Spring training was an unusual one for Miami Marlins manager Mike Redmond this year.
Rather than having to try out various lineups, figuring out which pieces worked together and who would be around by the end of Grapefruit League play, each starting position had already been decided.
All-Star Giancarlo Stanton, Gold Glover Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna returned in the outfield. Ichiro Suzuki signed a one-year deal to be their over-qualified competent backup. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is in his second year with the Marlins, more familiar with the pitching staff he inherited last spring.
In the infield, meanwhile, only Gold Glove finalist Adeiny Hechavarria returned at shortstop. Offseason trades shipped third baseman Casey McGehee and first baseman Garrett Jones off. Veterans Martin Prado and Michael Morse, respectively, replaced them. The latter is five months removed from winning the World Series. Utility player Don Kelly and infielder Donovan Solano won the final two bench roles on Tuesday morning, complementing backup catcher Jeff Mathis, infielder Jeff Baker and Suzuki.
With a revamped infield and one of baseball's top outfields, Redmond's job is a little less stressful. It's a luxury he doesn't take for granted after the 2013-14 seasons.
"I'm happy overall with the way things have gone," Redmond said of spring training. "We've been efficient in how we've worked. Guys get a chance to play together, especially the new guys who have come in. I think they have really bonded and gelled nicely. I think that's been fun to watch."
Here's how the Marlins' positional players break down (with last year's stats in parentheses):
PROJECTED LINEUP
2B Dee Gordon (.289 avg, 92 R, 24 2B, 12 3B, 2 HR, 34 RBI): Gordon, who made the All-Star team in his first full big-league season, gives the Marlins a prototypical leadoff man. He paced the majors in triples and stolen bases (64) in 2014. And yet the Dodgers dealt him this winter. The knock on him is his relatively low on-base percentage (.326) as he walked only 31 times. But pitchers don't want to see him reach because of his speed.
LF Christian Yelich (.284 avg, 94 R, 30 2B, 6 3B, 9 HR, 54 RBI): With Rafael Furcal hurt, Yelich took over leadoff duties, posting a .362 on-base percentage during his first full major-league season. He saw 4.26 pitches per plate appearance, second in the National League. Gordon and Yelich at the top of the lineup give the Marlins a speedy element they haven't seen since the combo of Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo.
RF Giancarlo Stanton (.288 avg, 89 R, 31 2B, 37 HR, 105 RBI): Until a pitch hit him in the face, Stanton led the league in nearly every offensive category through 145 games. Despite the premature end to his season, he still finished as the runner-up for NL MVP. Stanton, who made his second All-Star team, became an all-around threat as a Gold Glove finalist and Silver Slugger. In the third spot, he will once again get more at-bats and perhaps more RBI opportunities should Gordon and Yelich reach base.
1B Michael Morse (.279 avg, 32 2B, 16 HR, 61 RBI): Although McGehee proved to be a competent cleanup hitter behind Stanton, Morse is a power threat who offers protection in the lineup. In 2014, he played in 131 games, his most since 2011 with the Washington Nationals. Morse drove in the game-winning runs in Game 7 of the World Series with the San Francisco Giants this past October. He led the ballclub with five homers and 17 RBI this spring.
3B Martin Prado (.282 avg, 62 R, 26 2B, 4 3B, 12 HR, 58 RBI): Prado played 106 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks before being traded to the New York Yankees last season. Following the switch, he hit .316 with nine doubles, seven homers and 16 RBI in 37 games. Prado is a nine-year veteran who spent seven seasons with the Atlanta Braves. He offers a professional approach at the plate and professionalism in the clubhouse.
CF Marcell Ozuna (.269 avg, 72 R, 26 2B, 5 3B, 23 HR, 85 RBI): In his first full big-league season, Ozuna led all NL center fielders in RBI and finished second in home runs behind Andrew McCutchen. Ozuna is a streaky hitter who struck out 164 times, seventh most in the NL. With the additions of Morse and Prado, Ozuna doesn't have to put pressure on himself to be the second RBI machine behind Stanton.
