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Last night, I ventured to Hammond Stadium in Ft. Myers for the final game of a three-game series, pitting the Hammerheads against the Miracle. Ft. Myers ended up winning the series, taking the rubber match 2-1 in 16 innings (and almost five hours). By the time the final out was made, there were maybe 50-some people left in the stands, and I'd wager most of them were players' families and girlfriends. In the vein of my past reports, below are my notes and impressions from the game (some of the players I've written up in past Jammers game reports, found in the archives of the Marlins Minors Forum):
CF Yefri Perez (Signed as an undrafted free-agent, February 13, 2008; spent 2014 with A Greensboro): A former middle infielder, Perez is now a permanent fixture in the outfield. He led off and was 2-7 with his 8th double of the year, and a strikeout. He stole his 45th base, and was also caught stealing for the 12th time. Perez' single was a flare into center on an 0-2 count, a good swing to protect the plate. With two outs and the bases loaded in the 4th inning, he laid out to make a diving catch in center to end the inning. He tried to drag bunt in the 6th inning, but it was a weak offering. Probably for the best, as this is the AB where his double came, a liner just inside the 3B line. His caught stealing was on an 0-2 count and a well-timed pitch-out. He's not terribly patient for a leadoff hitter.
DH Justin Bohn (7th Round Pick, 2013; spent 2014 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for AA Jacksonville in 2015): Bohn, normally a shortstop or second basemen, went 0-6 with a walk and two strikeouts from the DH spot. At the plate, he keeps his arms and body compact in his stance. He almost had an infield single in the 4th on a slow roller to third base, but the throw just beat him. Bohn worked an 0-2 count to 3-2 in the 6th, only to strike out swinging on what would've been ball four. He learned his lesson, though, when the same thing occurred in the 11th; this time, he stayed patient and walked.
LF Austin Dean (4th Round Pick, 2012; spent 2014 with A Greensboro): Dean was 0-5 with two walks and a strikeout on the evening. In the first inning, Jupiter put the hit-and-run on with Perez on the move from first, but Dean ended up flying out to deep right. He fouled a pitch off his ankle/foot in the 7th inning, drawing the trainer out to take a look at him, but Dean ended up staying in the game, walking on the next pitch.
2B Avery Romero (3rd Round Pick, 2012; spent 2014 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): 2-5 with a run and a walk was Romero's line. He also laid down a sac bunt in the 7th and grounded into a double play with runners on first and second and one out in the 11th. Aside from the sacrifice, he hit the ball hard every time he was up. In the field, he has a nice pivot at second, showing quick hands and feet on double plays. However, he committed his 15th error of the season, a costly one, on a high throw to first in the 16th inning. It allowed what would become the winning run to reach base.
3B Brian Anderson (3rd Round Pick, 2014; spent 2014 with A- Batavia and A Greensboro): Anderson went 1-6 with a walk and a strikeout. He has good size, listed at 6'3" and 185. His base hit was a hard single to left-center in the 5th. He got caught cheating on the basepaths though, as he was picked off second base when a sac fly throw to home was cut off, the run scoring, and Anderson was too far off second. One thing interesting in watching him was his body language made it clear when he was upset, including a couple times at the plate when he disagreed with a strike call. He slammed his bat on a pop-out, then later broke it, smashing it into the ground on a fly out in the 16th.
1B Felix Munoz (Signed as an undrafted free-agent, November 3, 2008; spent 2014 with A Greensboro): Can't say I was impressed with what I saw from Munoz, who went 0-4 with two strikeouts. He's a lefty who doesn't get out of the box quickly. He struck out swinging in the 5th, but tried to argue that the ball bounced in the dirt. Then a lefty was brought in to face him in the 7th, and he K'd looking. He didn't look comfortable facing the lefty. He was charged with a fielding error in the third that could've gone either way. It must've gotten changed, because it's no longer reflected on the box score. Munoz was lifted for a pinch-runner in the 10th after he reached on an error.
