25-Year-Old Prospect Shines In Season Debut

Marlins fans do not have much to root for with the team starting 0-5 but a light at the end of the tunnel seems to be RHP Max Meyer. Meyer looks to be a promising pitcher for the team this season. Prior to his recent start against the Los Angeles Angels, Meyer had not pitched in a game since 2022 when he suffered a UCL tear. Then he had Tommy John surgery which kept him out of the 2023 season. In his first start, he pitched five innings with two earned runs and four strikeouts.

RHP Max Meyer debuts against the Angels

The Marlins drafted Meyers third overall in the first round. He started in Double-A, where he won Double-A South Pitcher of the Year honors and ranked fifth in the Minors for ERA (2.27). He made his major league debut in 2022, pitching in only two games before he suffered an injury. Meyers mostly uses his filthy slider. Against the Angels, he utilized it 43 percent of the time in his 79 pitches. Mike Trout even pointed out how nasty his slider was.

“Yeah, he had good stuff,” Trout said. He was throwing the ball up and had a different shape on the slider. It was a tough at-bat. You just have to get your pitch.”

Meyer’s only mistake would come off arguably one of baseball’s best players: Mike Trout. His slider would not work in his favor, and Trout smashed it for his second homer of the year.