'He's always ready': Dane Myers adjusting well to new role

MIAMI, FL—It's hard to be successful at the Major League level, especially when your playing time is inconsistent. That has been the case for outfielder Dane Myers in 2025. Myers has been on the Miami Marlins active roster since Opening Day, but he only ranks ninth on the team in plate appearances and has not started more than four games in a row at any point this season.

"A few years back, I'd probably be handling it a little different, just knowing my role, knowing I'm not playing every day right now," Myers told Fish On First in an exclusive interview. "Hopefully, I'll get into that role at some point, obviously—that's everybody's goal. Just trying to be ready to help the team win however I can. I think it's helped me mentally, just staying ready, no matter if it's the second, third or the eighth or ninth, just being ready to come in."

Against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, Myers entered the game in a high-leverage situation. In the top of the sixth inning, with the bases loaded and one out, Myers was brought in to pinch hit for Connor Norby. Myers got ahead of the count 3-1 and Dodgers reliever Anthony Banda went with his fastball down the middle, which Myers took 405 feet to center field. It was his first career grand slam and the second pinch-hit, game-tying grand slam in franchise history (Justin Bour hit the first one back in 2016).

"Couple of minutes before I had that at-bat, I had Banda's fastball locked in the cage before getting into the game, as close as I could to practice just seeing his fastball and being ready for it as soon as I got out there," said Myers. "That was pretty big factor. The first couple pitches I saw, I felt like I saw him well. Once he threw one in the zone, I was good to go."

The Marlins have already shown that they trust Myers against left-handers like Banda, but on Friday, he started against rookie righty Gunnar Hoglund, hitting ninth and playing center field. He went 1-for-2 with a walk and supplied the Marlins' lone run in their 6-1 loss to the Athletics. In the sixth inning, he launched his third home run of the season, going 390 feet to right-center field.

Myers has boosted his 2025 slash line to .356/.387/.542/.929 and his wRC+ to 157 (100 represents league average). The 29-year-old also grades out as a solid defensive outfielder, in part thanks to his elite arm strength.

"Dane has been terrific," said manager Clayton McCullough. "We really felt like even in spring training, his commitment to having a really solid plan at the plate and for someone that is still is learning a lot. This guy's background is incredible, from pitching now to be hitting and the success he's having at the major league level is great. What I love about Dane, he's like an ultimate team guy. He's performed very well whenever he's in there...He's always ready."

The Marlins recalled Valente Bellozo from Triple-A Jacksonville to make his third start of the season on Friday, taking over the rotation spot that previously belonged to Connor Gillispie. Bellozo went 4 ⅔ innings and allowed five runs on four hits (one home run) and walked four. He only struck out one.

In the top of the third inning, former Marlins first-round pick JJ Bleday, who was traded to the Athletics in exchange for A.J. Puk, hit a solo home run, his third of the season, extending the A's lead, 3-0. Bleday also homered against the Marlins last year.

Xavier Edwards committed a pair of errors at shortstop, one throwing and one fielding.

With the loss, the Marlins are now 12-19 on the season. This was the first time that they failed to score multiple runs in a home game.

The new "Retrowave" uniforms will make their debut on Saturday as Max Meyer takes the mound at 4:10 pm.