SS James Roberts (Signed as a free-agent, July 10, 2015; spent 2014 with A+ Carolina in the Indians organization; has also appeared for A+ Lynchburg (Indians), and GCL Marlins in 2015): A recent acquisition, Roberts went 1-4 with an RBI and a strikeout against Ft. Myers. He wore a left ankle guard at the plate and prior to the game, a trainer spent quite a bit of time stretching out both of his legs. In his stance, he starts with his bat on his shoulder before the pitch is delivered. He laid down a nice sac bunt in the 10th. His RBI was a sacrifice fly that allowed Romero to score in the 5th. His strikeout came on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt. Defensively, he took too long getting to a ground ball in the 4th, and the runner beat it out. He made up for it when he made a terrific play on a short-hopper in the hole in the next inning.
RF Cameron Flynn (23rd Round Pick, 2012; spent 2014 with A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for GCL Marlins in 2015): Flynn still finds himself on the interstate this year, hitting just .191. He was 0-4 with a walk and two strikeouts. He also had a sac bunt. Flynn produced a solid at-bat in the 6th, fighting off five 3-2 pitches before lining out to shortstop. He generally sees a lot of pitches in his at-bats. He couldn't catch up to a fastball in the 8th, going down on strikes. He made a diving catch in the 16th that was for naught, as the winning run ended up scoring on that out anyway.
C Rodrigo Vigil (Signed as an undrafted free-agent, August 27, 2010; spent 2014 with A- Batavia; has also appeared for A Greensboro in 2015): Vigil caught all 16 innings, and at the plate was 0-4 with a walk. He broke his bat on a double-play grounder in the 3rd. Vigil just missed a home run in the 6th, hitting a hanging breaking ball to deep left for a fly out. He was hit in the back by a pitch late in the game. Three bases were stolen off of him, and on two of them he made bad throws to second. For the season he has caught 20% of baserunners attempting to steal.
PR Blake Barber (Signed as an undrafted free-agent, June 11, 2012; spent 2014 with A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for AAA New Orleans in 2015): Barber can play the infield or outfield. He pinch-ran for Munoz in the 10th once Munoz reached second base following a sac bunt, but didn't get any farther. He was replaced defensively in the bottom of the inning.
1B Harold Riggins (Acquired in the Rule V Draft from Cubs, December 11, 2014; spent 2014 with A+ Bakersfield and AA Tulsa): Riggins went 1-2 with a double. A big dude at 6'2", 240 pounds, he stands straight up at the plate, almost as if he's leaning back prior to the pitch. His double was solid contact, the ball careening off the wall in right field. He made a fielding error, trying to back-hand a ball that was right to him rather than fielding it straight-up. While the throwing error in the 16th was correctly given to Romero, Riggins could've helped him out a little more than he did in gathering the ball in.
SP Luis Castillo (Acquired from Giants, with P Kendry Flores, for 3B Casey McGehee, December 19, 2014; spent 2014 with A Augusta; has also appeared for A Greensboro in 2015): The starter on the evening gave Jupiter five strong innings, giving up four hits and three walks, striking out three, while not allowing a run. Castillo's fastball topped out at 97, often sitting there and at 96. He appeared to have a slider that was in the 81-83 mph area, and a curve, though he rarely threw it. Castillo starts angled on the rubber, taking a step back to 1B when starting his wind-up. He works quickly from there, but not nearly as quickly from the stretch. He is quick to the plate from the stretch, however, especially with a man on first. He brings his leg higher from the stretch if a runner is on second or third, rather than first. He didn't show much of a pickoff move. Castillo throws overhand and worked ahead in counts early in the game. It appeared his mechanics got a little out of whack in the 4th and 5th innings, missing high often and causing the catcher and pitching coach to come out and talk to him at separate times. On defense, he was a little late to cover first base in the third inning on a ball hit to 1B, but he made it in time.
RP C.J. Robinson (12th Round Pick, 2013; spent 2014 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for A Greensboro in 2015): Robinson was the first reliever out of the 'pen, going 1.1 innings, surrendering one hit and striking out one. Robinson is a side-armer, coming at the hitter with a low 90s fastball and a mid-70s breaking ball. The strikeout was on said breaking ball. Despite being a side-armer, he has a smooth delivery. He got off the mound quickly on a dribbler, bare-handing it and beating the runner at first with a throw.
