Kolek progressing slowly from surgery

Pitcher on track after Tommy John operation

JUPITER — On a backfields mound under overcast skies one recent afternoon, Tyler Kolek was a walking, talking, flamethrowing case study in cognitive dissonance.

His heart and his right arm tell him to go harder faster, the few dozen throws at something less than max effort just the start of what he’s capable of. His brain and those tasked with overseeing his well-being — those who prescribed him that workload — tell him to take it slow.

Kolek, one of the Marlins’ top prospects and the No. 2 pick in the 2014 draft, is 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery. His repaired ulnar collateral ligament won’t allow him yet to throw the triple-digit heat that made him so attractive to major league teams as an amateur. Someday soon he’ll return to game action — probably in late May and probably for High-A Jupiter, though those plans are not definite — but soon is not soon enough.

“Everything feels great,” said Kolek, 21, “till you start pushing it a little bit. Then your body reminds you that you did have surgery. So it’s like, you have to listen to the doctor. There’s no

rushing anything. It doesn’t matter whether I rush or not or if I feel really good. I can’t pitch tomorrow.”

All indications are that Kolek’s rehabilitation program is progressing as planned. He went home to Shephard, Texas, for the ThanksgivingNew Year’s stretch, but other than that has been in Jupiter on the slow road back.

Kolek’s bullpen sessions are up to 40-50 pitches, all fastballs, at 50-75 percent effort. Next week, he’ll reintroduce his changeup. A few weeks after that, breaking balls.

“He’s looked free and easy,” said farm director Marc DelPiano, who estimated Kolek’s spring timetable. “Everything is coming out really good.”

Kolek’s stock has fallen precipitously since he signed with the Marlins for a $6 million bonus in June 2014. After getting his first taste of professional baseball in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League that summer, Kolek spent all of 2015 with Low-A Greensboro, pitching to a 4.56 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. He struggled with his command in both stops, walking a combined 74 and striking out 99 in 130 2⁄3 innings.

“I was working on too many things at once,” Kolek said. “Instead of taking my best pitch and making it even better, then going on to another pitch, I was messing around a little bit with everything.”

Last spring, March soreness turned into April surgery. This spring, Kolek might have a chance at blending in as just another anonymous minor leaguer if not for his broad-shouldered 6-foot-5, 260-pound frame and the bush of hair flowing out from the back of his cap.

Kolek was considered a top-100 prospect in baseball entering 2015, but he has since fallen off those lists completely. Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and MLB Pipeline all have Kolek at No. 2 in Miami’s system behind lefty Braxton Garrett, last year’s firstround pick.

DelPiano said he still believes Kolek can be a top-ofthe-rotation starter.

“You could see the way it comes out, the ease of the delivery, how firm it is,” DelPiano said. “He’s got power and feel. He can blow a fastball and he’s got feel for secondary. Is it all sharp? Can he paint with it right now? No. But he’s going to have the right shape to it and the ability to locate and repeat.”

WBC players leave camps

With the World Baseball Classic getting underway Monday — and Pool C play starting at Marlins Park on Thursday — Marlins camp is missing some of its biggest names. Third baseman Martin

Prado’s last day in Jupiter before joining Venezuela was Sunday. Christian

Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton (United States), Edinson Volquez (Dominican Republic) and Tayron

Guerrero (Colombia) will report to their respective teams in Miami on Tuesday.

That leaves a bunch of extra at-bats and a few extra innings to be had at Roger Dean Stadium. Manager

Don Mattingly said that’s one reason he likes the WBC: extended looks at some non-roster invitees, namely outfielders Brandon Barnes and Matt den Dekker, plus first baseman/ outfielder Tyler Moore.

“It really gives those guys extended at-bats. I actually don’t mind it,” Mattingly said . ... Left-hander Jeff

Locke (bicep tendinitis) felt good after throwing Saturday and did so again Monday. “We’re hoping we’re over the hump,” Mattingly said.

Kolek