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (.220 avg, 20 2B, 11 HR, 44 RBI): If Saltalamacchia can marginally improve his numbers, the Marlins will be in good shape. After six straight seasons in the American League, the transition wasn't a smooth one for Salty. He hit just .182 with runners in scoring position but did walk 55 times, a career high. Saltalamacchia also committed a position-high 15 errors.
SS Adeiny Hechavarria (.276 avg, 20 2B, 10 3B, HR, 34 RBI): It's not easy being the eighth batter in the NL hitting in front of the pitcher, but Hechavarria improved his average by 49 points in his second full big-league season. He also finished second in the majors in triples. His power numbers were down, but Hechavarria stayed with an up-the-middle and opposite-field approach that likely played a factor in that.
PROJECTED BENCH
C Jeff Mathis (.200 avg, 7 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI): For the third consecutive season, Mathis will be the backup catcher. Considered one of the game's top defensive backstops, he threw out 33 percent of would-be basestealers and posted a .998 fielding percentage in 2014. Mathis batted .273 against lefties.
OF Ichiro Suzuki (.284 avg, 13 2B, 2 3B, HR, 22 RBI): The future Hall of Famer will serve as the club's fourth outfielder and is able to field all three positions. How much playing time he gets in that capacity remains to be seen. From 2012-14, Suzuki appeared in just 360 combined games. In his 14-year career, he is 13 for 43 (.302) as a pinch-hitter. He went 2 for 2 in those situations this spring.
INF Jeff Baker (.264 avg, 10 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 28 RBI): After a rough stretch of 25 straight hitless at-bats in April 2014, Baker bounced back with a .395 May that put him back at his career marks. He batted .319 against southpaws as opposed to .191 facing righties. Baker is a career .217 pinch-hitter who will mostly see time at first or second in spot starts.
INF Donovan Solano (.252 avg, 11 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 28 RBI): Solano makes the Opening Day roster for the third straight season and second as a bench player. He can spell Gordon, Prado or Hechavarria should they need a day off. Solano has limited experience pinch-hitting, posting a .156 average (5 for 32) in 2014. Of his three homers last year, two came against former Cy Young Winners in David Price and Adam Wainwright.
UTL Don Kelly (.245 avg, 24 R, 5 2B, 3B, 7 RBI): Kelly, a non-roster invitee this spring, won the utility spot over guys like Reid Brignac and Jordany Valdespin. Despite playing six of his seven seasons in the AL, Kelly served a similar role with the Detroit Tigers. He is the only active major leaguer to have played every position. He is the second left-handed bat off the bench.
BIGGEST STRENGTH
I won't say outfield because it goes without saying how talented the quartet of Stanton, Yelich, Ozuna and Suzuki is.
How about balance? There's a little bit of everything from the projected Marlins lineup. Gordon and Yelich provide speed at the top of the order. Stanton, Morse and Ozuna are the brawn. Prado can do a bit of everything. Saltalamacchia is the switch-hitter. Even Hechavarria, at the bottom of the order, hopes to utilize his speed more with bunt hits and stolen bases.
MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF LINEUP
Gordon sets the tone for a game with his leadoff at-bat. If he reaches, the wheels are already in motion for a variety of options: stolen base, hit and run, bunt. However, Stanton and Morse won't get RBI opportunities if Gordon doesn't find a way to get on. His speed not the only affects his stolen-base opportunities but also how concerned the opposing pitcher will be at holding him. That could lead to mistake pitches for Yelich and co. to take advantage of.
Last season, Gordon hit 12 triples at Dodger Stadium. If he stays healthy and performs as Miami hopes, that number should go up thanks to the spacious Marlins Park outfield. Fans will enjoy watching him run and run when the ball finds a gap.
FINAL THOUGHT
Opponents shut Miami out eight times in 2014. The Marlins finished 16th in baseball with 645 runs, ahead of six American League teams! Imagine what they can do with upgrades at the infield positions. Should every player stay healthy and perform to their career numbers or better, expect big things from the lineup.