RP Alex Burgos (Acquired in the Rule V Draft from Tigers, December 11, 2014; spent 2014 with A+ Lakeland, AA Erie, and AAA Toledo): A lefty, Burgos pitched 1.2 innings, giving up one hit. He notched his third hold of the year. He almost literally falls of the mound to the third base side after following through with his pitch. He turns his body inward when going through his motion. His pitches were usually in the mid-to-low 80s.
RP Tyler Bremer (Acquired from Cubs with P Jose Arias for P Jacob Turner, August 8, 2014; spent 2014 with A Kane County (Cubs), A+ Daytona (Cubs) and A Greensboro): Bremer has been closing as of late for Jupiter, but blew a save here, his first. He pitched the 9th inning, where he gave up 1 hit, an earned run, and struck one out. Bremer has size (6'2", 225), but his fastball barely reached 90, settling in the high 80s. He has an ordinary delivery, and the strikeout he accrued came on a 78 mph curve. The second batter he faced triple to right, and on the next pitch, he surrendered a base hit, scoring the runner from third.
RP Matt Milroy (11th Round Pick, 2012; spent 2014 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): Milroy was stretched out for three innings, touched for just one hit, and struck out six. He has 56 Ks in 44 innings this year. Milroy explodes out of a compact delivery and has a fastball in the mid 90s. Strangely, he struck out the side in his first inning of work, all on 84 mph sliders. He showed good control. Two of his other strikeouts were on fastballs, and the third, for six on the night, was another 84 mph slider.
RP Ben Meyer (29th Round Pick, 2015; has also appeared for GCL Marlins in 2015): Charged with the loss, Meyer pitched three innings. He gave up two hits, an unearned run, two walks and two strikeouts. He was lifted with the bases loaded and no outs in the 16th. Standing at 6'6", Meyer comes from the wind-up with an 88-89 mph fastball. He has a little kink in his delivery at the raise of his leg. He gets low before coming to the plate at three-quarters. He didn't show much of an offspeed pitch.
RP Casey McCarthy (28th Round Pick, 2012; spent 2014 with A Greensboro, A+ Jupiter, AA Jacksonville, and AAA New Orleans; has also appeared for AA Jacksonville in 2015): McCarthy was called upon to get out of an almost impossible situation: Bases loaded, no outs, in the bottom of the 16th. He threw one pitch - it was sent into right field where Flynn made a diving catch. Unfortunately, it also allowed the runner on third to tag up and score for the winning run.
CF Yefri Perez (Signed as an undrafted free-agent, February 13, 2008; spent 2014 with A Greensboro): A former middle infielder, Perez is now a permanent fixture in the outfield. He led off and was 2-7 with his 8th double of the year, and a strikeout. He stole his 45th base, and was also caught stealing for the 12th time. Perez' single was a flare into center on an 0-2 count, a good swing to protect the plate. With two outs and the bases loaded in the 4th inning, he laid out to make a diving catch in center to end the inning. He tried to drag bunt in the 6th inning, but it was a weak offering. Probably for the best, as this is the AB where his double came, a liner just inside the 3B line. His caught stealing was on an 0-2 count and a well-timed pitch-out. He's not terribly patient for a leadoff hitter.
DH Justin Bohn (7th Round Pick, 2013; spent 2014 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for AA Jacksonville in 2015): Bohn, normally a shortstop or second basemen, went 0-6 with a walk and two strikeouts from the DH spot. At the plate, he keeps his arms and body compact in his stance. He almost had an infield single in the 4th on a slow roller to third base, but the throw just beat him. Bohn worked an 0-2 count to 3-2 in the 6th, only to strike out swinging on what would've been ball four. He learned his lesson, though, when the same thing occurred in the 11th; this time, he stayed patient and walked.
LF Austin Dean (4th Round Pick, 2012; spent 2014 with A Greensboro): Dean was 0-5 with two walks and a strikeout on the evening. In the first inning, Jupiter put the hit-and-run on with Perez on the move from first, but Dean ended up flying out to deep right. He fouled a pitch off his ankle/foot in the 7th inning, drawing the trainer out to take a look at him, but Dean ended up staying in the game, walking on the next pitch.
