Marlins notes: Redmond not concerned about hitting struggles
JUPITER, Fla. -- It doesn't concern Miami Marlins manager Mike Redmond one bit about the slow starts of some of his players.
Center fielder Marcell Ozuna (.083) and All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton (.111) have combined to go 2 for 21 with three RBI through nine Grapefruit League games. Until Tuesday's 3-for-3 performance, left fielder Christian Yelich had been hitless in six at-bats.
"Some guys are really good spring training players and some guys aren't," Redmond said. "I think we've all seen that from back when I played. It's too early to get too concerned about 10, 12 at-bats."
For Ozuna, who batted just .177 last spring, it's nothing new. There were serious discussions among the Marlins front office and coaching staff as to who should be the 2014 Opening Day starter in center.
Jake Marisnick, the other candidate for the position, posted a .432 batting average with five doubles, a triple and four RBI. Unlike Ozuna, however, Marisnick hadn't proven himself at the plate at the major-league level.
Five months later, Miami traded Marisnick to the Houston Astros for right-hander Jarred Cosart. He became expendable with Ozuna blocking him.
"Spring training's tough," Redmond said. "You get two at-bats or maybe three depending on how the game goes. And you're facing two different guys. It's not easy. It's more them getting themselves in baseball shape, seeing pitches, being on your feet, playing defense, running the bases. All those things. It's a work in progress. You can ramp these guys up, play them seven, eight innings, four at-bats every single day and they're going to get going rather quickly. It's a process. You want to ease into it. You'll see each step things will get better and better for them."
Why else isn't Redmond troubled?
After the rough spring training, Ozuna went on to hit .269 with 26 doubles, five triples, 23 home runs and 85 RBI in 153 games. The 24-year-old paced all National League center fielders in RBI and trailed Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen by two dingers despite missing the final week of the season with a sprained ankle.
"It was a tough decision," Redmond recalled. "We talked for hours in that room about that one. Ozo went out there and obviously had a tremendous season. That was a tough decision. He'll be fine. He's working hard with (hitting coach) Frankie (Menechino).
BACK AT IT
Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria will make the trip to Fort Myers on Thursday in his return to the lineup.
Hechavarria, who has been nursing a tired right shoulder, last played on March 5 in the opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. He went 0 for 2 and committed a throwing error.
"Another day of going through BP and infields and then he'll play tomorrow," Redmond said.
TRAVEL ROSTER
Joining Hechavarria and right-hander Jarred Cosart to face the Minnesota Twins on Thursday are as follows. Right-handers: Ryan Chaffee, Preston Claiborne and Nick Massett. Left-handers: Adam Conley, Grant Dayton, Andrew McKirahan and Chris Narveson. Catchers: Jeff Mathis, J.T. Realmuro and Sharif Othman. Infielders: Justin Bohn, Justin Bour, Derek Dietrich, Dee Gordon, Austin Nola, Avery Romero, Viosergy Rosa, Donovan Solano, Jordany Valdespin. Outfielders: Tyler Colvin, Cole Gillespie, Reed Johnson, Don Kelly, Marcell Ozuna, Austin Wates, Kenny Wilson.
MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT
Right-hander Henderson Alvarez bounced back from a rough first inning to retire six of the next seven batters he faced during his second spring outing.
After striking out Matt Reynolds on an eephus pitch, Alvarez allowed a single to Daniel Murphy. Travis d'Arnaud popped out to short before Kirk Nieuwenhuis produced an RBI double and Ruben Tejada drove in a run with a single.
In the second, he struck out Michael Conforto and induced a pair of groundouts to second. Alvarez worked around a leadoff single by Reynolds in the third by striking out Murphy looking and forcing consecutive flyouts to center.
"I was too rushed," Alvarez said through a translator. "I was very accelerated and leaving my pitches up. I calmed down after that."
Alvarez needed 44 pitches (29 strikes) against the Mets. In his first Grapefruit League start, he went two scoreless innings against the Mets. Though it has not been announced, Alvarez, who turns 25 next month, will likely be the Opening Day starter on April 6.
"I'm ready to go for the season," Alvarez said.
HE'S BACK
Right-handed reliever Bryan Morris made his spring debut Wednesday afternoon, tossing a perfect sixth inning against the Mets.
Morris, who turns 28 this month, retired the side in order on 13 pitches (nine strikes). He had been limited over the past 10 days because of side effects to sleeping with his contacts and had to wear glasses because of the irritation. It disrupted his depth perception and movements.
"Really good," Morris said. "I'm glad that I got to go back out and get in an actual game. It kind of sucked watching everyone else pitch and play the last 10 days or so and not being able to get out there. I'm really glad I was able to get out there. I was excited. I enjoyed that."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
