Xavier Edwards takes over MLB Network; Christian Yelich's season-ending surgery

[Ely Sussman]

Offishial News for 8/16/24

On Thursday, the Marlins announced their 2025 spring training schedule. They'll face the Cardinals in their Grapefruit League opener on February 22. The second annual Spring Breakout exhibition featuring top prospects will be held at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 14.

Down on the farm, Triple-A Jacksonville lost, 6-0. INF Deyvison De Los Santos has alarmingly struck out 18 times in his last eight games. Double-A Pensacola won, 3-1. INF Jared Serna's 13-game post-trade hitting streak was snapped. In 14 games since returning to first base full time (instead of taking occasional reps in left field), Nathan Martorella is hitting .388 with more walks than strikeouts. LHP Justin King recorded the save and very quietly has been dominant since joining Pensacola as a free agent (8.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 16 K). High-A Beloit lost, 4-1. LHP Thomas White (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 85 pitches/56 strikes) continues to be Mr. Consistency. The Sky Carp lineup was being perfect-gamed until the seventh inning. Low-A Jupiter lost, 2-1. LHP Keyner Benitez (5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 80 pitches/51 strikes) is the prospect I most regret leaving out of our latest FOF Top 30 list. DSL Marlins won, 12-3. It was a career day at the plate for OF Janero Miller, who went 4-for-5 with 5 RBI. DSL Miami lost, 2-0.

Here's more Marlins news and content:

🔷 Alex Krutchik analyzes how Roddery Muñoz was tipping his pitches earlier this season and the ways he has improved since implementing a subtle change.

🔷 Xavier Edwards spent some of Thursday's off-day making a guest appearance on MLB Network's MLB Central studio show. My favorite part was his explanation of what "tells" he looks for from opposing pitchers in order to steal bases off of them. Since July 22, Edwards leads Major League Baseball with 16 steals and has not been caught once during that span.

🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Christian Yelich announced that he will undergo season-ending back surgery. Yelich had been one of the National League's best outfielders this year, but he'll wind up playing only 73 games. Making just the 13th start of his major league career, Weston Wilson hit for the cycle in a Phillies blowout victory. The Tigers completed a sweep of the Mariners thanks to Javier Báez's eighth-inning, game-winning home run. Bailey Ober threw his 10th consecutive quality start for the Twins.

🔷 Today's MLB game: the Marlins (probable starter RHP Roddery Muñoz) begin a three-game set against the Mets (LHP Sean Manaea). The Marlins have a 29.0% chance to win, per FanGraphs. First pitch at 7:10 p.m. ET.

🔷 Join us for a new episode of Fish On First LIVE today from 6:00-7:00 p.m. ET on YouTube/Twitter/Facebook. Special guests: Aram Leighton and Isaac Shapiro. FOF LIVE is presented by Berger & Hicks. If you’ve been injured as a result of somebody else’s negligence, give them a call at (305) 670-7050.

🔷 Today's MiLB schedule:

• Triple-A Jacksonville vs. Memphis, 5:05 p.m. ET (doubleheader)
• Double-A Pensacola vs. Montgomery, 7:05 p.m. ET
• High-A Beloit vs. Quad Cities, 7:35 p.m. ET
• Low-A Jupiter at Palm Beach, 6:30 p.m. ET
• DSL Marlins at DSL Rangers Red, 11:00 a.m. ET
• DSL Miami vs. DSL Arizona Black, 11:00 a.m. ET

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