Kyle Stowers excited for new opportunity in Miami

[Kevin Barral]

One of the many acquisitions made at the trade deadline reported to the Major League team and looks to make a big impact early on with his new club.

MIAMI, FL—On deadline day, the Miami Marlins traded starting pitcher Trevor Rogers to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers. Norby, the main piece of the deal, was sent down to Triple-A Jacksonville to get reps at third base, but Stowers reported straight to the Major League team.

"I was at the field in Charlotte with the Norfolk Tides," said Stowers. "I had just gotten out of the tubs and was getting ready for the game and one of my buddies, Coby Mayo, said that [Connor] Norby had gotten traded to the Marlins with one other player and when I checked my phone, I was the other player."

Stowers, 26, was regarded as the Orioles number eight prospect in the system according to MLB Pipeline in 2022. He earned his first call-up that year and since then, he's had limited playing time in the big leagues. At the Major League level, Stowers has slashed .215/.261/.343/.604 with four home runs, 20 RBI and a 71 OPS+ in 184 plate appearances.

The Marlins hold a 42-71 record this season with what is now one of the youngest rosters in baseball. Someone like Stowers will have an opportunity to play every day, per Marlins manager Skip Schumaker.

"It's all I can ask for, " said Stowers of his opportunity. "I think any player just wants an opportunity to showcase their abilities and help the team win. Hopefully I can just help this team win as many games as possible."

Through five games with his new team, Stowers has struggled, going 2-for-20 with 11 strikeouts. Throughout his minor league career and early on in the Majors, Stowers possesses an aggressive approach which has led to high strikeout percentages, with this season being the highest of his short career at 41.5%.

"Maybe pressing a little bit early on, trying to show he's worth the trade, that type of thing," said Skip Schumaker. "It's only natural to feel like you want to showcase who you are right away. I think giving him the off day yesterday and giving him a chance to breathe and then coming back out there today and just letting him play. There's no pressure. We're going to be running you out there and just play and have fun. I think limiting some of the pressure is the biggest thing. So I don't think he's not going to hit. It's just a matter of, you know, meeting new players and new team the whole deal."

Stowers spoke to his early struggles with his new team as well. "I think just early on I am just a little anxious. Maybe just trying to do too much. Trying to go get it a little bit. I thought the at-bats the last two games were getting a lot better, so just hoping to build off of that. Keep putting good swing on balls and it'll turn. That's how baseball works."

The newest Marlin said it best: he's trying to do too much at the plate. The current league average swing percentage is 47.9. Stowers' career swing percentage up to this point is 56.6%. He currently ranks third in baseball in swing percentage this season amongst players who have at least 50 plate appearances. Former Marlins Avisail Garcia and Nick Gordon also made the top ten.

 

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The Marlins welcomed the Cincinnati Reds for a four-game set where the Reds took game one led by Elly De La Cruz's incredible game. After a two-run home run in the top of the first, De La Cruz would hit his second home run of the night in the eighth, marking his third career multi-homer game. He became just the fifth player to ever have four extra-base hits in a game against the Marlins.

Marlins starter Roddery Muñoz struggled as he surrendered six runs (four earned) off of seven hits and three walks. The Reds would win by a final of 10-3. This is the third time this season that Muñoz allowed more walks than strikeouts. It's also the ninth time this season that he surrendered multiple home runs. The second home run Muñoz allowed was to Noelvi Marte.

Jesus Sánchez took Jakob Junis 480 feet deep to right field marking the longest home run hit by an MLB player this season. It also marked the hardest hit ball by Sánchez this season. Sánchez also grounded into a double play that drove in the Marlins second run of the game. Jonah Bride drove in Xavier Edwards in the bottom of the seventh inning to add on their third run of the game.

Max Meyer will take the mound for the Marlins on Tuesday night at 6:40 pm. For the Reds, lefty Nick Lodolo will take the mound.

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