Skip Schumaker expecting Max Meyer's return to Miami 'soon'

Miami Marlins manager and reigning National League Manager of the Year Skip Schumaker was the most recent guest on Fish on First's Fish Unfiltered podcast. He provided a plethora of information about his personal life in the midst of an 162-game season and how the Marlins season has gone thus far, among other intriguing topics. You can check it out here.

At around the 19-minute mark, Ely Sussman asked Schumaker when he expects a big league return from starting pitcher Max Meyer. Meyer was exceptional early in the 2024 campaign with a 2-0 record and 2.12 ERA in three starts before being shockingly sent down just two days after the best of those starts, as he went six innings allowing just one run against the Atlanta Braves.

When Meyer was sent down, the Marlins had right-hander Edward Cabrera completing an injured list stint and were experimenting with A.J. Puk as a starter. Unfortunately, Cabrera has since gone back on the IL. Puk missed some time as well, then reverted to his accustomed reliever role. Sixto Sánchez (right shoulder inflammation) isn't an option, either.

Is it time to bring up Meyer to fill the rotation void?

"I know you’ll see him up here soon," the second-year manager replied. He cited discussions that the Marlins staff had with Meyer back in the offseason and in spring training about their plan to "protect" the 25-year-old on his way back from tearing his UCL and subsequent Tommy John surgery in August 2022. Schumaker also mentioned that Meyer needed to be "built up and not just this (MLB) level" and "real innings didn't feel like the right move, just to throw 170 innings first year in."

When it came to the demotion itself, Schumaker noted that Meyer was rightfully upset and not "mentally all-in on the decision," which had a negative effect on Meyer's first two starts in Jacksonville, where he gave up a combined 7 earned runs over 5 ⅔ innings of work. However, in the words of his manager, Meyer has "gotten back on track" and had an "outstanding" last three outings, citing the development of his sinker and glimpses of a "really good" changeup. The former third overall pick has allowed a drastically different 5 runs over 11 innings with 17 strikeouts. In his latest start against the Durham Bulls, Meyer punched out seven batters while walking just one.

With the Jumbo Shrimp, Meyer has thrown on a weekly schedule and had a conservative pitch count. As a result, MLB and MiLB combined, he's been limited to 40 ⅔ innings so far in 2024.

Meyer will start at least one more time in the minors on Friday (his eighth start since being optioned). Right-hander Roddery Muñoz is likely to be recalled for the time being—he's projected to start in Miami on Saturday. If Meyer can continue what he's done recently, Marlins fans should not have to wait long to see him competing at the highest level again.