Jesús Luzardo making the most of relationship with childhood hero

Whether you called it Joe Robbie, Pro Player, Land Shark, or Dolphin Stadium, all Marlins fans can agree that it was dazzling to watch Dontrelle Willis every five days during his tenure with the Fish. Attendance at Marlins home games would spike whenever the lefty took the mound with his high leg kick and tornado-like twist before exploding towards home plate. 

Willis was called up in May 2003. He made an immediate impact with a 14-6 record and a 3.30 ERA. His 22 wins and five shutouts in 2005 are still the most in a single season in Marlins history. The then-23-year-old finished second in National League Cy Young voting that year, along with a 2.63 ERA in 34 starts. He also recorded a franchise-leading 15 complete games during his time in South Florida.

One of those fans that was captivated by Willis is now the ace of the Marlins 17 years after Willis threw his last pitch for the club. Jesús Luzardo, a lefty just like Willis, grew up going to the ballpark just about 45 minutes from his home in Parkland (he called it “Pro Player”, by the way). Luzardo recorded a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts last year to propel the Marlins to a National League Wild Card berth. With 2022 Cy Young award winner Sandy Alcantara sidelined by an elbow injury, Luzardo started Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series, the first playoff game for the franchise at the end of a full-length season since Willis and the Marlins won the World Series in 2003.

On Sunday, with the Marlins giving out Dontrelle Willis bobbleheads to fans, the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year was in attendance and spoke with Luzardo along with other members of the team.

“I told them in the locker room, they all have better stuff than me,” Willis relayed to the media. “And they didn't believe it, but I'm telling you, man. It’s this myth that everybody thought I threw 97. I was like, check tape. I threw 90-91. But I was impactful with my movements.”

Sunday wasn’t the first time that Willis and Luzardo had spoken. While Luzardo was still a member of the Oakland Athletics a few years ago, Willis, who grew up in the Bay Area, reached out to Luzardo and offered advice. Naturally, that line of communication has stayed open since Luzardo was traded to Miami in 2021.

“I'm so proud,” Willis said. “I knew he was gonna be a star. We talked in Oakland. Sometimes you need to get out of a situation to get a breath of fresh air. Him being back home, he's really emerged as a leader. I hate that his name is in trade talks. I can relate to that. So he's been talking to me about that. Stay away from the noise. Don't be in traps.”

“I mean it’s awesome to hear," Luzardo said. "Especially for me, growing up down here, I was a big fan of his...It was just a blessing to hear something like that coming from him, someone I highly regard.”

Luzardo, now 26, was less than 10 years old during the D-Train’s time here. Hearing any advice from a childhood hero is something he does not take for granted.

“Not everyone gets a chance to talk to someone they looked up to when they were young,” Luzardo said. “So it’s something that I like to take advantage of, talk to him as much as possible, and get his opinion as much as possible.”

Luzardo can’t lift his leg as high as Willis did, though he did try as a child. But one thing that he was able to take from the two-time All-Star was his ability to stand strong against all challenges. 

“He wouldn’t back down to anyone,” Luzardo said to the media after Sunday’s game. “And I think that’s something that they instill a lot here as Marlins. But it’s something that I take pride in as well.”

Willis, now a studio analyst with FOX Sports, said this current period of his life is what defines his career the most. He's flattered to see people doing his signature leg kick in street baseball games and hear from current major leaguers who grew up watching him.

"Having the impact and listening to ballplayers that are good now as they talk about how their parents took them to Marlins games means the world to me," Willis said. "It transcends money. It really does. I really enjoy hearing those stories."