2B Avery Romero (3rd Round Pick, 2012; spent 2014 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): 2-5 with a run and a walk was Romero's line. He also laid down a sac bunt in the 7th and grounded into a double play with runners on first and second and one out in the 11th. Aside from the sacrifice, he hit the ball hard every time he was up. In the field, he has a nice pivot at second, showing quick hands and feet on double plays. However, he committed his 15th error of the season, a costly one, on a high throw to first in the 16th inning. It allowed what would become the winning run to reach base.
3B Brian Anderson (3rd Round Pick, 2014; spent 2014 with A- Batavia and A Greensboro): Anderson went 1-6 with a walk and a strikeout. He has good size, listed at 6'3" and 185. His base hit was a hard single to left-center in the 5th. He got caught cheating on the basepaths though, as he was picked off second base when a sac fly throw to home was cut off, the run scoring, and Anderson was too far off second. One thing interesting in watching him was his body language made it clear when he was upset, including a couple times at the plate when he disagreed with a strike call. He slammed his bat on a pop-out, then later broke it, smashing it into the ground on a fly out in the 16th.
1B Felix Munoz (Signed as an undrafted free-agent, November 3, 2008; spent 2014 with A Greensboro): Can't say I was impressed with what I saw from Munoz, who went 0-4 with two strikeouts. He's a lefty who doesn't get out of the box quickly. He struck out swinging in the 5th, but tried to argue that the ball bounced in the dirt. Then a lefty was brought in to face him in the 7th, and he K'd looking. He didn't look comfortable facing the lefty. He was charged with a fielding error in the third that could've gone either way. It must've gotten changed, because it's no longer reflected on the box score. Munoz was lifted for a pinch-runner in the 10th after he reached on an error.
SS James Roberts (Signed as a free-agent, July 10, 2015; spent 2014 with A+ Carolina in the Indians organization; has also appeared for A+ Lynchburg (Indians), and GCL Marlins in 2015): A recent acquisition, Roberts went 1-4 with an RBI and a strikeout against Ft. Myers. He wore a left ankle guard at the plate and prior to the game, a trainer spent quite a bit of time stretching out both of his legs. In his stance, he starts with his bat on his shoulder before the pitch is delivered. He laid down a nice sac bunt in the 10th. His RBI was a sacrifice fly that allowed Romero to score in the 5th. His strikeout came on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt. Defensively, he took too long getting to a ground ball in the 4th, and the runner beat it out. He made up for it when he made a terrific play on a short-hopper in the hole in the next inning.
RF Cameron Flynn (23rd Round Pick, 2012; spent 2014 with A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for GCL Marlins in 2015): Flynn still finds himself on the interstate this year, hitting just .191. He was 0-4 with a walk and two strikeouts. He also had a sac bunt. Flynn produced a solid at-bat in the 6th, fighting off five 3-2 pitches before lining out to shortstop. He generally sees a lot of pitches in his at-bats. He couldn't catch up to a fastball in the 8th, going down on strikes. He made a diving catch in the 16th that was for naught, as the winning run ended up scoring on that out anyway.
C Rodrigo Vigil (Signed as an undrafted free-agent, August 27, 2010; spent 2014 with A- Batavia; has also appeared for A Greensboro in 2015): Vigil caught all 16 innings, and at the plate was 0-4 with a walk. He broke his bat on a double-play grounder in the 3rd. Vigil just missed a home run in the 6th, hitting a hanging breaking ball to deep left for a fly out. He was hit in the back by a pitch late in the game. Three bases were stolen off of him, and on two of them he made bad throws to second. For the season he has caught 20% of baserunners attempting to steal.
PR Blake Barber (Signed as an undrafted free-agent, June 11, 2012; spent 2014 with A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for AAA New Orleans in 2015): Barber can play the infield or outfield. He pinch-ran for Munoz in the 10th once Munoz reached second base following a sac bunt, but didn't get any farther. He was replaced defensively in the bottom of the inning.
1B Harold Riggins (Acquired in the Rule V Draft from Cubs, December 11, 2014; spent 2014 with A+ Bakersfield and AA Tulsa): Riggins went 1-2 with a double. A big dude at 6'2", 240 pounds, he stands straight up at the plate, almost as if he's leaning back prior to the pitch. His double was solid contact, the ball careening off the wall in right field. He made a fielding error, trying to back-hand a ball that was right to him rather than fielding it straight-up. While the throwing error in the 16th was correctly given to Romero, Riggins could've helped him out a little more than he did in gathering the ball in.
