South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Injured Urena moving closer to his return
Utility man Berti making most of his opportunity
MIAMI — After spending the past two months recovering from a herniated disc, Jose Urena is finally nearing a return to the mound.
On Friday, the Miami Marlins right-hander threw his third bullpen session. Miami manager Don Mattingly said the
27-year-old starter looked sharp and will soon throw a live batting practice as his progression continues. Urena, the Marlins Opening Day starter, has made 13 appearances this season, posting a
4.70 ERA.
Urena had been a dependable workhorse for the Marlins rotation the past two seasons, making at least 28 starts both years, but has been sidelined since June 10.
“He looks good,” Mattingly said. “He’s bounced back; basically now it’s trying to get his arm built back up. His bullpen was really good [Friday] for a guy that’s been out as long as he has. His command was really good. He’s progressing well.”
Mattingly said Urena would likely be able to re-join the Marlins sometime in September. Following his live BP, he’ll make a few rehab appearances before returning. While Urena has started the majority of his career, there’s a strong possibility he’ll finish the season in the bullpen.
While the Marlins are monitoring innings, Caleb Smith, Sandy Alcantara, Jordan Yamamoto, Elieser Hernandez figure to end the season in the rotation. Hector Noesi is currently filling the fifth starter spot, but Miami is hoping Pablo Lopez will soon be back. Dealing with a right shoulder strain, the 23-year-old righthander has made three rehab starts for Double-A Jacksonville and threw a bullpen session Friday afternoon at Marlins Park.
Berti Ball on full display
Signed in the offseason to a minor league contract, Jon Berti has been made the most of his opportunities in Miami.
After beginning the year in Triple-A New Orleans, the
29-year-old utility man has been a spark plug for the Marlins lineup, hitting .289/.346/.443 (110
wRC+), while providing tremendous defensive versatility. In 31 games, Berti has lined up at shortstop, third base and all three outfield positions.
One of the league’s fastest runners — he rates in the 98th per
centile for sprint speed — Berti also gives Miami an aggressive option on the base paths.
With 811 career minor league games under his belt, Berti has taken the long way to the majors. He made his MLB debut last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, but played in just four games as a September call-up. Sharing time last season with three elite infield prospects — Vlad Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio — there clearly weren’t going to be many opportunities with Toronto moving forward.
But in Miami, Berti has broken out, showcasing why he could be a key piece of the Marlins rebuild.
“This is a guy we were fortunate to get a hold of in the offseason,” Mattingly said. “He came to the right club from the standpoint of opportunity and being able to show what he can do at this level.
“Sometimes you go to the wrong place and you may be putting up big numbers and showing all the things we were able to see, but you don’t quite get that shot at the major league level. I think him getting a shot here, kind of showing himself, puts himself on the radar as he has a chance to be a piece for us in that he can do a lot of things.”
Chen riding hot streak
While Wei-Yin Chen has struggled during his first full season in the bullpen, the left-hander has pitched much better as of late in a long relief role. On Friday, the
34-year-old pitcher tossed three perfect innings with three strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves. Over his past four outings, Chen has thrown eight consecutive scoreless innings of relief.
The Marlins’ highestpaid player, Chen hasn’t lived up to expectations after signing a five-year,
80 million contract in
2016. Making $20 million this season — and $22 million in 2020 — Miami moved him to the bullpen during spring training to make room in the rotation for their young starting pitchers.
Notching a 6.24 ERA in
34 appearances, the numbers haven’t been great, but the Marlins are trying to maximize his value as an innings-eater while the team plays out the final two seasons of his contract.
“He’s been valuable,” Mattingly said. “I know he takes some hits. If you cut salary out of it — that’s the thing that’s hard to do; you know what a guy makes. But if you look just from what he’s been able to do in terms of taking the ball, picking us up in a game like [Friday].
“He’s had sections where we’ve used him to get lefties out. He’s been a valuable guy from that standpoint. Maybe it’s not the value of what we signed him originally, but there is a value in what he can do and what he can do for your staff over the course of the season.”