Marlins week in review: Intersection of World Baseball Classic, spring training
Skip Schumaker is heading into the final weeks of his first spring training as the Miami Marlins’ manager, putting together the final tune-up for his team ahead of the March 30 season opener against the New York Mets.
He’s doing so without five of his top players.
While Schumaker and most of the Marlins are training in Jupiter, Sandy Alcantara, Johnny Cueto, Jean Segura, Luis Arraez and Jesus Luzardo — along with non-roster invitee Enmannuel De Jesus and prospect Anthony Maldonado — are at loanDepot park for the World Baseball Classic.
Those players are representing their countries and heritages (the Dominican Republic for Alcantara, Cueto and Segura; Venezuela for Arraez, Luzardo and De Jesus; Puerto Rico for Maldonado) and still getting their work in, but they are doing so away from their coaches.
It’s the nature of the tournament’s timing. Spring training is the only logical time to hold a multi-week baseball tournament. The All-Star Break isn’t long enough. After the World Series is too far removed from the season for players (pitchers specifically) who didn’t make the playoffs and have already ramped down their schedules.
That said, while Schumaker ideally wished he would have all his players in camp the whole time — especially three-fifths of his projected starting rotation and half his starting infield — he understands the enthusiasm surrounding the event for players participating.
“There’s bragging rights,” Schumaker said. “There’s guys in our clubhouse that are playing for different teams, that are rooting for different teams in there. It’s just cool to see the guys’ passion and there’s a reason why all these guys have said yes when they get asked. It’s cool for the game. It’s needed for the game. It should be fun watching it in Miami.”
loanDepot park this year is the first venue to host during every phase of tournament, which began in 2006 and has also taken place in 2009, 2013 and 2017.
Read more on that in my story from earlier this week here.
Camp cuts starting
The Marlins have already sent 15 players to minor-league camp.
The full group: Left-handed pitchers Dylan Bice, Dax Fulton, Robert Garcia, Will Stewart and Jefry Yan; right-handed pitchers Enrique Burgos, Geoff Hartlieb and Sean Reynolds; catchers Cameron Barstad and Jan Mercado; infielders Jacob Amaya, Jacob Berry, Troy Johnston and Joe Rizzo; and outfielder Jake Mangum.
Five of those 15 are among Miami’s top-30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline: Berry (No. 2 in Marlins system, No. 61 overall in MLB), Fulton (No. 4 in Marlins system), Amaya (No. 9 in Marlins system), Reynolds (No. 25 in Marlins system) and Johnston (No. 29 in Marlins system).
Stories from the week
▪ The Marlins signed veteran infielders Yuli Gurriel and Jose Iglesias to minor-league deals. While the two aren’t locks for the Opening Day roster just yet, their presence at camp fortifies the team’s infield and adds two more proven hitters with track records. They will most likely play their first spring training games this week.
▪ Sandy Alcantara’s World Baseball Classic debut didn’t go as planned, with two bad pitching dooming his start for the Dominican Republic in a 5-1 loss to Venezuela on Saturday.
▪ Pitcher Nic Enright threw his first bullpen session of camp on Thursday, about two-and-a-half months after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr., who battled prostate cancer, have formed a special bond.
▪ Two of Miami’s top relief pitchers in A.J. Puk and Tanner Scott pitched in their first spring training games on Friday after dealing with minor injuries early in camp.
▪ Joey Wendle is settling in at shortstop.
Next week’s schedule
Monday: vs. New York Mets (Jupiter), 1:10 p.m., Radio via 940 AM
Tuesday: vs. Houston Astros (Jupiter), 1:10 p.m., Radio via 940 AM
Wednesday: vs. Washington Nationals (Jupiter), 1:10 p.m., Radio via 940 AM
Thursday: OFF
Friday: Split Squad — vs. St. Louis Cardinals (Jupiter), 1:10 p.m., TV via Bally Sports Florida, Radio via 940 AM; AND @ New York Mets (Port St. Lucie), 6:10 p.m.
Saturday: @ Washington Nationals (West Palm Beach), 1:05 p.m., Radio via MLB.com
Sunday: vs. Houston Astros (Jupiter), 1:10 p.m., TV via Bally Sports Florida, Radio via 940 AM
