Top Pitching prospect to make debut Friday
Right-hander Alcantara to face Mets in Miami.
Marlins CEO Derek
MIAMI — Jeter told reporters prior to Wednesday’s game that highly touted pitching prospect Sandy Alcantara will be called up from the minors to make his debut with the club Friday at home against the New York Mets.
Alcantara, 22, was acquired by the Marlins as part of their trade this past December with the St. Louis Cardinals for two-time All-Star outfielder Marcell Ozuna.
Alcantara, who would become the first pitching prospect from the group the Marlins acquired in the trades for Ozuna, Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and
Dee Gordon, would oppose Mets ace Jacob deGrom in Friday’s start.
“Our pros p ects have done a great job,” Jeter said. “We’re looking forward to getting a close look at [Sandy]. You want to have patience with guys, but they have been developing very
quickly, which is fun for us to see.”
Alcantara, ranked the club’s No. 2 prospect by MLB.com a nd 93rd in
baseball overall, has made 14 starts at Triple-A New Orleans this year going 5-3 with a 3.71 ERA in 85 innings. Alcantara has 64 strikeouts
and 34 walks and opponents are hitting .238 against him.
The Marlins reiterated their intentions recently to remain patient in terms of developing their top prospects such as Alcantara.
Jeter said Alcantara has earned this opportunity.
“He’s got a greatarm and we wanted to take our time with him and allow him to continue to develop,” Jeter said. “But one thing we said is that the best players in this organization are going to get the opportunity to play. He’s obviously one of our top prospects. For reasons we know, he’ll get that opportunity on Friday.”
The move comes in the wake of Caleb Smith sufferingagrade 3 lat strain in his left shoulder that will likely
sideline him for the remain
der of the season, and Jose
Urena going on the disabled list with a right shoulder impingement.
Alcantara pitched in eight games (8⅓ innings) out of the bullpen at the major league level last season with the Cardinals and compiled a 4.32 ERA with 10 strikeouts and six walks.
Alcantara started two games in spring training in March and appeared in five games, pitching 16 innings
and compiling a 3.38 ERA with 11 strikeouts, six walks, six earned runs and three home runs allowed.
Alcantara, 6 feet 4, 170 pounds, has been regarded for his consistent high-90s fastball, but has shown the ability to mix in an above-average slider and change-up
among his pitching arsenal. “Just the chance to see him pitch,” manager Don Mattin g ly s a id. “H e ’s a good-looking kid, smart, great body and now we get a chance to see him continue his development.”
Notes: Mattingly said Dan Straily would pitch Sunday when he finishes serving his five-game suspension. ... Mattingly also said Smith has yet to elect whether or not to undergo surgery on his shoulder, which would indeed end his 2018 season. ... Catcher J.T. Realmuto was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup for the
third consecutive game as he continues to deal with a sore wrist. Realmuto remains day-to-day.