JUPITER
Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker has always been one to take spring training stats with a grain of salt.
But it’s difficult for Schumaker to ignore what outfielder Dane Myers has done throughout camp.
Entering Tuesday, Myers has hit .414 (12 for 29) with a 1.228 on-base-plus-slugging mark, three home runs and two stolen bases. He hit home runs in consecutive games — solo shots against the New York Mets’ Jose Quintana on Monday and Houston Astros’ Cole McDonald for a walk-off win on Tuesday — and has hits in seven of his past 10 at-bats over the past four games. He has gotten the bulk of the playing in center field among players outside of starter Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Myers is proving himself worthy of a spot on the big-league roster.
Whether he’ll actually get one isn’t guaranteed given the Marlins’ current roster construction, but he is giving the Marlins a lot to think about before the season begins on March 28 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“He’s playing his butt off,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “He’s making it tough. There are some real roster decisions that are coming up and he’s doing everything he can. That’s what you’re supposed to do: Make it tough on the staff and organization.”
As it stands, it looks like the Marlins’ 13 position players to begin the season on the active roster are set barring injury.
Christian Bethancourt and Nick Fortes are the catchers. That’s two spots.
First baseman Josh Bell, second baseman Luis Arraez, shortstop Tim Anderson and third baseman Jake Burger are the primary infield. That’s four more spots.
Chisholm, Jesus Sanchez, Avisail Garcia and Bryan De La Cruz are the main outfielders. Another four spots.
The final three are likely going to utility players Jon Berti, Vidal Brujan and Nick Gordon. Berti is proven and has been a mainstay with Miami since 2019. Brujan and Gordon are both out of minor-league options, so they have to make the team or start on the injured list. Otherwise, they will be subject to waivers.
“If he’s not on the Opening Day [roster], then he will be the first guy up-type of thing,” Schumaker said. “That’s how much he’s impressed us.”
Myers, meanwhile, is taking everything in stride.
His main takeaway from camp so far in terms of what he feels he has shown the organization?
“I’m comfortable playing my game,” Myers said. “I know we’ve got a good team and a lot of outfield depth, but I’m just trying to be myself and play as hard as I can every game.”
Myers’ rise is even more remarkable when considering how he got to this point.
Myers was a sixth-round pick by the Detroit Tigers in the 2017 MLB Draft out of Rice University. He was a two-way player in high school and college but began his minor-league career exclusively as a pitcher before shifting over to being a position player full-time beginning with the 2021 season, the first season following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Marlins acquired Myers in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft ahead of the 2023 season and he immediately made his presence known in the minor leagues. Over 69 combined games with the Double A Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Triple A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Myers hit .335 with a .956 on-base-plus-slugging mark, 13 home runs, 46 RBI and 50 runs scored before being promoted to the big leagues.
Over 70 MLB plate appearances spanning two big-league stints, Myers posted a .269 with a .286 on-base percentage and .358 slash line, three doubles, one home run, nine RBI, nine runs; hit .316 with 15 home runs and 62 RBI in the minors.
“I had a little bit of success last year and a little bit of failure, but I think both were good for me,” Myers said. “I learned in the big leagues that they’re gonna try and expose your weaknesses.”
Myers continued to hone his skills in winter ball this offseason, playing in the Dominican Republic. It was a bucket list item for him and allowed to play in an atmosphere that was “a little more loose and a little more laid back” while working on his swing mechanics and defense in a competitive setting.
“You’ve always got to keep the fun in it. I think playing without pressure is big for me,” Myers said, “so going over there and kind of not worried about what stats are just worried about the game.”
That has translated to this spring. The Marlins hope it continues beyond that, whether he makes the roster out of camp or joins the club later on down the road.
“He’s becoming a really good offensive player,” Schumaker said. “And again, he hasn’t played a lot of on this side of the diamond. He’s been a pitcher for a number of years, so for him to be able to do this is really impressive in a short amount of time. He became a big leaguer really quick after the transition. So he’s been impressive. Great kid. Clubhouse loves him. He’s doing everything he can to make the team and making it hard.”
This and that
▪ Schumaker on Tuesday said reliever Calvin Faucher, who on Monday threw a live batting practice session after being sidelined by a right shoulder impingement, likely will not be ready for Opening Day.
“He’s still got a lot of work to do,” Schumaker said.
▪ Closer Tanner Scott and set-up man Andrew Nardi are scheduled to pitch in back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday. Schumaker said the plan is for every reliever projected to make the team to either pitch back-to-back or show they can pitch multiple innings before camp breaks.
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