Miami Marlins: Getting to Know Recent Call-Up RHP Luis Madero

The Miami Marlins recently made a few roster moves prior to Sunday’s game against the Brewers, with one in particular that caught the eyes of a few Marlins fans.

The roster moves made on Sunday by the Miami Marlins including optioning LHP Daniel Castano to Triple-A and placing RHP Jorge Guzman on the 60-day IL. The move however that caught most people’s eye however is when they selected the contract of RHP Luis Madero.

Now I know what you’re thinking, who is that? Not rated among the Marlins Top 30 prospects, and yet to make his MLB debut, it’s understandable that Madero might be an unknown.

What is known however is he has some potential to be an important piece of the Marlins bullpen in the near future.

Luis Madero can be an important bullpen option for the Marlins.

As mentioned previously, Madero is yet to make his MLB debut. The now 24-year old originally signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent back in 2013 at 16 years old where he would spend the first six seasons of his young career in Rookie Ball in the Arizona organization.

During that time, Madero posted a combined 2.50 ERA during his first two professional seasons, but struggled during the next four seasons posting an ERA over 6+ in three of the four. Madero appeared in 69 games during that time span drawing 52 starts on the mound.

Madero was however traded to the Angels during the 2017 season where he has spent the majority of his career. Emerging more as a full-time starter early on in his time in the Angels organization, Madero played early on in A-Ball during the 2017 and 2018 seasons where he was a Midwest League All-Star in 2018 posting a 4-8 record with a 3.49 ERA in 23 starts.

After a “break-out” 2018 season, Madero was added to the Angels 40-man roster for the 2019 season. After a hot start in A+ Ball to start the season, Madero was promoted to Double-A with the Mobile BayBears where he went 5-11 with a 5.72 ERA in 19 starts made.

Madero was however DFA’d by the Angels in January of 2020 where he was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants. After spending the 2020 season on the clubs 60-man player pool, and not making an appearance with the major league club, Madero elected to enter free agency.

Madero ended up signing a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins in November of 2020, which also included an invitation to spring training. After only making one appearance in Grapefruit League action, Madero was sent to Triple-A to start the season with Jacksonville.

Madero only made one outing with the Jumbo Shrimp before receiving the call, a 1-run showing where he went 3.1 innings in relief.

While he may currently be fairly unknown, partly due to not making his MLB debut yet, Madero can be a quality piece of the Marlins bullpen going forward.

While he has been a starter for most of his minor league career, Madero also displays a skill set that could make him a quality long-relief option for the Marlins. A career 4.38 ERA in the minor leagues, Madero won’t necessarily blow you away with pure stuff and numbers, but does a few things particularly well.

Madero has a career 8 K/9, and has a fairly normal career 2.8 BB/9. While he is suspect at times at allowing hits, evident by his career 9.7 H/9 in the minor leagues, he is good at inducing ground balls from hitters.

Madero could end up being a quality bullpen depth option for the Marlins. When looking for quality long relief options in your bullpen, Madero has all the makings to be just that for the Marlins in the major leagues.