Marlins Hitter Camp Participants Have Something to Prove

Still 38 days remaining until the “official” start of Spring Training, young Marlins hitters prepare.

Spring Training is and always has been a part of the baseball season where players prepare for the long haul of a 162-game season by….playing baseball. The Marlins organization is getting a head start on that.

In preparation for that, a lot of top-rated Marlins prospects have joined the team in Jupiter, FL for the team’s informal and completely voluntary hitters camp. 2019 first-round pick J.J. Bleday, 2019 competitive balance round pick Kam Misner, former Yankees-farmhand Jose Devers, international signees Victor Victor Mesa, his brother, Victor Mesa Jr., and Jerar Encarnacion, 2019 second rounder Nasim Nunez, 2018 competitive round pick Will Banfield, 2018 second-rounder Osiris Johnson, and 2019 third-rounder Peyton Burdick all partook in the activities. Of particular note, only Encarnacion of those 10 prospects remain from the pre-Jeter era of Marlins leadership.

In an MLB.COM story by Joe Frisaro, Marlins director of player development Dick Scott said that it was important for the guys to get some practice in without the looming question of where they’re going to start the season at:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7UXxVAHh_3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

"To have times like this, where we’re not rushing to try to make a team, is important. Guys aren’t panicking and wondering, ‘Am I going to go to Double-A, or am I going to go back to Jupiter?’ Those types of things."

Although not participating in the program, exactly, Jazz Chisholm and Monte Harrison are also in attendance, working out.

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Following hitters camp, the Marlins are set to hold “Captain’s Camp.” the program is a three-week program which sets out team standards for around two dozen “up-and-comers” within the organization. Captain’s Camp, is of course followed by pitchers and catchers reporting on February 12th, the first full squad workout on February 17th, the first non-intrasquad game, on February 22nd against the New York Mets, and finally, Opening Day, on March 26th at home against the Philadelphia Phillies.

During the offseason, following the regular season and preceding this hitters camp, most players work out during the offseason with the goal of building muscle. This time of year is more in line with gaining some flexibility in readiness for the “quick-twitch” muscle groups that are more important in such a reactive game such as baseball.

For some decent footage of these guys at hitters camp, it’s a good idea to follow them on Instagram. Most of them have an account there, even more than have Twitter accounts in fact. Whatever you do, keep checking back here for the latest in Marlins news.