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Miami Marlins: Team won’t rush prospect to the Majors

By David Levin |
JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Sixto Sanchez #73 of the Miami Marlins in the dugout before the spring training game against the Washington Nationals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 23, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Sixto Sanchez #73 of the Miami Marlins in the dugout before the spring training game against the Washington Nationals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 23, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

The Miami Marlins are willing to be patient with top prospect Sixto Sanchez in his ascent to the Major Leagues this season.

After two straight losses, the last thing the Miami Marlins can do is overreact and make a bad decision regarding the team’s roster.

That’s why the team’s front office is still slow playing the move to bring top prospect, Sixto Sanchez, to the Majors. Taking their time with the pitcher is the right move for now. There is plenty of pitching depth, evident by the fact manager Don Mattingly has used many different arms in the rotation and out of the bullpen – long before a decision would be made to rush Sanchez to the Majors.

“Working at the club’s alternate training site in Jupiter, Fla., Sánchez is currently built up to throw three innings in scrimmages,” Joe Frisaro of MLB.com wrote. “The Marlins would like to see him get to at least five innings before giving serious consideration to bringing him to the big leagues.”

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The Marlins have used kid gloves with Sanchez since making the deal to send J.T. Realmuto to Philadelphia. Sanchez may still make his parent club debut this season, but it will more than likely be at the end of 2020. There have been plenty of arms that have made their debut this season, but Sanchez working from the team’s training site in Jupiter, Florida is a sign there is no reason their future ace along in a 60-game season.

“Sixto has been good,” manager Don Mattingly said on a Zoom call Saturday. “That’s really what it’s been, making sure that he’s being built up properly. I feel pretty confident that there is going to be a time this year that we see Sixto. It just hasn’t been yet.”

Sanchez never took the mound in Spring Training, which was done by design.

Sanchez has a chance to come into camp next season and compete for a starting spot in the rotation. This also could be a challenge since there is so much depth in the minors. Who will stay and who will go? Those decisions will be left for the front office to make.

In the meantime, Marlins fans have seen young arms on the mound and the future of their ball club. Sunday was the first time that Mattingly used a starter (Pablo Lopez) for the second time this season.

How Sanchez fits in the team’s plans for 2021 remains something the team will answer after this season. Sanchez will be part of the conversation. The Marlins have added more pitching depth this season through the MLB Draft. And believe it or not, this could a situation where three of the five starters from the beginning of this season may not make the rotation next year.

The Marlins are more than willing to be patient because the end result could mean they have one of the best starters in the league in just a few short seasons.

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