Why Jesus Luzardo is still at Miami Marlins camp as World Baseball Classic approaches
Just about everyone participating in the World Baseball Classic has already reported to their respective country’s camp.
The Miami Marlins’ Jesus Luzardo has remained behind for the moment.
With Luzardo not scheduled to pitch for Venezuela until its final pool play game on March 15 against Israel at Miami’s loanDepot park, Luzardo is still in Jupiter at least for the next few days as he continues ramping up for the season.
The 25-year-old lefty threw a bullpen session on the back fields of the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex and is scheduled to throw four innings on Friday in the Marlins’ spring training game against the Washington Nationals at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
“He’s getting his work in,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said Tuesday. “You’ll see some WBC guys [stay back with their teams] ... to make sure they’re ready to go. Some guys are getting worked on. Some guys are tinkering with their mechanics and that kind of stuff. There’s no injury or anything with him. He’s just getting his work in and feels good about that.”
Luzardo has pitched in two Grapefruit League games so far this spring.
He threw two innings and landed 22 of his 28 pitches for strikes in his first outing on Feb. 27 against the Houston Astros, striking out Jose Altuve swinging to begin the game and working around three hits in the second to hold Houston to just one run.
Luzardo went 2 2/3 innings in his second outing on Saturday, striking out three but also giving up a three-run home run on a breaking ball that landed over the heart of the plate.
“I feel really good in terms of health,” Luzardo said Saturday. “Probably the best I’ve felt all spring. The arm felt really good and the bullpen was probably the best bullpen I’ve thrown. ... I’m definitely not as sharp as I’d like to be, but I’m happy with getting my fastball up and commanding a lot of my other stuff.”
This and that
▪ Marlins infielder Jean Segura went 3 for 3 with an RBI single for the Dominican Republic in their 9-0 win over the Atlanta Braves in an exhibition game in North Port, Florida. Segura came off the bench for second baseman Willy Adames in the game and anticipates being used in a utility role during the World Baseball Classic.
▪ Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said left-handed pitchers A.J. Puk and Tanner Scott should be good to make their first spring training appearances on Friday against the Nationals after both dealt with minor injuries early in camp. Puk had tightness in his left adductor, the muscles on the inner thigh. Scott had left biceps soreness.
“It was promising watching their live [batting practice sessions] and coming out and playing catch the next day. They’re healthy,” Stottlemyre said. “Look, our bullpen really hasn’t been out there [in spring training games]. We need to get them back, try to get as many innings and outings in as safely as we can and make sure they can get a back-to-back, but the main thing is to get them out there healthy.”
▪ The Marlins are holding a March Madness-style ping-pong tournament over the course of the final weeks of spring training. They did the same thing in 2019, with Braxton Garrett beating Garrett Cooper for the title. They were considering holding the tournament again for the end of spring training in 2020 but camp came to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
