IP, 3.86 ERA, 1 HR, 4 BB, 9 K, 1.71 WHIP) is injured again. He last pitched on October 20. The Marlins’ main reasoning for assigning Fitterer to the fall league was to get him extra reps after back issues limited him to nine minor league games in 2021. Instead, it’s another frustrating setback for the promising pitching prospect.

Zach King filled Fitterer’s spot on the Solar Sox roster and debuted on Monday. King allowed three runs in two innings of work, though all of them were unearned (three errors committed behind him).

Jefry Yan erased the good vibes from his first couple weeks of competition by imploding in relief on Monday. He surrendered back-to-back singles, followed by back-to-back-to-back walks, with a pair of stolen bases mixed in between. The hard-throwing lefty failed to retire any of the five batters he faced and they all eventually came around to score.

Liga Dominicana (LIDOM)

For the first time, LIDOM games are available to stream via MLB.TV, but with this convenience comes an inflated price. The regular season package previously offered by DR Sports was $14.99—MLB is charging $24.99. The full broadcasts aren’t being archived, for some reason. Instead, occasional highlights are being posted to MLB Film Room. Watch detailed game summaries on the DR Sports YouTube channel.

Active Marlins

• RHP Cody Mincey—1.1 IP, 20.25 ERA, 0 HR, 1 BB, 2 K, 3.75 WHIP
• RHP Matt Pobereyko—0.2 IP, 27.00 IP, 0 HR, 1 BB, 2 K, 3.00 WHIP
• OF Jesús Sánchez—has not played
• OF Magneuris Sierra—10 PA, .111/.200/.111, 0 HR, 1 BB, 2 K

Sierra’s lifetime offensive production in LIDOM is even worse than what he’s shown in the majors, if you can believe that. Only four extra-base hits in 204 career plate appearances. He has started three of five games for Toros del Este this season.

Hopefully we get a Sánchez or Bryan De La Cruz sighting soon.

Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional (LVBP)

Active Marlins

Luís Madero

Mexican Pacific Winter League (LMP)

Active Marlins

• Santiago Chávez—34 PA, .226/.294/.258, 0 HR, 2 BB, 4 K

This is Chávez’s sixth straight winter suiting up for Charros de Jalisco. He’s been a catcher for the vast majority of his MiLB career, but the Marlins also experimented with him at the infield corners in 2021.