Why Marlins top draft pick JJ Bleday performs his best against his former club

MIAMI, FL—The visiting Athletics took two out of three from the Miami Marlins last weekend, in large part thanks to JJ Bleday, The Marlins' first-round draft pick in 2019, Bleday went 4-for-11 during the series with two home runs and two walks. He's just the latest example of a player who left Miami and found success elsewhere, especially when coming back to face his former club.

Sent to Oakland prior to the 2023 season in exchange for reliever A.J. Puk, Bleday is now in his third season with the nomadic A's. Entering Monday, he owns a .228/.320/.408/.729 slash line with 34 home runs, 100 RBI and a 109 OPS+ in 275 games played since the trade.

Bleday ranks among the best active hitters against the Marlins with a 1.116 OPS in nine career matchups. In an exclusive interview with Fish On First, he says that is more than a coincidence.

"I think it's more of a natural instinct. You're always going to be a little pissed off that you feel like the team that drafted you, gave up on you a little bit too soon," Bleday said. "But at the end of the day, that was three years ago and at that point, I've pretty much moved on, but there's still always something kinda deep down there where you're playing just a little bit harder and hopefully you can just carry that into every game."

Many will remember the day that Bleday was dealt. It was during the Marlins' 2023 FanFest.

"I was here at the ballpark in the morning helping out with Braxton Garrett and Joey Wendle," said Bleday. "We were just doing our normal thing and I had to leave later that day because my wife and I had an engagement party in Nashville. So I left here (loanDepot park), went up to Nashville and I was at my alma mater Vanderbilt's season kick-off dinner and I was there at happy hour with a couple of people and I get a call from Kim Ng saying that I got traded. I was rattled and didn't know what to expect or what to do. It was kinda of a weird night."

At the time of the trade, Bleday was coming off an underwhelming rookie season where he slashed .167/.277/.309/.586 with five home runs and 16 RBI. He missed out on the Marlins' subsequent playoff run in 2023, but found consistent playing time that would not have been available in Miami.

"I'm a big believer in everything happens for a reason," Bleday said. "Regardless of what went down (in Miami), I'm blessed to be where I'm at. Love the guys. I feel like it's a better fit for me here. I think we have a really good lineup with a lot of talent. It's been great playing every day. It's been great trying to be an everyday guy in the big leagues and just try to take the opportunity and run with it."

Bleday isn't the only former Fish to have success against their former employer.

Next up on this homestand, the Marlins are hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers. One of their relievers, left-hander Alex Vesia, is a homegrown Marlin who was traded during the 2020-21 offseason. He has faced 25 hitters over 8 careers appearances against Miami, all while not allowing an earned run in the process. Infielder Miguel Rojas is better known for his glove and his leadership than his bat. However, he enters this latest showdown against his longtime club with a .344/.382/.563/.945 slash line in 11 career games—that OPS is nearly 100 points higher than what he's done versus any other MLB opponent.

On their previous road trip, the Marlins encountered right-hander Luis Castillo (now with the Seattle Mariners), who elevates his game from All-Star-caliber to Hall of Fame-caliber when the Fish are involved. That is unsurprising considering that they traded him twice. Originally set to go San Diego in the summer of 2016, Castillo's involvement in the deal was nullified after the fact by Colin Rea's suspiciously timed injury. Less than six months later, the Marlins permanently parted with him as part of a package to acquire Dan Straily from Cincinnati.

Since Peter Bendix took over the Marlins front office, the volume of trades has only increased. Players dispersed around Major League Baseball will soon have their own opportunities to exact revenge.