Max Meyer set to make first start in two years

Maybe you can have a second chance at a first impression.

Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer made his major league debut in the middle of 2022. Then ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 3 prospect in the Marlins farm system, Meyer pitched two games before suffering a torn UCL in his throwing elbow.

Twenty months after his first taste of the majors, Meyer is set to pitch again on Monday night against the Los Angeles Angels.

“I feel good and I'm ready to go," Meyer told reporters Sunday.

The 25-year-old wasn’t even originally slated to begin the year in Miami. About two weeks before Opening Day, Meyer was sent down to minor league camp, set to begin the year with Triple-A Jacksonville. When starting pitcher Eury Pérez was shut down due to right elbow inflammation, Meyer was called back up to help shore up an already-depleted rotation that was missing Braxton Garrett and Edward Cabrera to start the year, along with Sandy Alcantara for all of 2024.

Now, Meyer is ready for his second debut, of sorts. He’ll have family at the game just like he did for his first game on July 16, 2022 in which he allowed five runs and struck out five in 5 ⅓ innings.

“I feel like it's just gonna be like riding a bike, honestly,” Meyer said. “Just another day. I've been doing this my whole life. And the year off, I don't think it affected me too much. I'll be ready to go.”

Although his time in the big leagues was brief in 2022, the Minnesota native thinks the little bit of experience he had will play to his benefit when he gets on the mound Monday.

“I was a little nervous, maybe, for my first debut start,” Meyer said. “And after pitching in spring training, I feel like it's just gonna be way easier now.”

Coming into spring training, Meyer said he was a full-go with no limitations to his throwing program. When asked about what he expects from the players that were returning from injury on the first day of camp, Marlins manager Skip Schumaker acknowledged there’s a balance between wanting to show off for the team versus trying to stay healthy.

“It’s probably more mental than physical,” Schumaker said. “Because they are healthy physically and trying to get over that mental hurdle of, what if they throw too hard or throw too much [or] it’s just gonna happen again…but you’re out there to compete. This is the big leagues and nothing’s given to you. So you're gonna have to earn it, especially in that clubhouse, especially from our staff, so I don’t anticipate anybody being in cruise control.”

In three appearances (seven innings) of Grapefruit League action this spring, Meyer allowed zero runs, walked one, and struck out five.

Meyer will be tasked not only with helping deliver Miami’s first win of the season, but also providing length that most Marlins starters have been unable to give. The combination of inefficient starts along with two extra-inning games has forced the bullpen to throw 24 innings in the first four games of the season, third-highest in the league behind the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, who have played two more games than the Marlins.

Whatever the Angels throw at Meyer, he’s confident in his ability to stay in control.

“I just feel like not many little things are gonna bug me anymore,” Meyer said. “I'm still gonna be able to lock back in when I need to, and not be so hurt when things happen that I can't control.”

When asked what makes him the pitcher that he is, Meyer simply said, “just being competitive and always having an edge."