Marlins A Through Z: The “G” Team

The Florida and Miami Marlins have seen 34 players take the field in a regular season game.

The letter “G” is the seventh in the alphabet, and this is the seventh in our special alphabet series. What kind of team would the Miami Marlins have if they only used franchise alum to compete?

Starting Lineup

Second baseman Dee Gordon leads things off for the Marlins. A 2015 National League All Star while with the team, Gordon led the league that season with 58 stolen bases and a .333 batting average. In 382 games in total between then and 2017, Gordon hit .309/.340/.384 with 148 stolen bases in 191 attempts.

Batting second, eight-season Florida Marlins shortstop Alex Gonzalez. He played for Florida from 1998 through 2005, making the All Star team in 1999. In 896 games for the Marlins, he hit .245/.291/.391 and clubbed 81 homers with 375 RBI. He spent the second half of his 16-season major league career between six other teams.

Designated hitter Tommy Gregg bats third. He played in 75 games for the 1995 Florida Marlins after spending a season in Mexico. For Florida, he hit .237/.313/.385.

In the cleanup spot, right fielder Curtis Granderson stands ready to take his cuts. After a 15-season major league career during which he hit 332 long balls, Granderson slashed just .183/.281/.356 with a dozen moon shots and 34 RBI for the 2019 Miami Marlins.

Playing in left field and batting fifth, five-time All Star Luis Gonzalez suited up for his final major league season at the age of 40. The last of Gonzalez’ 19 seasons would see him hit .261/.336/.413 with eight homers and 47 RBI in 136 games in 2008.

Center fielder Cole Gillespie bats sixth. In 108 contests between 2015 and 2016, Gillespie hit .276/.318/.413 while appearing at all three outfield spots for the Miami Marlins.

In the seventh spot, first baseman Ross Gload gets a turn. In 125 games for the 2009 Marlins, Gload hit .261/.329/.400.

Craig Grebeck starts at third base and bats eighth. He played in 50 games for the Marlins in 1996, he hit .211 while also appearing at second base and shortstop.

Rounding out the lineup is catcher Guillermo Garcia, who only suited up for four games for the Florida Marlins in 1999. He was one-for-four in his short look.

Bench

Infielders Nick Green, Amaury Garcia, and Andy Gonzalez stand ready to back up Gload, Gordon, Grebeck, and Alex Gonzalez. Outfielders Isaac Galloway and John Gall will spell Granderson, Luis Gonzalez, and Gillespie.

Rotation

With only five pitchers who meet the parameters of at least one start, they all make the rotation. Despite making only seven starts during his short time with the Miami Marlins, right-hander Zac Gallen leads the rotation with a 156 ERA+. He’s the only one of the five who racked up so much as a “league average” mark of 100 or better. He was 1-3 with 43 K’s in 36 1/3 innings, a 2.72 ERA, and a 1.183 WHIP in 2019.

Another recent expatriate, Jarlin Garcia also started only seven games for the Miami Marlins. He also came out of the bullpen 143 times and struck out 121 in 170 frames from 2017 through 2019. Garcia was 8-7 with a 4.29 ERA and a solid 1.218 WHIP.

Number three starter Mark Gardner started in 25 of his 59 Florida Marlins appearances in 1994 and 1995. In 194 2/3 innings, he struck out 144 and went 9-9 with a 4.67 ERA and a 1.433 WHIP.

Although mainly known as a reliever over his 15 season major league career, six-five right-hander Jason Grilli started six games for the Florida Marlins in his major league debut over 2000 and 2001. In 33 1/3 innings, he whiffed 20 and racked up a 1.620 WHIP, going 3-2 with a 5.94 ERA.

Merandy Gonzalez rounds out the rotation by way of one single start in the 2018 campaign for the Miami Marlins. He also pitched relief in seven games, striking out 22 in 19 innings. He put up a 1.773 WHIP and a 2-1 record to go with a 5.73 ERA.

Bullpen

Kevin Gregg played 2007 and 2008 for the Florida Marlins, and later joined the Miami Marlins in 2014. He was 7-13 with 61 saves in 116 overall appearances, with a combined 1.280 WHIP and 151 K’s in 161 2/3 innings.

In 2018 and 2019, Tayron Guerrero struck out 111 hitters in 104 innings, going 2-5 with a 5.80 ERA in 112 appearances. He finished with a 1.654 WHIP.

Lee Gardner appeared 69 times for the 2007 and 2008 Florida Marlins, with 56 whiffs in 81 innings. He was 3-4 with a 2.67 ERA.

Chad Gaudin struck out 57 in 69 1/3 innings for the Marlins in 2012, going 4-2 with a 4.54 ERA.

Javy Guerra put up a 4.61 ERA in 56 2/3 innings for the 2017 and 2018 Marlins, going 2-2 with 42 K’s.

Brett Graves pitched 33 1/3 innings for the Marlins in 2018, with 21 K’s, a 5.40 ERA, and a 1-1 record.

Buddy Groom lasted 15 innings for the Marlins in 1995, putting up a 7.20 ERA in 14 contests and striking out 12 batters.

World Series Impact

Alex Gonzalez played shortstop for the 2003 World Series Champion Florida Marlins, playing in 150 contests in total. He hit .256/.313/.443 and clubbed 18 homers with 77 RBI. In 17 playoff appearances, he was 10-for-62 and one homer. It was a big one though, a game-winner in the bottom of the 12th to seal a Game Four victory.

In-the-Pipeline

Outfielder Stone Garrett, as well as pitching prospects Braxton Garrett, Matt Givin, Alberto Guerrero, Sean Guenther, and Jorge Guzman all stand to reach the majors at some point in the future.