Koehler keeps his tribute low-key

Spikes have names of daughters and ace

JUPITER — Every time Tom Koehler puts on his cleats this season will be a reminder of why he’s playing.

Written into the underside of the tongue on his left shoe is “Riley Reese,” the names of the pitcher’s two daughters. Written into the same spot on his right shoe is “JDF 16,” for late Marlins ace Jose Fernandez. It’s Koehler’s subtle tribute to those three, as well as a way to keep himself aware of what really matters.

“It’s my way of remembering, before I go out to the game, that it is a game,” said Koehler, a right-handed starter. “Sometimes we get so focused on that specific game that [people forget] there are other things that are important, too.”

When Koehler was in the process of ordering customized cleats for 2017, he knew he wanted to include some sort of tribute to Fernandez, who died late last season in a boat crash, but not one that was so obvious that “it was a story every time I pitched.”

Koehler opted for the special lettering in a spot that is usually hidden from view. He had it imprinted into both of his new pairs of New Balance spikes.

“Obviously I posted it [on Instagram] so people could see it that way, but I didn’t want to make a huge deal over equipment,” Koehler said. “It was more for me. … When I put my shoes on, I’ll know it’s there.”

Koehler picked the right shoe to honor Fernandez because that’s the foot Koehler has — and the foot Fernandez used to have — on the rubber before each pitch.

“I felt like it was only appropriate for him to have his right foot on the mound still,” Koehler said.

That left the left shoe for Koehler’s daughters. Riley will be 3 in July. Fivemonth-old Reese was born last September, days before Fernandez’s death.

Koehler’s last conversation with Fernandez came right before Koehler left the Marlins for a few days for Reese’s birth. Fernandez, then an expectant father of a daughter who was born last month, wanted to wish Koehler luck. Fatherhood and raising girls had become a point of bonding between the two last summer.

Now, Koehler will think of Riley and Reese especially when he slips on his game spikes — as if they aren’t on his mind already.

Last winter, the Koehlers’ first as a family of four, Koehler’s wife Ashley went away for a few days and left Tom home with the kids.

“She came home and I gave her a huge hug and I said, ‘I will never say anything again.’ She has a way harder job than I do,” said Koehler, seemingly exhausted by the memory. “I had to be on my toes and on high alert all the time. It makes you appreciate what the baseball wives have to do on a regular basis. There’s a lot of times I leave for [a week-plus] and she’s with the kids. Even though it was just three days, it was tough.”

A midspring reprieve

This week — the fourth of seven that make up spring training — is a miniature spring break of sorts for the Marlins. Most players were allowed to arrive later than normal to Roger Dean Stadium on Tuesday, as the Marlins skipped their usual full-squad workout. And most players won’t have to come in at all Wednesday, a scheduled off day with no exhibition game.

“It gets to be monotonous, you start doing the same thing every day,” said manager Don Mattingly, who was looking forward to golfing with the coaching staff Wednesday. “Just kind of package those days together to give guys a little break off their legs. I feel like our effort has been good, our work has been focused. We want to reward that and keep them sharp.”

Mattingly said the team will have a similar arrangement next week, when the Marlins have no game on Thursday.

Rojas exits early

Utility infielder Miguel

Rojas left the Marlins’ game against the Cardinals early on Tuesday after getting hit in the head with a baseball.

On a wild pitch in the third inning, catcher

Tomas Telis threw down to second with a baserunner advancing. The ball took a bad hop on the wet grass, Rojas said, and hit him on the side of the head.

Rojas, who was playing shortstop, was slow to get up but by midgame said he was fine. He underwent concussion tests as a precaution.

“My glove wasn’t even close. Straight to the head,” Rojas said. “I could’ve played, but it’s something you have to take care of.”

“It’s my way of remembering, before I go out to the game, that it is a game.” Tom Koehler, Marlins pitcher

TOM KOEHLER/COURTESY Marlins pitcher Tom Koehler customized his 2017 spikes as a tribute to his daughters and late ace Jose Fernandez.

JOHN BAZEMORE/AP Tom Koehler delivers in the first inning of a spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.