Offishial news, 9/22/21: Fortes makes history; intriguing Cuban free agent target

New Marlins Game Highlights

• Something you don’t see often: the Marlins lost by six runs on Tuesday despite an expected batting average (.308) that was 89 points higher than the Nationals (.219).
• Nick Fortes became the first player ever to homer in each of his first two Marlins starts.
• In his Triple-A Jacksonville debut, outfield prospect Peyton Burdick went 0-for-3 (strikeout, pop out and groundout) with a walk.
• FiveThirtyEight gives the Marlins a 54% chance to win their series finale against the Nationals.
• The newly rebranded Fish On The Farm shares expanded thoughts on how Fortes and Payton Henry made it to The Show and where they fit with the Fish moving forward.
• FOTF’s Alex Carver and Daniel De Vivo will be recording a podcast episode with me tonight focusing on Marlins prospects who had breakout seasons. Comment below with any candidates who come to mind!
• Fish Across the Pond is giddy about Jesús Sánchez and fascinated by the team’s catching situation.
• Cuban right-hander Luis Dany Morales has attempted to defect while his team was competing in Mexico City. The 19-year-old listed at 6-foot-2 reportedly possesses a mid-90s fastball, slider and curveball. It is my speculation that the Marlins would be very interested in signing Morales—assuming he establishes residency in a new country—considering their lack of big-money commitments for the 2022 international signing period.
• On this day in 1996, future Hall of Famer Andre Dawson hit his final MLB home run.
• Candy Digital’s MLB Stadium Series of digital collectibles now includes NFTs of LoanDepot Park. They’re selling the open edition for $100 apiece and holding an auction through Thursday at 7 p.m. ET for this single edition 1-of-1. The auction winner will receive four game tickets in The Club: DEX Imaging, four stadium tour tickets, an autographed game-used bat, and an alumni player meet-and-greet.

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