Should we question the Miami Marlins 2020 roster?

After making moves to send prospects to Jupiter, Florida, should fans question the moves Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly has made with the roster?

Should we second guess the latest decisions by Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly after it was announced Monte Harrison will start this season Jupiter rather than on the team’s 30-man roster?

I think it’s a fair question, seeing that the Marlins have become a slightly older club now that the front office and Mattingly have decided to keep their ninth-ranked prospect off the Major League roster, along with Lewin Diaz and Jesus Sanchez. Or, and this is a real possibility, I could be reading the tea leaves completely wrong.

Mattingly told the media through his most recent Zoom conference Harrison still had some things to work on this season. While he looked as though he would breakthrough and find a spot on the Opening Day roster, he was not guaranteed a starting role, which may have factored heavily into the decision. MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro wrote that the move wasn’t surprising, however, I for one was a bit caught off guard, as Mattingly has been singing Harrison’s praises the past two weeks.

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“One hundred percent,” Harrison said on Zoom. “I feel I prepared myself mentally and physically to be in the big leagues.”

Hopefully, that tells us Miami Marlins fans that it won’t be long before Harrison will be swinging a stick with the parent club, hopefully later this season.

And for the ever optimist, the Marlins coaching staff has had a chance to see the future with Harrison, Diaz, Sanchez. and shortstop Jazz Chisholm proving they are the leaders of this team in a short period of time moving forward.

“To convince the organization, he has to show more consistent contact. At Triple-A last year, he had a slash line of .274/.357/.451 with nine home runs and 20 stolen bases. His strikeout rate was 29.9 percent,” Frisaro explained.

Harrison has made major strides since he was brought in back in 2018 as part of the deal that sent Christian Yelich to Milwaukee. As a member of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, he looked out of place as a slugger who was bigger, stronger, and faster than his teammates. His issues with strikeouts (over 200 in the Southern League) was a concern back then.

It might be the only thing holding him back. Harrison’s defense is also a reason for excitement in the future.

If Jonathan Villar, who will assume the centerfield spot on Opening Day, is essentially a rent-a-player for one season, then it is safe to believe Harrison will be in the Miami Marlins lineup on Opening Day in 2021. So should Diaz at first base and Sanchez in one of the corner outfield spots.

Taking the Mound

According to Frisaro, “The Marlins close out their two exhibition games with the Braves at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Truist Park. Pablo López will start for Miami, and Atlanta is scheduled to start Kyle Wright.