Lone remaining Marlins big bat, Bour embracing new role
There are few fixed rules regarding the Miami Marlins’ early- morning spring training clubhouse schedule.
Players are free to grab an omelet, maybe take some extra swings in the batting cage and socialize.
But when “Runaround Sue” blares over the clubhouse sound system, it’s time to get down to business.
“I play a song every day like five minutes before the morning meeting so people can know, if the song is playing, we’ve got five minutes before we have the meeting,” said first baseman Justin Bour, who selected and plays that early ‘60s Dion classic for no particular reason.
Nationally best known for his doughnut-fueled All-star Game Home Run Derby battle with eventual winner Aaron Judge and for, from time- to- time, standing on his head during pregame stretch, the 6-foot-3, 265pound Bour won’t ever be confused, either in stature or demeanour, with Miami CEO Derek Jeter.
But if Jeter is the new face of the Miami franchise, the 29-yearold Bour is probably the most distinguishable figure on the diamond.
“It’s nice to be a recognizable face of the Marlins,” Bour said. “I hope I do a good job of representing the team, the organization and the city of Miami, to a degree, so it’s good.”
Considering what the Marlins lost from last year - former AllStars Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich and Dee Gordon all traded away - Bour suddenly finds himself as the biggest bat, and personality, in the Marlins lineup.
“I think people recognize JB,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s got a little bit of that character in him.”
Marlins fans respond to Bour. At no point was that more evident than last Friday, when Miami invited the baseball and softball teams from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, site of the Feb. 14 school shooting in nearby Parkland, to Roger Dean Stadium.
The high school players swarmed Bour, who did his best to accommodate any request.
Bour appeared on live Snapchat posts with the baseball players. He gave away one of his gloves. He hosted an impromptu trivia contest, rewarding high schoolers who answer his questions correctly with bats.
“That’s the family of baseball,” Bour said. “We’re all here for each other. It doesn’t matter what level, we’re always going to take care of each other.”