Standouts from Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp opening weekend

[Kevin Barral]

Along with the Marlins, the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp have just begun their 2024 regular season. These were the most notable player performances from their three-game set against the Gwinnett Stripers.

Although opening weekend didn't go well for the Miami Marlins, there were some positive developments with their Triple-A affiliate, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. The Jumbo Shrimp won on Opening Day before dropping the final two games of the series at 121 Financial Ballpark.

Throughout Minor League Baseball, individual performances and development of players take priority over wins and losses, so let's take a closer look at who stood out for Jacksonville in these games.

 

Pitching

A name that more Marlins fans should get accustomed to hearing is Darren McCaughan. The right-handed pitcher was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in February in exchange for cash considerations.

McCaughan started the final game of spring training and went three shutout innings, not allowing a hit, walking zero and striking out three. Similar to what Bryan Hoeing was known for during his time in the minors, McCaughan would induce a lot of ground balls, but also incorporate an arsenal which occasionally gets him swing-and-miss action. When he's on top of his game, he provides quick innings.

From 2018-2023, the new member of the Jumbo Shrimp led Minor League Baseball in innings pitched (717.0 IP). Starting on Opening Day, he went six innings, allowing three runs off of six hits, one walk and struck out four. He gave up two home runs, one to former Marlins utility man Luke Williams and a second to J.P. Martinez.

Just like he did in the final spring game, McCaughan went secondary heavy. He primarily used his sweeper/sinker combo, but specifically his sweeper induced the most whiffs. He is expected to start once again on Wednesday, but there is a chance he is called up to join the Marlins in the near future. The Major League team is in need of innings and McCaughan can provide just that, plus he's already on their 40-man roster.

He may not have struck out anyone, which is uncharacteristic of him, Anthony Maldonado went two innings and didn't allow any runs or hits, he only gave up one walk as he earned the save for the Jumbo Shrimp on Friday.

Calvin Faucher was slowed down by a minor shoulder injury during spring training, but he recovered just in time to begin the regular season on schedule. On Saturday, Faucher made his Jumbo Shrimp debut, going two shutout innings where he gave up two hits and struck out two. He averaged 94.9 mph on his sinker and topped out at 96.7 mph.

Faucher is a candidate to receive a call-up when another fresh arm is needed in the Marlins bullpen, just like McCaughan and Maldonado. Faucher was one player who stood out to manager Skip Schumaker during the spring given his high velocity and swing-and-miss potential, and that was on display on Saturday.

Yonny Chirinos, who signed a minor league deal with the Marlins, had a no-hitter through five innings in his Jumbo Shrimp debut, but the Gwinnett Stripers tacked on three runs at the end of his outing, so the box score doesn't show how good Chirinos was. He will be a name to keep an eye out for as well.

 

Position Players

Griffin Conine, son of Jeff Conine, joined the Marlins organization via trade in 2020. He had a great spring training and stayed hot this weekend in Jacksonville, going 4-for-10 with one RBI and two doubles. In the bottom of the fourth inning on Friday, Conine hit a 103.6 mph RBI double off of pitcher Darius Vines to start the scoring for the Jumbo Shrimp.

On his second double, which came in his final at-bat of the game, the ball left the bat at 94.3 mph. Conine ended up scoring on a Marty Costes RBI single. He also had the highest exit velocity in the second game of the series, at 109.4 mph.

Strikeouts have historically been an issue for the son of Mr. Marlin, but through three games, he's only struck out twice. It's good to see, but too early to tell if that is sustainable. If Conine keeps up the approach he had in spring training, then the chances of him earning his first career call-up certainly improve.

Through the first series, there weren't many other standouts offensively. Jacksonville scored only one total run on Saturday and Sunday combined. The Jumbo Shrimp enter their first full week of action with a .187/.286/.242/.528 team slash line.

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