Miami Marlins Spring Training: Bullpen Update

Four games into the Miami Marlins Spring Training, and we’ve seen most of the 22 players trying to make it into the bullpen for Opening Day.

On Mondays we’ll continue to update you on the starting rotation. Tuesdays we take a look at the outfield. On Thursdays the Miami Marlins catching corps gets a deep dive, and on Friday we’ll review the infield picture. On Wednesdays, it’s all about the bullpen.

The outfield, the infield and the starting pitcher’s competition each involves 13 or 14 players. There’s seven catchers trying to earn one-of-two spots. The bullpen has the most spots available, and a plurality of players trying to make it onto the roster.

The Active 40-Man Roster

Nick Anderson pitched 1 1/3 innings of the season’s Spring Training opener, the Miami Marlins 11-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed one hit, and struck a batter out to escape unscathed.

Austin Brice struck out the side in the fourth inning of the opener, allowing a hit, a walk, and an unearned run. In Miami’s win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday, he faced five batters, and struck out two while allowing two hits in a scoreless fifth.

Adam Conley pitched the third inning in the opener, and got through the frame with only one baserunner allowed, on a walk.

Drew Steckenrider made his Spring Training debut in the Miami Marlins second contest, their 10-6 walkoff loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. For his part, Steckenrider allowed a walk and no runs or hits while pitching the third inning.

Jarlin Garcia inherited two baserunners with two outs in the second inning of the Miami Marlins 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. He got Tommy Pham to then ground out harmlessly, 5-3 to end the threat. Garcia followed that by allowing a hit and a walk with two outs in the third, but escaped without allowing a run in his 1 2/3 innings. For his part, he was credited with the win.

Riley Ferrell pitched the fourth inning of the Miami Marlins victory over the Rays, striking out two and not allowing a baserunner.

Merandy Gonzalez started the eighth inning against the Rays, and allowed two hits and two walks in 2/3 of an inning. He struck out one, and one runner scored.

Tayron Guerrero pitched a perfect fourth inning in Tuesday’s win against the Houston Astros. He struck out one batter.

Jorge Guzman has not made his Spring Training debut as of this moment.

Elieser Hernandez made his spring debut on Tuesday against the Astros. He pitched the sixth and seventh innings, striking out a pair while walking one and allowing one hit to earn the victory.

Kyle Keller has yet to appear in a Miami Marlins Spring Training game.

Tyler Kinley struck out two in a perfect eighth on Sunday, in the Marlins loss to the Pirates.

Jose Quijada‘s first appearance was probably one he’d sooner forget. Coming into the ninth inning with the contest against Pittsburgh tied at six, he loaded the bases on a walk and a pair of hits. Quijada then surrendered a walk-off grand slam home run to Ke’Bryan Hayes.

Sergio Romo got into his first contest on Tuesday, in the Marlins victory against the Astros. He pitched a perfect third, striking out three in 14 pitches.

Non-Roster Invitees

R.J. Alvarez gave up five earned runs on six hits in 2/3 of an inning in the season opener. In his next appearance, on Tuesday against the Astros, he earned a save by collecting the final three outs without allowing a score. He gave up two hits and struck out one batter.

Tommy Eveld has yet to make an appearance this spring.

Brett Graves surrendered eight hits and five runs while collecting only two outs in 2/3 of an inning in the season-opening 11-1 loss to the Cardinals.

Mike Kickham earned the first save of the season for the Marlins, against Tampa Bay. He collected the final four outs, allowing a hit, a walk, and an unearned run.

Dylan Lee‘s first game-action was in the Marlins loss to the Pirates on Sunday. He tossed the seventh, and allowed a run on two hits and a walk.

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Ben Meyer struck out two over the eighth and ninth innings of the season’s opener. He kept the Cardinals scoreless despite allowing three hits.

Brian Moran inherited a baserunner, walked a pair, then killed the Cardinals rally by striking out Rangel Ravelo with the bases loaded in the fifth inning of the season opener. In his second appearance, on Tuesday, he pitched a perfect eighth inning to earn a hold against Houston.

Hector Noesi struck out a pair and allowed just one hit in two innings of work. Unfortunately, it was Jung Ho Kang‘s second home run of the game in the Pirates victory.