The Marlins have chosen the contract of former first-round choose JJ Bleday and added him to the lively roster, per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Bleday’s addition to the roster is available in response to Jorge Soler occurring the 10-day injured record with decrease again spasms.
There isn’t any backdating on Soler’s IL placement, so the veteran slugger will (at minimal) be out of motion till the August 2 commerce deadline. Although Miami has a number of gamers who could be trade chips by the deadline, there hadn’t been a lot buzz about the potential for Soler being traded, which speaks to each Soler’s contract, the Marlins’ longer-term plans, and his robust 2022 season.
Soler, the reigning World Collection MVP, inked a three-year, $36MM free agent cope with the Marlins after the lockout. Soler has the flexibility to choose out after each this season (leaving $24MM on the desk) and after the 2023 season (leaving his $9MM wage for 2024 on the desk), although it will appear unlikely that Soler would once more check free company on the heels of an underwhelming 12 months to this point.
Soler has hit .207/.295/.400 with 13 residence runs over 306 plate appearances, with a 99 wRC+ that displays barely below-average manufacturing. Regardless of the shortage of massive numbers, there’s some proof that Soler might flip it on within the second half. In any case, it was simply final season that Soler went on a tear after being dealt to the Braves on the deadline, and he kind of carried that scorching streak right through the World Collection.
This 12 months, Soler has excellent hard-contact numbers and a .322 xwOBA that’s above his .305 wOBA, even when that .322 mark is just across the league common. Soler can also be strolling at an above-average charge however is swinging and lacking a ton, as his 29.4% strikeout charge is just within the ninth percentile of all batters. Groups are taking part in shifts in opposition to Soler 78% of the time, which is stifling his strong contact numbers — Soler has solely a .275 wOBA in opposition to the shift, and a whopping .411 wOBA when not going through shifts.
Accidents have additionally performed a task in the previous couple of weeks, as Soler missed about two weeks firstly of July with bilateral pelvis irritation, and performed in solely 5 video games earlier than this newest return to the IL. It stays to be seen how a lot additional time Soler would possibly miss (if greater than 10 days), however his absence will open the door for Bleday’s Main League debut.
The fourth total choose of the 2019 draft, Bleday has hit .229/.365/.470 with 20 residence runs over 367 PA at Triple-A Jacksonville this season, his first publicity to Triple-A pitching. It’s a pleasant breakout for Bleday, who didn’t hit a lot in his temporary minor league debut in 2019 after which struggled in his first full season of professional ball in 2021. His lack of outcomes final 12 months price Bleday a slot in some top-100 prospect rankings, however MLB Pipeline nonetheless had him 69th on their preseason record.
After all, Bleday didn’t play in any respect in 2020 as a result of canceled minor league season, so it isn’t essentially shocking that it took a while to get again on observe. The 24-year-old’s efficiency in 2022 has seemingly quieted quite a lot of questions on his energy potential and on-base capacity, although Bleday continues to be not hitting for common and continues to be swinging-and-missing (99 strikeouts in these 367 PA) at a excessive charge.
Bleday’s sturdy throwing arm has made him extra of a right-field candidate than his preliminary middle discipline place, and in Miami, Avisail Garcia might slide over to left discipline to accommodate common taking part in time for the rookie, or Bleday might merely take over left discipline himself. With the Marlins maybe already planning in direction of 2023, Bleday might very effectively get an extended look as a possible candidate for an on a regular basis spot subsequent 12 months. Assuming Soler doesn’t choose out, he and Garcia are longer-term choices within the nook outfield spots, however the DH can also be accessible to juggle taking part in time down the street.
