Max, Dax double down on improvements in second spring outings

Jupiter, Fla.—After making their in-game returns to a big-league mound from recent arm injuries last week, Max Meyer and Dax Fulton got their first extended looks on Monday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Each of the 2020 draftees, going through their regular progression, were slated for and completed two innings, showing great initial results on their works in progress.

Meyer started the game and promptly recorded an out of Jose Altuve on the first pitch he threw. He then parlayed that into an eight-pitch inning. In his second inning of work, Meyer pitched around a couple of singles that came with no outs by recording back-to-back strikeouts and a force out. What stood out most of all for Meyer was the command he had of all of his stuff, including his new sweeper which he threw to both sides of the plate for strikes. Meyer is excited for what the pitch will do for his arsenal.

"My sweeper felt good. I feel like I had my first buckle sweeper in my whole life; I've never really had something like that buckle into a righty," Meyer said. "When I think a guy might stick his head out and clip my slider, get a little bigger shape on it."

With the addition of the sweeper as well as a sinker, Meyer is rounding into form as a more complete pitcher and enhancing the effectiveness of his pitch selection and usage. Prior to his injury, Meyer had been working on developing a third-pitch changeup. For the big offseason he had in developing both physically and mentally, Meyer is grateful for the Marlins' staff and how he was handled.

"Before, I was kind of forced to maybe throw a changeup to righties. Not that it's ineffective, but now I have a sweeper and a sinker that I can throw to righties too. So that's going to push my changeup down to like my fifth option," Meyer said. "Any pitcher who's going to add pitches to their arsenal, it's going to usually be a better pitcher. They nailed that down on me and said, 'hey you got some stuff you got to work on this offseason.' I'm glad I was open minded, too."

Attributing credit to the same offseason work and how Meyer remained coachable, manager Clayton McCullough noted that he has not been surprised Meyer has been able to gain a feel for his two new pitches this quickly.

"He's spent the offseason working really hard on incorporating these. He's been facing hitters now for a while. This guy was a first-round pick. There's always been a lot of talent there," McCullough said. "I think at least since we've seen him get off the mound, this is what it's been."

The 23-year-old Fulton followed Meyer. The second verse was much like the first as Dax, like Max, recorded a first-pitch out and followed through with a nine-pitch first inning of work. Fulton got in and out of the frame mostly by way of low-stress pitches, particularly his four-seamer. In his second inning, Fulton started to mix in his curveball which was noticeably showing a bit tighter arc and lower spin rates. Fulton stated this offseason, that he altered the grip on the curveball in order to give it a bit of a different look.

"We have a little bit of stuff changed on it. It's more like a sweeper now, a little bit of different action to it, but I still feel really good about it," Fulton said. "It has a little bit more horizontal to it, but it still has the same break. I've got to get it in the zone a bit more, but overall, I was happy with it today."

Against his final hitter, Jeremy Peña, Fulton garnered his second strikeout of the day via a nasty changeup. It was one of four mapped changeups Dax threw on the day. All were strikes and both of his Ks came via the offering.

The addition of the pitch has been something that Fulton has had as a work in progress since before his injury, and if today is any indication, it's starting to round into form.

"I started to figure it out and then I got hurt, but I always felt like it's been a good pitch for me," Fulton said. "It's gonna be good to righties and lefties. Today, I just was in the zone with it and then I was out of the zone with it, but I felt like I used it in good counts."

"It was great. Something to move away from some right-handed hitters," McCullough said of how Dax utilized the pitch. "Get the heater up and in as well and kind of play that game: up and down, in and out. With some of the layoff he's had, for him, a couple outings here, he's been crisp and in the strike zone. His confidence will just continue to grow."

Max and Dax line up to pitch again this coming weekend.