Miami Marlins: 5 Players who are having a strong September

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Miami Marlins relief pitcher Zach Thompson (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Despite the Miami Marlins being out of postseason contention, the month of September has been a strong one for a few of the club’s younger players so far.

With a combination of injuries throughout the roster, a few of the Marlins younger players have seen increased playing time over the past two weeks as we approach the end of the 2021 season. Posting a 7-6 record so far this month entering play on Friday, Miami has seen success this September, partly due to the phenomenal production of these five players.

A few Miami Marlins have impressed this September.

Here is a look at five of the Marlins in particular that are impressing over the final month of the 2021 season.

5. RP Zach Thompson

After spending all of the 2021 season in the Marlins starting rotation, Zach Thompson made the transition to the bullpen to begin the month of September. Despite the switch, the right-hander has continued what has been an impressive rookie campaign for the 27-year-old.

Since joining the Miami bullpen, Thompson has pitched five scoreless innings entering play Friday in which he has surrendered five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Looking toward the 2022 season, a strong finish to the month will surely cement Thompson as a prominent part of the Marlins bullpen next season.

Miami Marlins outfielder Bryan De La Cruz (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

4. 1B Lewin Diaz

With the likelihood that first baseman Jesus Aguilar‘s 2021 season is over, it has given Lewin Diaz the opportunity to see increased playing time in the big leagues after dominating Triple-A pitching for a majority of the season. Widely considered as the Marlins starting first baseman next season (with Aguilar as the DH), Diaz has shown flashes on what is to come next season over the last two weeks.

Joining the big league team back on September 8, Diaz has started at first base in every game since where he has posted an .800 OPS with two home runs in 30 at-bats. Across those eight contests as well, Diaz has posted three multi-hit games, as well as a two home run showing last Tuesday in Washington.

3. OF Bryan De La Cruz

Bryan De La Cruz has been outstanding since being acquired by Miami at the trade deadline, and that has carried over to the month of September. Across 13 games so far this month, De La Cruz has slashed .298/.389/.532 with three home runs and eight RBI’s, while also includes three multi-hit games and a hit in five of his last six games entering play Friday.

For the season, the 24-year-old has posted an .882 OPS since making his major league debut in August while batting .336 across his last 42 games. With the Marlins likely addressing their 2022 outfield plans in the offseason, De La Cruz’s strong months of August and September likely guarantees he will feature a prominent role in Miami’s outfield next season.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

2. SP Sandy Alcantara

Sandy Alcantara continues to have a career-year this season sporting a 3.10 ERA with a career-high 185 strikeouts across 188.2 innings pitched. While the right-hander has been phenomenal throughout the 2021 campaign, Alcantara has been dominant this September after posting a strong month of August.

Making three starts so far this month, Alcantara has pitched 23.1 innings in which he has posted a 1.93 ERA with only one walk and 27 strikeouts. Entering his scheduled start on Sunday against the Pirates, Alcantara has only allowed one run across his last 17 innings pitched with only five hits, one walk, and 21 strikeouts.

1. OF Jesus Sanchez

While Alcantara’s month of September so far sticks out, there has arguably been none better than outfielder Jesus Sanchez. After returning to the Miami lineup in mid-August, Sanchez took some time to fully get-going, and in-turn is flashing his big-time power potential so far this month.

Entering play Friday, Sanchez had appeared in 13 games so far this month in which he has slashed .245/.327/.653 with six home runs and 14 RBI’s. When looking back at the Marlins latest road-trip in Atlanta and Washington, Sanchez also homered in four of six games with 10 RBI’s across that span.

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Despite the Marlins being out of postseason contention, these five players in particular are excelling so far this September. Is this a sign of what’s to come next season?

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