Revamped Pen?!

 

The Fish quietly added a couple Veterans, another flamethrower from the Left side, and a little Minor League Depth to the 2023 Bullpen. How it all pieces together is the job of new Manager Skip Schumaker and G.M Kim Ng. But there's no denying the Pen has a little different feel to it. 

New Vets

Matt Barnes (not the tattoo guy who used to play for the Lakers) and JT Chargois, bring parts of 14 Years of combined MLB experience to the Marlins Bullpen, Barnes as the Red-Sox Closer over the last few Seasons. Both Barnes & Chargois have very similar repertoires, while they can rush it up there (Chargois in the high 90's), they are very reliant on a wipeout Slider that can be very effective against both Lefties and especially Righties. Both have had good Springs, while both had a little something to prove after being Traded to the Fish.

Returning Vets

The Marlins brought back 2 Veteran Relievers that played important roles in 2022. Tanner Scott quietly Saved 20 Games last year through a little bit of an up and down Season. The velocity has been a little bit down for Scott this Spring, something to keep an eye on as the Lefty relied not only heavily on his own wipeout Slider in 2022, which he has better control of than the Heater, but also high 90's gasoline 🔥.

Floro dealt with his own Fastball velo problems during an Injury riddled 1st half of last Season, but was able to turn his Campaign around to Save 10 Games for the Marlins with a 2.15 2nd Half ERA, 32 K's in 29.1 IP, as the velocity on the Fastball returned. That Fastball looked to have returned in Floro's last outing in Jupiter against the Cardinals Wednesday too, 1.1 Scoreless Innings of work for the Marlin who's Pitched in 124 Games for the Fish to the tune of a 2.91 ERA over the last 2 Seasons.

Another name that looks like a lock in the Marlins Pen is that of Huascar Brazoban, who missed the early part of Spring with a Visa issue. He's since returned to give the Marlins 5 Strikeouts in his 3 Exhibition Innings in Camp, while continuing to pump the 98 Miles Per Hour that got him to the Big Leagues last year, along with his own filthy Off-Speed.

Lefties

The headline of said Lefties is certainly A.J Puk, as the former Oakland Athletic has come as advertised this Spring. Puk's been featuring 3 plus Big League Pitches that has helped him tally 9 K's in 5 Grapefruit League Innings. More importantly, Puk looks destined to Pitch in the backend of the Marlins Bullpen.

With that being said, I don't think anybody has pitched better than Daniel Castano this Spring, (0.71 ERA, 12 K's in 12.1 IP) and the guy is not necessarily a Strikeout Pitcher. The Marlins know what they have in Castano, who's gotten into some big Games and performed since debuting in 2020 for the Fish. Though better as a Starter, he's been the swingman before, and can more than handle the role until a Start is necessitated. The only bugaboo being, Castano will need a 40 Man Roster spot. 

Kind of on the flip side of that, Steven Okert's 2nd Half struggles (4.12 ERA, 10 BB's in 19.1 IP) seem to have carried over into the Spring. Okert has walked 6 Batters and Hit another in just 5.1 Exhibition Innings. Prior to the lack of control, Okert had a 2.27 ERA in the 1st Half of 2022, and a 2.75 ERA in 2021. But could these massive struggles to find the strike zone soon find the Lefty in DFA limbo (He's out of Options) or be destined for a stint on the I.L to try and workout the kinks??

Andrew Nardi is still in Big League Camp and pitched well this Spring, after an initial rough cup of coffee last Season in the Show. Nardi has a 40 Man Roster spot, which gives him an advantage, and the Marlins are high on his stuff. But with stiff competition for Roster spots, and not just in the Bullpen for the Marlins, the Fish may look for arms who can give them multiple Innings out of the Pen for that final spot or 2.        

Though not cracking the Big League Roster on Opening Day, 2 other Left Handers have impressed in Marlins Spring Training as Non Roster Invitees. Fish farmhand Robert Garcia has opened eyes, as the Lefty with a deceptive delivery has given up a single hit (as in 1) all Spring. While Emmanuel De Jesus even got some International eyes on him, as the former Red Sox farmhand was invited by Team Venezuela to pitch in this past WBC. A couple names to keep in mind during the Season.

Final Spot?!

Not only Lefties have impressed this Spring Training, Eli Villalobos (who's on the 40 Man Roster) showed off Velocity and Off-Speed before being Optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday. While Bryan Hoeing, who's still in Camp as an NRI after getting into 8 subpar Games at the end of last Season, has really impressed with added velocity on his Sinker to go along with a Breakingball/Changeup Off-Speed mix. Similar to Castano, Hoeing is a former Starter who can give the Club multiple Innings. However, like Castano as well, Hoeing is not on the 40 Man Roster.

We talked on our previous Son Los Marlins about the decision the Fish have to make, more than likely by tomorrow, as to whether to carry 12 or 13 (more than likely 13) Pitchers. Assuming it's 13, and Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, Edward Cabrera, Johnny Cueto, and Trevor Rogers are the 5 Starting Pitchers, could this be how the Fish Bullpen sets up on Opening Day, with that final spot (if there is 1) going to either Okert or Hoeing?