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Earning Their Stripes: Week 15, Part II

Here’s what happened in the Marlins organization on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

By Ely Sussman
RHP Nick Neidert tossed a seven-inning complete game for Jacksonville on Friday Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images

For the rest of the 2021 Minor League Baseball season, I’ve settled on a new farm system report format. On Friday mornings, I’ll summarize what Marlins affiliates did during the first half of their week (Tuesday-Thursday), then follow up with the Friday-Sunday results on Monday mornings. Consider following our @FishProspects Twitter account for daily stats and highlights.

Marlins minor league affiliates went a combined 8-7 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

  • Triple-A—Charlotte 1, Jacksonville 3 (F/7); Charlotte 2, Jacksonville 4 (F/7); Charlotte 14, Jacksonville 7
  • Double-A—Montgomery 3, Pensacola 1; Montgomery 7, Pensacola 2; Montgomery 2, Pensacola 4
  • High-A—Beloit 8, Quad Cities 6 (F/10); Beloit 9, Quad Cities 1; Beloit 2, Quad Cities 3 (F/10)
  • Low-A—Jupiter 0, Daytona 3; Jupiter 3, Daytona 0; Jupiter 9, Daytona 8 (F/8)
  • U.S. Rookie—FCL Mets 7, FCL Marlins 2
  • D.R. Rookie—DSL Marlins 2, DSL Athletics 5 (F/7); DSL Athletics 6, DSL Marlins 7 (F/7)

Triple-A Jacksonville (51-39)

Friday’s Game 1 starting pitcher RHP Edward Cabrera: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 12 K

Friday’s Game 2 starting pitcher RHP Nick Neidert: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K (CG)

Sunday’s starting pitcher LHP Brandon Leibrandt: 0.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R (5 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HR

Great week of minor league rehab for Jesús Sánchez, slashing .333/.467/.750 with a home run and three runs batted in (15 PA). He should be returning to the Marlins active roster any day now.

Former Yankees farmhand Dustin Fowler made his Jacksonville debut, striking out four times in seven plate appearances.

One of the longest homers by any player at any level of the Marlins organization in 2021, courtesy of Monte Harrison:

I’d much rather see he or Brian Miller getting major league reps down the stretch in place of Magneuris Sierra.

The Marlins gave Leibrandt an extensive look, but opponents are hitting .336 against him this season. It’s time to move on. They have enough interesting arms to fill out that Triple-A rotation without him.

Double-A Pensacola (45-45)

Friday’s starting pitcher LHP Jake Eder: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 3 K

Saturday’s starting pitcher LHP Will Stewart: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR

Sunday’s starting pitcher RHP Jeff Lindgren: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K

Griffin Conine launched his minor league-leading 31st home run and Stewart issued his minor league-leading 22nd hit by pitch in Saturday’s loss.

JD Orr is quietly becoming Pensacola’s most-used center fielder. He was promoted more than a month ago, but missed time on the injured list in early August. The former 10th-round draft pick returned on Friday without missing a beat. He boasts a .404 on-base percentage at Double-A and a .433 career mark in the minors—no other full-season player in the Marlins org comes close to that.

High-A Beloit (42-48)

Friday’s starting pitcher RHP M.D. Johnson: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K

Saturday’s starting pitcher RHP George Soriano: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 K

Sunday’s starting pitcher RHP Jake Walters: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K

Johnson’s walk rate has practically been cut in half since his midseason promotion (19.8 BB% with Jupiter, 10.9 BB% with Beloit). That’s decent enough to perhaps buy him another year of development as a starter.

Soriano reached double-digit strikeouts in a game for the second time this season. His 106 pitch count was the second-highest of his career. Nice rebound performance from Anthony Maldonado coming out of the bullpen, finishing the final two frames efficiently. Catcher Jan Mercado made his High-A debut in the cleanup spot.

Kameron Misner had a nine-game RBI streak, which came to an end on Sunday. He still contributed in the series finale by drawing a pair of walks and scoring a run.

The Snappers have played 13 extra-inning games this season, including six in the last calendar month.

Low-A Jupiter (44-43)

Friday’s starting pitcher RHP Evan Fitterer: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HR

Saturday’s starting pitcher RHP Eury Pérez: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Sunday’s starting pitcher RHP Chris Mokma: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 4 HR

Bad playing conditions interrupted Pérez midway through his outing. He struck out five of the first seven batters he faced. Of his 50 total pitches, 21 of them (42%) were called strikes or whiffs.

Fourth-round draft pick Tanner Allen wrapped up his best week as a pro and now has more walks (8) than strikeouts (7) overall. Nondrafted free agent Paul McIntosh homered and drove in five runs during Sunday’s victory.

After beginning this year as a two-way player, Sean Reynolds is focusing entirely on pitching. He has contributed back-to-back scoreless relief appearances—two innings apiece—since being activated from the IL. I’m excited to get some fresh Statcast data on him when the Hammerheads return to Roger Dean for their upcoming series

FCL Marlins (12-16)

Friday’s starting pitcher RHP Luis Vizcaino: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR

Left-hander Jared Pettitte—son of Andy—went two scoreless innings in his professional debut. Pettitte, 23, signed with the Marlins as an undrafted free agent.

Joe Mack was behind the plate to work with Vizcaino, Pettitte and Luis González. He was subbed out after five innings.

DSL Marlins (11-10)

Saturday’s Game 1 starting pitcher RHP Kendry Montesino: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 1 K

Saturday’s Game 2 starting pitcher RHP Yoelvis Burguillos: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 4 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 2 K

Only one “error” committed during Saturday’s first game, but there were eight(!) wild pitches. The Marlins generated all of their offense on walks and wild pitches.

More than two years removed from signing with the Fish, Venezuelan right-hander Jean Reyes is finally pitching in official games. He has retired five of the first six batters he’s faced, and the only one who reached safely (on a walk) was erased on a double play that he started himself.

2021 Marlins MiLB Leaders (entering August 16)

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