Valente Bellozo flashes higher velocity in spring opener

JUPITER, Fla.—Valente Bellozo was one of the more reliable pitchers the Miami Marlins had down the stretch last year. He pitched to a 3.67 ERA in 13 starts after he was called up midseason to help a rotation that was riddled with injuries.

The right-hander did it while having one of the slowest fastballs in the majors at 89.2 miles per hour. It confounded the experts here at Fish On First. Even Bellozo himself recognized that it would be in his best interest to look for ways to boost his velo.

“I know that I did a really good job last year, but I know if I got more velo average, it's going to be easier for me,” Bellozo said.

The 25-year-old started the Grapefruit League opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, and the velocity increase was immediately apparent. His six fastballs recorded at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium averaged 92.3 miles per hour. The Cardinals whiffed at all three fastballs they swung at. In his only inning of work, Bellozo struck out Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras, and forced Masyn Winn to ground out weakly in front of home plate.

Bellozo threw his four-seamer 37.4% of the time last year and accumulated a plus-four run value, according to Statcast. He allowed a .247 batting average on that pitch with a .270 expected average.

The team approached Bellozo at the end of last season asking him to get stronger. That included more time in the gym and a better diet. His nutrition plan is simple: “More protein, less carbs.”

Not only will this help with power needed for more velocity, but Bellozo and the Marlins also hope the added muscle helps protect his ligaments. The 5’11 right-hander said he is still roughly the same weight as last year—he was listed at 208 pounds— but has successfully lost fat and gained muscle.

Bellozo said his control hasn’t suffered as a result of throwing harder. In Saturday’s small sample size, he threw four of his six fastballs for strikes. 

The newfound velocity has also helped with his secondary pitches. Bellozo threw his entire arsenal on Saturday: cutter, curveball, sweeper and changeup.

“I see the difference about throwing a little bit harder,” Bellozo said. “I think they are more sharp. They can bite a little bit more.”

Bellozo’s battery mate Nick Fortes saw the difference behind the plate.

“It was definitely a little tighter, a little bit sharper, which I think showed that he was missing some barrels today,” Fortes said. “Guys were swinging underneath it, which is a good indication that he’s spinning the ball pretty good.”

Bellozo is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, with Sandy Alcantara, Ryan Weathers, Edward Cabrera and Cal Quantrill likely taking the first four. His direct competition will be Max Meyer and Adam Mazur. 

Meyer had two stints in the majors last year, pitching to a 2.12 ERA in three starts before being sent to Triple-A Jacksonville when Edward Cabrera returned from the injured list. Meyer’s second go-around was less successful, recording a 7.20 ERA in eight starts.

Mazur, part of the trade that sent Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing to the San Diego Padres last season, was in Triple-A by the end of the year. The 23-year-old right-hander is someone that president of baseball operations Peter Bendix has mentioned multiple times as someone he’s very impressed with.

But Bellozo, who showed flashes of passion last year whenever he’d leave the mound after a successful outing, is confident he’ll show what he needs to in order to crack the 26-man roster in late March.

“That’s the decision of the front office, of the manager. I'm gonna do my stuff. I'm gonna always help the team to win and do my job…So no stress, no pressure.  It's only about going out there, having fun, doing my job, and they're gonna make the decision they’re gonna make.”