Offishial News: Ryan Weathers to start Marlins' spring opener

Fish On First will have boots on the ground for today's Marlins spring training workout. Follow Noah Berger, Alex Carver and Nick Turok for live updates from the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex and check out our staff's 2024 Spring Training Journal (new entries every day).

🔹 Sixto Sánchez took an encouraging baby step on Wednesday by facing off against major league hitters in live batting practice. Fish On First has learned that Sánchez's fastball velocity ranged from 92-94 mph—still a far cry from the pre-injury phenom who was sitting 97-100, but it is the strongest he has felt since then. That being said, it would be impossible to justify giving him an active roster spot unless he continues to make strides with his command and secondary pitches.

🔹 Ryan Weathers will get the starting nod on Saturday when the Marlins play the Cardinals. Seems like a logical choice to give a talented arm who's projected to miss out on the Opening Day roster as many opportunities as possible to make an impression. Expect Weathers to be out there for two innings.

🔹 Elsewhere around baseball, there is an actual MLB (exhibition) game for us to watch today! The Dodgers and Padres will kick off the 2024 Cactus League schedule at 3:10 p.m. ET. First baseman Eric Hosmer has announced his retirement. The South Florida native played 13 seasons in the majors, enjoying his best years with the Royals.

🔹 On the latest Fish On First LIVE, our panel discussed Sixto's status, the Marlins' pursuit of Tim Anderson and under-the-radar players who've done well in camp so far. FOF LIVE is presented by Berger & Hicks! If you’ve been injured as a result of somebody else’s negligence, give them a call at (305) 670-7050.

🔹 Where are they now? Every spring training, I do a roundup of what happened to every player who spent the previous season with the Marlins. Unusual to see so many of them still lingering in free agency at this point.

🔹 Jake Burger told Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times that Tim Anderson was a "great teammate" to him when they were on the White Sox. Burger would endorse the Marlins picking him up, saying "it would be awesome to play with him [again]." Jazz Chisholm Jr. seems to be on board the TA train as well. Greenberg also wrote about the close friendship that has quickly developed between Burger and Josh Bell.

 🔹 Trey Mancini is struck by how "close-knit" this Marlins team is, per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. "They have such a good thing going," Mancini says, "and it’s something you want to be a part of." Mancini is a non-roster invitee trying to make the cut as a part-time first baseman/DH.

🔹 On his new Substack, Ethan Budowsky explains why the Bruce Sherman/Peter Bendix press conference "did them no favors in establishing trust" with the fanbase.