(Photo credit score: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Center fielder Jakob Marsee loved a formidable 55-game rookie season with the Miami Marlins final yr, batting .292 with an .842 OPS, 26 extra-base hits and 14 steals.
But was {that a} fluke? The query is value asking as a result of Marsee’s profession minor-league numbers have been effectively under these ranges, batting simply .239 with a .772 OPS in 395 video games.
In the primary three video games this season, Marsee hit simply .091 (3-for-11) with a .348 OPS.
But Marsee, who seemingly shall be within the beginning lineup once more on Tuesday when the Marlins host the Chicago White Sox, has the boldness of supervisor Clayton McCullough.
‘He’s barreled a couple of balls that have not fallen,’ McCullough mentioned after Marsee went 2-for-5 in a 9-4 loss to the White Sox on Monday.
‘With ‘Mars’, it is a matter of time. He’s seeing the ball effectively. He lastly bought rewarded with some knocks (on Monday). He will get himself rolling.’
Marsee, 24, is a part of a younger Marlins outfield that features 2025 All-Star Kyle Stowers and rookie Owen Caissie, 23.
Stowers is on the injured listing, nevertheless, whereas Caissie is hitting .385 with a 1.198 OPS.
‘Owen has some toughness and edge to him,’ McCullough mentioned. ‘He competes in his at-bats, and he is off to a pleasant begin.’
Right-hander Janson Junk will make his 2026 debut on Tuesday for Miami.
He is 0-0 with a 2.08 ERA in a single profession look in opposition to the White Sox, which got here in 2021. He has a fastball that sits 94-96 mph, a high-spin slider and a sweeping slider.
Chicago will counter with right-hander Erick Fedde, who’s 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 12 profession appearances in opposition to the Marlins.
Fedde, 33, makes use of a sinker, slider, cutter and changeup, however he was hit arduous final yr whereas posting a 4-13 report with a 5.49 ERA with three groups. The White Sox, needing rotation assist, signed him in February to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
Offensively, the White Sox are led by Miguel Vargas, a Miami resident who had an enormous recreation on Monday, slugging a grand slam and driving in six runs.
‘It feels nice particularly since I’ve my household right here,’ Vargas mentioned after Monday’s recreation. ‘I had buddies on the recreation who had by no means seen me play within the massive leagues.
‘I’m very completely satisfied — tremendous proud.’
Of the 9 hitters who began Monday’s recreation for the White Sox, 5 of them have an OPS larger than .800 to this point this season, together with Vargas (.913). The others on the listing embody Munetaka Murakami (1.373); Tristan Peters (1.056); Everson Pereira (.904); and Colson Montgomery (.875).
At the very least, the White Sox are constructing what may very well be a strong infield with Murakami at first, Chase Meidroth at second, Montgomery at shortstop and Vargas at third.
Murakami is the most important star. He’s a ‘rookie’ within the majors, however he received the Triple Crown in Japan in 2022, and he has immense energy.
Meidroth was strong final yr as a rookie (.649 OPS, 14 steals), and Vargas is a affected person hitter who blasted 16 homers final yr with a .717 OPS.
Montgomery, Chicago’s first-round choose in 2021, slugged 21 homers in simply 71 video games as a rookie final yr, posting an .840 OPS.
–Field Level Media