3 players who could be a spark for the Miami Marlins in September 

The Miami Marlins will have a great selection of players to call up in September and they certainly need a spark.  With the recent injuries to two veterans, they will need to fill in the gaps with available players and the September call ups could do just that.   The Marlins have had a revolving door at some positions with players getting injured continuously and so those areas of need will likely be where call ups are focused upon.  

The Marlins absolutely need another starting arm to add to their rotation and it could fall to another minor league call up with the inconsistent play of starters of late.  The Marlins just got the news, as Neil wrote, that both a starting pitcher and outfielder were going to be out for a time but having short term replacements isn’t as helpful as an additional pitcher and bat for the lineup.   

Garrett Hampson was called up to fill the gap for Garcia but the Marlins need a more powerful bat in the lineup, especially since Avisail Garcia hit between 5-7 in the lineup.   Hampson cannot fill that role and it would make more sense to have another  bat.  Johnny Cueto was put on the IL for an illness and LHP Ryan Weathers was recalled on Aug 22 and then sent back down the next day.  The Marlins need a consistent arm to help their rotation.

1B/OF Troy Johnston

Troy Johnston is the obvious choice for a September call up. He has been lights out all season and is the likely future Marlins 1B and has the stats to show it.  Johnston has been with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for a short stint and in his 26 games he has not disappointed. Johnston has had 120 plate appearances and has 5 home runs, 9 doubles, 1 triples, and has driven in 23 runs.  Johnston’s AAA slash line is equally impressive, sitting at .368/.433/.613 with an OPS of 1.047.  The Marlins could use that production up with the big club.  

Johnston has proven all season he belongs and needs a shot with the Marlins.  His season stats through August 26 between both AA and AAA have him hitting a combined .314 with 32 doubles, 23 home runs, and 106 RBI while swiping 18 bags.  His strikeout rate is also exactly where Marlins brass likes it as it happens only 20 % of the time in AAA and below 20% combined.  September is Johnston’s time and he needs to be one of the Marlins call ups.  

RHP Anthony Maldonado

The Marlins could use a good arm out of the pen and there is reason to believe that Anthony Maldonado could be the arm they need to be called up.  Maldonado has the consistent reliever for Jacsksonville this season and has the best reliever for the Jumbo Shirmp.  He has totaled 34.1 innings with a 2.10 ERA in 26 appearances.  Maldonado has a sub 1 WHIP and 54 strikeouts in those 34.1 innings which is impressive.  

The major drawback to Maldonado is that he has been injured multiple times and might not provide the help the Marlins need if he can't stay healthy.  The Puerto Rican team placed him on the roster in February for the WBC and he has been on the injured list during the AAA season two different times.  

Maldonado faced big league talent in his WBC appearance and had a scoreless inning with 2 strikeouts.  If he can stay healthy, Maldonado is a great fit to bolster the Miami Marlins pitching and could add the additional innings they need to get to October.  He has been lights out this month for AAA Jacksonville and has not allowed a run all month. The Marlins need that kind of consistency in their bullpen at the big league level.