Winter is warm.

 



How can you tell Spring has arrived? That's easy, whether it's the Caribbean🌴 Series, Marlins ⚾ Fan Fest this past weekend, or Pitchers and Catchers reporting Monday?..Sort of 😉. Spring Training at least, is here. 




For Marlins Backstops & men on the Mound who will be participating in the upcoming WBC, Monday marked the 1st mandatory workout on the backfields of Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL. But as you can see 👇, there were quite a few extra bodies who were more than eager to get the baseball season going.




    


By tomorrow February 16, all Pitchers & Catchers along with WBC Position Players must arrive to Jupiter, while the first full squad workout for the Marlins is scheduled for February 21st. 




We mentioned Fan Fest Saturday, the Fish also struck a deal following their 2023 Season Kickoff Event. Trading Outfielder/former 1st Round Pick J.J Bleday to the Oakland Athletics for Reliever and fellow former 1st Rounder, flame thrower A.J Puk.




The Bleday Trade signals the Marlins continued value in fellow Lefty Swinging Outfielder Jesus Sanchez. Rightfully so, as Sanchez has outperformed Bleday not only in AAA, but the native of the D.R 🇩🇴 also had what at the time looked like a breakthrough Season in the Big Leagues in 2021. 




Things obviously did not go Sanchez or the Marlins way last year, however Bleday's Career .219 Batting Average at the highest levels of the Minor Leagues (AA & AAA), may have and should have played a big factor in the Fish choosing Sanchez over Bleday. Couple Sanchez's (.326 Hitter in Triple-A the last 2 Seasons) success in Jacksonville with his moderate Big League success, and again, I believe the Marlins made the right decision.







Puk, the Left Hander the Marlins acquired in the Deal from Oakland, features a Fastball that reaches the high 90's with a wipeout Slider (think Tanner Scott). It's what propelled the University of Florida Pitcher to have a pretty successful 1st full Season in the Big Leagues in 2022 (4-3, 3.12 ERA, 66.1 IP, 76 K's). Puk now joins fellow newcomers Matt Barnes (Boston 💍) and J.T Chargois (Tampa Bay) in the Marlins Bullpen.




While Oakland seems to be a perfect fit for Bleday. The A's have always been High On Base Percentagely driven (think Money Ball). While the University of Vanderbilt legend Bleday, has had On Base Percentages 100 points higher than his Batting Averages in Double-A, Triple-A, and the Major Leagues last year. There is value in J.J Bleday, which is why the Marlins recieved Puk back.        





After the Marlins announcement that Jazz Chisholm Jr. would be moving to Center Field, Bryan De La Cruz looked destined to begin the Season in a platoon with either Sanchez or Bleday in Left. That now seems to be the case with the Teammates from Los Toros del Este of the Dominican Winter League. As competition will be abound during the Season and certainly, the SPRING🌴.




          


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