Marlins to Experiment with A.J. Puk as a Starter in Spring Training

The Marlins know they’ll have to get creative in shoring up their pitching rotation in 2024.

They will be without ace Sandy Alcantara all season while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Simultaneously, they have more left-handers in their bullpen than they know what to do with.

One possible solution being considered: turning lefty A.J. Puk into a starter next season.

The possibility was originally reported by Isaac Azout. According to Azout, the team will “plan on experimenting with Puk as a starter in Spring Training.” Although there are no guarantees this will amount to a full-time spot in the rotation, Puk will be stretched out as a starter when major league camp begins.

The University of Florida product started 37 games in his collegiate career, recording a 3.39 ERA and 30% strikeout rate over 194 total innings. He was the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2016 MLB Draft class and second-highest rated pitcher on the board, according to MLB Pipeline.

Puk was drafted by the Oakland Athletics as a starter and had mediocre numbers in their minor league system in that role. His last full season as a starter in 2017 saw him pitch to a 3.68 ERA in 24 starts while at High-A and Double-A. He then underwent Tommy John in early 2018 and hasn't gone beyond four innings in any pitching appearance since then.

To begin 2023, Puk was preparing to report to A's camp as a starting pitcher candidate. He worked on expanding his fastball/sweeper pitch mix to include a splitter and cutter. He settled back into his accustomed relief role upon being traded to Miami in February, relying almost exclusive on his two main offerings.

Through the first six weeks of the season, Puk looked to be the closer the Marlins had long been searching for. He went 6-for-7 in save opportunities and allowed just five earned runs in 15 appearances.

Puk was put on the 15-day injured list on May 14 with nerve irritation in his throwing elbow. He returned in June and continued to be effective, allowing just three runs in 11 appearances and going 7-for-8 in save opportunities while holding opposing hitters to a .180 batting average. However, he lost his closer role in July after blowing four saves in six tries.

As a middle reliever late in this season, Puk rebounded to have a bit more success. Puk recorded just one loss in 21 appearances in September and October, allowing one run in six of those games.

It's unconventional, but the Tampa Bay Rays converted longtime relievers into quality starters on multiple occasions under general manager Peter Bendix, who's now president of baseball operations with the Marlins.

Perhaps the most notable of these examples was Jeffrey Springs. Pitching in 43 games as a solid reliever with Tampa Bay in 2021, the career reliever earned a spot in the rotation where he recorded a 2.66 ERA in 25 starts.

If Puk is going multiple times through an opponent's lineup in 2024, he’ll likely need to once again incorporate additional pitches. He held left-handed batters to a .197 BA last season, but righties were far more productive with a .261 BA (including seven home runs).

Perhaps the Marlins would be more willing to trade from their existing pool of rotation options to acquire offensive reinforcements if Puk proves that he's up for this challenge.

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