Offishial News: First 'Eury Day' of 2024

Fish On First will have boots on the ground for today's Marlins spring training game. Follow Kevin Barral and Noah Berger for live updates from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium and check out our staff's 2024 Spring Training Journal (new entries every day).

 🔹 On Sunday, Jesús Luzardo looked sharp in two perfect innings. Troy Johnston went 3-for-3 off the bench. Calvin Faucher had a forgettable spring debut (0.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K). The Nationals won, 6-3.

🔹 Anthony Bender contributed a scoreless inning, his first pitching appearance in any game environment since blowing out his elbow in 2022. Kevin Barral got his reaction in the clubhouse afterwards.

🔹 I looked at the similarities between Luzardo and Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller, who agreed to an extension last week. It'd probably take even more to extend Luzardo. 

🔹 Sean McCormack analyzes the pitch mix of George Soriano and sees breakout potential in him, especially if he "figures out his fastball." You're invited to start your own conversation in our forums just like Sean did!

🔹 Elsewhere around baseball, Cody Bellinger (3/$80M) re-signed with the Cubs. He'll be teammates with Garrett Cooper, who's joining the Cubs on a minor league deal. Disappointing contracts for both of them considering what they must've been anticipating at the onset of free agency.

🔹 Today's game: Marlins (RHP Eury Pérez) vs. Cardinals (RHP Sem Robberse) at 1:10 p.m. No television coverage.

🔹 In an effort to flush his past two disappointing seasons, Avisaíl García spent his offseason hitting with Luis Arraez, reports Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. He has also tweaked his batting stance to take pressure off his back.

🔹 Long before they were teammates in the majors, Jake Burger reflects on how Tim Anderson's support helped him cope with his early-career injury setbacks, as detailed in Christina De Nicola's Marlins Beat newsletter.

🔹 Dusty Baker and Doug Glanville reflect on how Dontrelle Willis left his indelible mark on baseball during his Marlins glory days (via Jason Jones of The Athletic).