SP Luis Castillo (Acquired from Giants, with P Kendry Flores, for 3B Casey McGehee, December 19, 2014; spent 2014 with A Augusta; has also appeared for A Greensboro in 2015): The starter on the evening gave Jupiter five strong innings, giving up four hits and three walks, striking out three, while not allowing a run. Castillo's fastball topped out at 97, often sitting there and at 96. He appeared to have a slider that was in the 81-83 mph area, and a curve, though he rarely threw it. Castillo starts angled on the rubber, taking a step back to 1B when starting his wind-up. He works quickly from there, but not nearly as quickly from the stretch. He is quick to the plate from the stretch, however, especially with a man on first. He brings his leg higher from the stretch if a runner is on second or third, rather than first. He didn't show much of a pickoff move. Castillo throws overhand and worked ahead in counts early in the game. It appeared his mechanics got a little out of whack in the 4th and 5th innings, missing high often and causing the catcher and pitching coach to come out and talk to him at separate times. On defense, he was a little late to cover first base in the third inning on a ball hit to 1B, but he made it in time.
RP C.J. Robinson (12th Round Pick, 2013; spent 2014 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter; has also appeared for A Greensboro in 2015): Robinson was the first reliever out of the 'pen, going 1.1 innings, surrendering one hit and striking out one. Robinson is a side-armer, coming at the hitter with a low 90s fastball and a mid-70s breaking ball. The strikeout was on said breaking ball. Despite being a side-armer, he has a smooth delivery. He got off the mound quickly on a dribbler, bare-handing it and beating the runner at first with a throw.
RP Alex Burgos (Acquired in the Rule V Draft from Tigers, December 11, 2014; spent 2014 with A+ Lakeland, AA Erie, and AAA Toledo): A lefty, Burgos pitched 1.2 innings, giving up one hit. He notched his third hold of the year. He almost literally falls of the mound to the third base side after following through with his pitch. He turns his body inward when going through his motion. His pitches were usually in the mid-to-low 80s.
RP Tyler Bremer (Acquired from Cubs with P Jose Arias for P Jacob Turner, August 8, 2014; spent 2014 with A Kane County (Cubs), A+ Daytona (Cubs) and A Greensboro): Bremer has been closing as of late for Jupiter, but blew a save here, his first. He pitched the 9th inning, where he gave up 1 hit, an earned run, and struck one out. Bremer has size (6'2", 225), but his fastball barely reached 90, settling in the high 80s. He has an ordinary delivery, and the strikeout he accrued came on a 78 mph curve. The second batter he faced triple to right, and on the next pitch, he surrendered a base hit, scoring the runner from third.
RP Matt Milroy (11th Round Pick, 2012; spent 2014 with A Greensboro and A+ Jupiter): Milroy was stretched out for three innings, touched for just one hit, and struck out six. He has 56 Ks in 44 innings this year. Milroy explodes out of a compact delivery and has a fastball in the mid 90s. Strangely, he struck out the side in his first inning of work, all on 84 mph sliders. He showed good control. Two of his other strikeouts were on fastballs, and the third, for six on the night, was another 84 mph slider.
RP Ben Meyer (29th Round Pick, 2015; has also appeared for GCL Marlins in 2015): Charged with the loss, Meyer pitched three innings. He gave up two hits, an unearned run, two walks and two strikeouts. He was lifted with the bases loaded and no outs in the 16th. Standing at 6'6", Meyer comes from the wind-up with an 88-89 mph fastball. He has a little kink in his delivery at the raise of his leg. He gets low before coming to the plate at three-quarters. He didn't show much of an offspeed pitch.
RP Casey McCarthy (28th Round Pick, 2012; spent 2014 with A Greensboro, A+ Jupiter, AA Jacksonville, and AAA New Orleans; has also appeared for AA Jacksonville in 2015): McCarthy was called upon to get out of an almost impossible situation: Bases loaded, no outs, in the bottom of the 16th. He threw one pitch - it was sent into right field where Flynn made a diving catch. Unfortunately, it also allowed the runner on third to tag up and score for the winning run.