Worst first half in Marlins history?

Ely Sussman · July 11, 2024

Offishial News for 7/11/24

On Wednesday, RHP Bryan Hoeing (3.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 62 pitches/39 strikes) didn't give the Marlins much of a chance to compete. Might not see him start another game for the near future. Dane Myers recorded his sixth outfield assist and Xavier Edwards had multiple hits from the right side of the plate, which he had never done before in the majors. Framber Valdez tossed seven excellent innings with 10 strikeouts, typical of what left-handers have done to Miami's offense throughout the season. The Marlins lost, 9-1.

Down on the farm, Triple-A Jacksonville lost, 10-5. RHP Evan Fitterer lasted just 3 ⅓ innings, allowing six earned runs. OF Griffin Conine hit his 17th home run of the season. C/INF Bennett Hostetler went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in his Triple-A debut. Double-A Pensacola won, 6-3. High-A Beloit won, 3-1. LHP Emmett Olson (6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 90 pitches/54 strikes) made his longest start as a pro. Low-A Jupiter lost, 14-8. OF Kemp Alderman homered for the second straight day. FCL Marlins won, 3-2. OF Andrés Valor and OF Yoffry Solano each had three-hit days. The team clinched the FCL East division title

Here's more Marlins news and content:

🔷 Still four more Marlins games to go until the All-Star break, but I'd make the case that they've never had a more miserable first half to a season. It's the first time that the franchise has suffered 60 losses before the break. The only player on the entire team who's been both healthy and significantly above average in his role is Tanner Scott, who is practically guaranteed to get traded by the end of the month. Two intriguing comeback candidates, Tim Anderson and Sixto Sánchez, both flopped. No notable prospects have made their major league debuts. Nowhere to go but up...right?

🔷 Left-hander Devin Smeltzer was released. He pitched 117 ⅔ innings with Triple-A Jacksonville over the last two seasons, posting a 5.66 ERA and 6.45 FIP, though he also threw a seven-inning no-hitter (the first in Jumbo Shrimp history). At the insistence of Mel Stottlemyre Jr., Smeltzer lowered his arm slot entering 2024 and had initial success as a reliever in Jacksonville. Opponents have gradually adjusted, leading the Marlins to part ways with the 28-year-old.

🔷 Sean McCormack shares his MLB mock draft through the first 39 picks, which includes the Marlins taking Oklahoma State's Carson Benge at No. 16 overall.

🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Wander Franco has been moved from administrative leave to the restricted list as he faces formal charges of sexual abuse against a minor, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking in the Dominican Republic. He could serve up to 20 years in prison if found guilty, and safe to say, he'll never play in Major League Baseball again. Jake Eder was called up by the White Sox as their 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader, though he didn't make an appearance. The 2020 Marlins draft pick was regarded as one of the organization's top prospects when he was traded last summer in exchange for Jake Burger. The Phillies became the first MLB team to reach 60 wins. The full Home Run Derby field is set following the commitments of Adolis García, Teoscar Hernández and Marcell Ozuna.

🔷 Today's MLB game: the Marlins (probable starter RHP Roddery Muñoz) conclude their series against the Astros (RHP Jake Bloss). The Marlins have a 35.4% chance to avoid getting swept, per FanGraphs. First pitch at 8:10 p.m. ET.

🔷 Today's MiLB schedule: