A.J. Puk looking forward to starting games in 2024

[Kevin Barral]

Several returning Marlins players will move into expanded roles this year, including A.J. Puk. A full-time reliever during his previous MLB seasons, Puk describes starting as "something I've always wanted to do."

The 2024 season will certainly be an interesting one for Miami Marlins pitcher A.J. Puk. In 2023—Puk's first year in Miami—he posted a 3.97 ERA, 3.59 FIP, 12.39 K/9, 2.06 BB/9 and threw 56 ⅔ innings. After getting off to a great start in the first half, he began to struggle and eventually lost the closer's job.

The 28-year-old is still proud of what the Marlins accomplished collectively, qualifying for the postseason in a full-length season for the first time since 2003.

"We had a nice little playoff push last year," said Puk. "That's kinda what we are expecting to do again. Once you get that taste of the playoffs, you just wanna be back."

Confirming what Fish On First's Isaac Azout reported in December, Puk says, "they're giving me an opportunity to start again. That's something I've always wanted to do and it's going to be fun to go out there and compete and battle for a job and I am looking forward to it."

All 142 of Puk's career appearances in the majors have come out of the bullpen. Only one of those (Apr. 5, 2021) involved going multiple times through a lineup and he suffered a biceps strain during that outing. His largest single-season workload was 125 innings, but that was way back in 2017.

With Sandy Alcantara down for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the Marlins must figure out how to replace close to 200 innings and 200 strikeouts as well. That replacement is unlikely to come from a single pitcher. Instead, maybe Puk and several other depth arms can combine to produce similar results.

"The offseason has been great for me personally," said Puk. "I know all the guys have been working hard and we're really excited to get going."

Puk also expressed how excited he is to have someone like Peter Bendix leading the front office moving forward.

"It's great," said Puk. "You see what they do with the Rays. Very analytical and that's going to help on the pitching side. Just to be able to know what your strengths are, I think it's going to help out a lot."

Just this week, Bendix hired Brandon Mann as the Marlins' new pitcher strategist. Puk has actually crossed paths with Mann: in 2017, they were minor league teammates in AA with the Athletics.

"Excited to get back with him and work with him," said Puk.

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[Slacker Mills]

Another interesting story to follow in spring training. In my mental notebook, Puk and Max Meyer are the first starters on deck.

[MRDHU75]

I agree with Meyer, but still iffy on Puk

Bottom line: Is everyone confident he will be more consistent than Cabrera, Rogers or even Weathers?