Patrick Monteverde defies odds to debut as Marlins nearly make amazing comeback

[Kevin Barral]

Although the Miami Marlins fell to the Philadelphia Phillies, it was a win for Patrick Monteverde, who made a long relief appearance in his Major League debut.

It was a long road for Patrick Monteverde to make it to Citizens Bank Park on Saturday afternoon. Overlooked as a soft-tossing high school prospect and set back by injuries, the 27-year-old left-hander made his Major League debut and gave the Marlins length they needed in a 11-10 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The first stop of Monteverde's collegiate career was a Division III school, Virginia Wesleyan University. In his lone season there, he was named 2017 ODAC Rookie of the Year, 2017 All-State Second Team in Virginia, 2017 All-State Rookie of the Year and 2017 ABCA Second Team All-Region South. Monteverde then transferred to Division II Seton Hill, where he spent three years, but was limited to 91 ⅔ innings due to Tommy John surgery and the COVID pandemic.

Next, after posting a video of one of his bullpen sessions on social media, Monteverde finally received interest from 34 Division I schools including Miami, Alabama, Auburn, Indiana and UCF. He chose to play at Texas Tech. In his lone season with the Red Raiders, Monteverde posted a 3.75 ERA in 86 ⅓ innings pitched. Texas Tech went 39-17, reaching the Lubbock Super Regional.

Monteverde was selected in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Marlins. Nearing his 24th birthday, he received only a $47,500 signing bonus.

Monteverde continued to overachieve and the Marlins developed him as a starter. In 2023, the Pittsburgh native was one of two players selected to represent the organization in the MLB Futures Game where he closed out a win for the National League. The MVP of that game? His organizational teammate, Nasim Nuñez who is now with the Washington Nationals.

This season, Monteverde was invited for a second consecutive year to big league camp and in three appearances, he posted a 3.18 ERA, striking out nine and not walking anyone. He was reassigned to minor league camp and later sent to begin the season in Double-A Pensacola. He was quickly promoted to Triple-A Jacksonville, posting a 4.82 ERA in three appearances (all out of the bullpen).

On Friday, he received the greatest call of his life from Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp manager David Carpenter while at the team's hotel in Memphis.

"We were just in my room playing Mario Kart," said Monteverde on Saturday. "(Carpenter) called me and said, 'Hey what are you doing, you going to the (Memphis Grizzlies) game?' Cause I thought he was going to go and I thought he just wanted to meet up or something. I was like, 'No, we're here. We're at the hotel.' He said, 'Well, they're gonna need you in Philly tomorrow. You're going to big leagues.' So I was like, 'Woah.' That's not where I thought this conversation was going."

In relief of a struggling Cal Quantrill, Monteverde went on to give the Marlins 3 ⅔ innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, one walk and three strikeouts. He threw 87 pitches, marking one of the longest relief appearances in franchise history. Monteverde went with his slider (47%), four-seam fastball (16%), changeup (14%), curveball (14%) and sinker (9%). The slider generated five whiffs and two of his four strikeouts.

"He gave us much needed length today," said Marlins manager Clayton McCullough. "Yesterday our bullpen had to cover quite a bit. Today was shorter start than we were hoping for, but for Patrick to get through basically the bulk of that game there and do the job he did in his Major League debut there was a lot asked and then stretched him out. For him to come here and do that for us, while we end up losing this game, you hope that at least sets you up in a better position for tomorrow."

 

Quantrill made his fourth start of the season and it was probably his worst. The Phillies offense knocked him out after 3 ⅓ innings pitched. He allowed seven runs on eight hits and three walks. The last time Quantrill went a start without striking out anyone was in his final start with the Colorado Rockies in 2024.

"Just some mistakes in the middle of the plate that they were able to get to," said McCullough. "Just couldn't get some of the misses there late in the count and guys were able to get on some pitches that stayed more up in locations he probably didn't like, but Cal's a really good pitcher and he'll get right back on the horse and get ready for his next one."

In the top of the sixth inning, Griffin Conine knocked in his seventh RBI of the season, but it came at a cost. As he slid to second, he grabbed his left arm in pain and was removed from the game. The Marlins later announced that Conine suffered a left shoulder injury and is being evaluated.

In the top of the ninth inning, the Marlins made it very interesting despite initially trailing 11-4. Jesús Sánchez led the inning off with a double and Eric Wagaman followed him with a base hit. Dane Myers, who pinch-hit for Kyle Stowers, hit his first home run of the season to make it 11-7.

Javier Sanoja reached on an infield single and Connor Norby grounded into a fielder's choice. After defensive indifference advanced Norby into scoring position, Graham Pauley drove him in on an RBI double. This marked Pauley's first career three-hit game. He was sent down to AAA when the Marlins reinstated Norby, but recalled the next day when Derek Hill landed on the 10-day IL.

Liam Hicks hit his first Major League home run to make it a one-run game. The Rule 5 Draft pick became the second catcher in Marlins history to record four hits, four RBI and a home run in a game. This was Hicks' first career four-hit game.

Once the Phillies deployed closer José Alvarado, Xavier Edwards flew out to right field to end the Marlins rally. It marked the 17th time in franchise history that the Marlins scored six-plus runs in the ninth inning or later. It was only their fourth loss in that situation.

"Love the way it finished," said McCullough. "Love the way that we fought back in there late in the game to scratch back and end up bringing the tying run to the plate, then to get their closer in. Hats off to our whole crew for hanging in there and continuing to play and keep going all the way through 27 outs. So from that end, it was great."

The Marlins have now lost five straight. They will look to snap the streak and salvage the series against the Phillies on Sunday as they will send Connor Gillispie to the mound. On the other side, former Marlin Jesús Luzardo will not only face his former team, but his hometown team. First pitch is at 1:35 pm.

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[MarlinFaninGA]

That was a fantastic game! Sure, we lost but that was a great comeback! I'm proud of our boys! They never quit! Nice job!