The Marlins are set to advertise high pitching prospect Max Meyer, the crew introduced on Twitter (with video of him studying the information). Craig Mish of SportsGrid studies (Twitter link) that Meyer will begin on Saturday in opposition to the Phillies.
It’ll be the most important league debut for the right-hander, who flew by way of the minors. Miami chosen Meyer with the third general decide within the 2020 draft. The College of Minnesota product was the primary pitcher off the board, and he’s excelled over his first two years in professional ball. There was no minor league season throughout his draft 12 months due to the pandemic, and the Fish aggressively assigned Meyer to Double-A Pensacola for his first recreation motion in 2021.
Meyer dealt with the project with aplomb, pitching to a 2.41 ERA by way of 20 begins. He punched out an above-average 27.2% of opponents whereas inducing ground-balls on greater than half the batted balls he surrendered. Meyer’s walks have been a contact excessive, however it was a promising displaying for his first full professional season. He earned a late-season cameo at Triple-A Jacksonville and headed into final offseason as one of many sport’s higher pitching prospects.
Coming into the 2022 marketing campaign, every of Baseball America, FanGraphs and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN slotted Meyer among the many recreation’s high 100 general prospects. He drew reward for a mid-upper 90s fastball and a slider that some evaluators thought of the most effective single pitch within the 2020 draft class. The standard of his changeup was a bit extra divisive, with FanGraphs and ESPN projecting it to common or higher however BA contemplating it extra of a fringy providing.
Meyer isn’t essentially considered a future ace. BA and Keith Regulation of the Athletic (who slotted him fifth within the Miami system heading into the 12 months) every famous that some evaluators level to his lack of pinpoint fastball command as a cause to undertaking a possible bullpen future. That mentioned, all 4 retailers recommended Meyer has the potential to be an above-average, mid-rotation or higher arm if his command comes alongside. The Marlins will certainly give him each alternative to cement himself within the beginning 5 over the approaching seasons.
This 12 months, the 23-year-old has continued to overpower higher minors hitters. He’s made 12 begins with the Jumbo Shrimp, tossing 58 innings of three.72 ERA ball. He has a 28.4% strikeout proportion with a 50% grounder charge, and he’s lower his stroll charge barely from 9.6% in Double-A to eight.3% this season. Meyer spent a month on the injured checklist between mid-Might and June, however he’s allowed two or fewer runs in every of his 4 begins since returning.
It stays to be seen whether or not Meyer will maintain a rotation spot for good now that he’s headed to the large leagues, however there ought to be a possibility if the membership feels he’s prepared for constant run in opposition to MLB hitters. Miami’s high three is about in stone. Sandy Alcantara is acting at a Cy Younger stage, and Pablo López is having one other wonderful 12 months. Trevor Rogers has had a disappointing first half, however he’s actually not in peril of dropping a rotation spot after an All-Star 2021 marketing campaign.
The ultimate two spots have been extra questionable, partly as a result of harm. Elieser Hernández and Jesús Luzardo opened the 12 months fourth and fifth on the depth chart. Hernández had a dreadful first few months and was finally optioned to Jacksonville. He’s since been recalled however has labored in lengthy reduction. Luzardo, in the meantime, hit the injured checklist in Might with a forearm pressure and has but to return to the large leagues. Sixto Sánchez hasn’t pitched all season, whereas Cody Poteet and Edward Cabrera have been on the IL for some time.
Former first-rounder Braxton Garrett has pitched properly by way of seven begins since changing Hernández within the rotation final month. Daniel Castano has stepped into the #5 function and held his personal, working to a 4.35 ERA over six begins. He’s solely placing out round 13% of hitters, although, so Meyer will definitely be a extra high-octane choice. Castano nonetheless has an choice 12 months remaining, and he can head again to Jacksonville or work out of the most important league bullpen as wanted.
The upcoming collection is essential for the Marlins, who sit at 43-45. They’re three video games again within the Wild Card standings. The Phils are one in all two groups between them and the Cardinals, who presently maintain the ultimate playoff spot within the Nationwide League. The following two and a half weeks may form how basic supervisor Kim Ng and her employees method the upcoming commerce deadline, they usually’ll flip to one of many sport’s most attention-grabbing younger arms at this pivotal stage of the season.
Meyer shouldn’t be on the 40-man roster, so the Marlins must formally choose his contract on Saturday. Miami’s 40-man roster is full, however they will clear a roster spot by transferring one in all their injured pitchers from the 15-day to the 60-day injured checklist. Reliever Anthony Bender has already missed virtually two months and simply started a rehab project right now, so transferring him can be little greater than a formality.
Picture courtesy of USA Right this moment Sports activities.
