Christian Yelich will be in the Miami Marlins’ Opening Day lineup. The only question is whether he starts the season in left field or center field.
Yelich played mostly left field last year, but the Marlins are looking at him as an option to play center. Marcell Ozuna is the team’s desired center fielder, but he was off to a slow start this spring, batting .135 through March 18.
“We talked about it all spring, just making sure those guys are more comfortable playing any position,” manager Mike Redmond said. “Who knows what’s going to happen if we need to move guys around in games, if somebody gets banged up we need guys playing multiple positions.”
Redmond tried to downplay the fact that Yelich started in center field two of the three games in mid-March.
“The more versatility those guys have and the better looks in all the different positions, the better not only they will be but we will be as well,” he said.
Ozuna missed the final two months of last season after having surgery to repair a torn ligament and a fractured bone in his left thumb. He was 5-for-37 with 12 strikeouts this spring through March 18. Four of his hits were doubles.
Jake Marisnick, another center field option, was hitting .375 through March 18. While Marisnick’s defense is major league ready, he struggled at the plate after being called up last season, batting .183 in 40 games.
The Marlins would prefer to have Ozuna and Marisnick playing every day, so there is a chance both will start the season in the minors.
Backup outfielder Reed Johnson, a non-roster spring invitee, offers a short-term solution in left field if Yelich opens the season in center.
Johnson was stating his case to make the team, hitting .438 this spring through March 18, including a pinch-hit home run in the fourth inning March 17 off New York Mets left-hander John Lannan.
“I talked to him before the game and said if we get in a situation where a lefty comes in and we get a chance to pinch-hit, I might use you early in the game,” Redmond said. “He went out there and got a big hit. That’s what Reed Johnson does. He’s done it for a lot of years. He’s a professional.”
NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Jacob Turner bolstered his bid for a rotation spot with another solid start March 18. He allowed a run on two hits and struck out three in five innings. He also issued three walks.
–2B Rafael Furcal, who tweaked his left hamstring March 10, returned to action March 15 but left that game after a couple of innings when the hamstring tightened. He hit in the cage March 17 but was not running.
“It’s getting later in camp and he doesn’t have a lot of at bats,” manager Mike Redmond said. “At the same time, too, he’s played a long time. He knows what it takes for him.”
–LHP Brad Hand is doing his best to stay with the Marlins. He is out of options, so he either will be traded or make the Opening Day roster as a starter or long reliever. On March 15, Hand tossed five hitless innings and three other relievers combined to no-hit the Yankees in Panama.
“It’s the first no-hitter I’ve ever seen or been a part of in spring training,” manager Mike Redmond said. “Last year, we had Henderson Alvarez throw a no-hitter on the last day of the season, and that was pretty cool. Tonight was just a testament to how the guys played.”
–LHP Andrew Heaney, Miami’s top pitching prospect, was reassigned to minor league camp March 17 after an impressive stint. He allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings in three games for the Marlins. He is expected to open the season at Double-A Jacksonville.
–INF Greg Dobbs did not play March 12-18 because of a quad injury and sore lower back. The timetable for his return was uncertain.
–INF Ed Lucas did not play March 14-18 as he continued to rehab his injured left hamstring. He might appear in a minor league game as soon as March 20.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Hopefully it’s a sign of big things to come during the season.” — Manager Mike Redmond, after RF Giancarlo Stanton hit his third homer of the spring March 17. The next day, Stanton connected for another homer.