Max Meyer’s debut for the Miami Marlins

We’ve been talking about it for a while now, but the elite starting pitching prospect for the Miami Marlins, Max Meyer has finally debuted. How did it go? I was there at LoanDepot Park to watch it first-hand. Here’s how it went…

Max Meyer has finally debuted for the Miami Marlins.

The game didn’t go very well for the Miami Marlins, as we lost 10-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies in an embarrassing way. The Fish didn’t even score one run, despite playing at home, despite having Jorge Soler back and despite the Philadelphia Phillies missing their superstar Bryce Harper due to injury. The Nicaraguan heritage parade was a great beginning to the game, unfortunately the game itself was a disappointment.

This article isn’t about the game however, it’s about Max Meyer’s debut and his performance.  Meyer came out to a standing ovation and cheers (from yours truly included). Meyer looked very sharp and his stuff was clearly there. He retired ten out of twelve of the first batters that he faced. He struck out Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber.

Unfortunately, home runs did him in and after a great start, Max Meyer gave up hot after hit and finished with 5 earned runs in 5.1 innings, with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk. At least his control was there. Max Meyer left to cheers from the supportive crowd (yours truly included).

Here’s what the Miami Marlins’ pitching coach Mel Stottlemyer Jr. said about his performance:

"“He’s like all young pitchers,” Marlins pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said Friday. “He’s going to have to go through it and get to a point where he can figure out where his adjustments are. Every guy I’ve ever had has gone through that process. I love his stuff. I love the competitive nature. This guy wants the ball in big moments. … He’ll figure things out when he makes mistakes and gets himself in bad counts and bad parts of the zone. [Hitters are] going to let him know, and we’ll go back like we do with all young guys and take a look at that stuff and talk about where our adjustments are. I expect those adjustments to come quick.”"

Max Meyer didn’t have a great debut for the Miami Marlins, but there’s promise in his control and the fact that he located and delivered his pitches very well. Home runs are home runs and he has an encouraging 3.75 xFIP after the game. Let’s see what he does in his next start.