Guide to Spring Training at Roger Dean Stadium

Usually, the Marriott on PGA Blvd in Palm Beach is quieter in March. On this week the 2022 Marlins minor league spring training roster invitees were in the lobby catching up on their March Madness brackets. It was getting late, and I was headed to dinner; plus I had no intentions of approaching the players in the hotel because I had tickets for the next three games and didn’t want to be thrown out, plus the third game subsequently was away at St. Louis but still ironically being played at Roger Dean Stadium. As a result of me unknowingly intending to walk out of the hotel without clashing with any players, upon exiting the hotel I observed Khalil Watson entering the lobby; 2021 Miami Marlins first round draft pick. Appreciably, he actively regarded my request to greet him then snap a selfie, followed by a second request for an autograph. Khalil stated “happy to sign the sweet spot of a practice ball.”

(2022, Cristopher Avello)

When the Marlins released their 2022 minor league spring training schedule, hitting was one of the biggest concerns entering the season beginning with the signing of reigning World Series MVP Jorge Soler, transpiring the signings of Avisail Garcia, Jacob Stallings, and Joey Wendle. As Kim Ng put it, “Marlins’ plan is a calculated one designed for sustained success.”

First game was against the Houston Astros, they were the losing team in last year’s World Series; if they reached the World Series in 2022 they would be the 29th baseball team to do that and if they would win the World Series they would be the 16th baseball team to ever do that, a task that has grown significantly difficult over the years. For this game, I had Field Box seats on the third base side where any infield grounder could be tracked and analyzed. “Yesterday’s practice had third baseman’s turning double plays for an hour, hopefully I watch one live.” Spring Training is a chance for fans to get an in depth look at a team’s young talent. Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, a two-time All-Star, was still rehabbing from his injury in Texas. So that left Emmanuel Valdez, a player from Dominican Republic at third base who has been in the Astros organization since 2016. Brian Anderson, also known as “BA” by Marlins fans, would start at third base instead of centerfield, where Marlin’s manager Don Mattingly wanted to start experimenting with him heading into the season. BA hit a three-run homerun to left in the third inning giving the crowd some entertainment. At the end of the game BA said, “I was just trying to get a hit or barrel honestly, Spring Training is not really about hits or performance; it’s more just about getting ready for the season, so to be able to go up there and barrel a ball was good just to be able to get in the flow of baseball again.”

It was day 2 of spring training against the New York Mets. As I was exiting the hotel before going to Roger Dean stadium more minor league players were waiting in the lobby to be shuttled to the field, others were completing calls by the pool and actively browsing their social media accounts. Noticing players that had impacted outcomes of last year’s Marlins games boosted my steps towards the outside pool area. Upon pushing the door open Marlins all-star pitcher Sandy Alcantra was interacting with young rookies over Domino’s pizza, before the shuttle. It was a great time to politely ask for an autograph and his thoughts of the upcoming season; while signing the piece of memorabilia he escalated his anticipation of the opening pitch. Determined to be the year’s best pitcher he said, “Yes the CY Young and Marlins victories are most important,” when i asked him if he thought he could capture the covenant award. Sandy started the first away game against Washington.

(2022, Cristopher Avello)

Today’s pitches were being thrown by the young prospect pitcher who was briefly enjoying a conversation with his teammates the night before in the lobby. Elieser Hernandez from Venezuela stayed with the Marlins during the 2018 season making 32 appearances and finishing 2-7 with 45 strikeouts in 65.2 innings. Followed by Max Meyer who was drafted in the 2017 draft in the first round with the 3rd overall pick. They both combined for 6 innings of one hit baseball before the Marlins bullpen staff closed out the remaining three innings. Ending the second day with a 3-0 victory at Roger Dean Stadium. “I felt like I was pretty good,” Meyer said. “I wasn’t as sharp as I wanted to be, but I felt like I was pounding the zone pretty good. I fell behind in a couple counts but I just wanted to challenge them.”

So on to the final day of the guide against the St. Louis Cardinals, both teams call Roger Dean Stadium their spring training home. For the Marlins, it was young prospect, Jesus Luzardo getting the call on the mound. He is a ground ball pitcher, meaning his pitches usually force players to “top the ball” which enables hitters to hit a lot of ground balls. A key factor when winning games at the MLB level. Meanwhile it was my second game straight sitting on the first base side, I was able to watch Marlins premier prospect Jazz Chisholm’s approach to fielding and covering ground on the right side of the diamond. Luzardo showed Marlins fans with his pitching what he was capable as a starter, plus starting second baseman “Jazz” went 1-4, with his only hit coming in game 2. After the game he said, “I feel if I stay healthy, I’m going to win the MVP.

(2022, Cristopher Avello)

Altogether this guide showed help increase your awareness on what strategies organization’s use when dealing with player and team development position changes during a game. Or you could be a fan interested in individual skill development which there is plenty of when players aren’t playing. Before leaving I waited till players wrapped up their individual drills for fan signings by the clubhouse. And each player had the time to sign for a group of 60-70 fans.