Connor Norby aced his previous minor league rehab assignment in April coming back an oblique strain. Different injury this time around (left hamate surgery), but the early results look familiar. Norby singled, homered and walked while playing five innings at third base for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Thursday afternoon.
Assuming a similar rehab schedule as before, expect Norby to play twice over the next three days, then rejoin the big league club in Miami.
It has been a replacement-level season from Norby thus far, slashing .241/.289/.364 with six home runs and seven stolen bases in 72 MLB games. His defense at the hot corner rates as significantly below average. With Graham Pauley sidelined by an injury of his own, Norby should be starting the majority of Marlins games down the stretch to assert himself as an important piece of the franchise’s future.
Down on the farm, Triple-A Jacksonville won, 4-0 and 11-4. Robby Snelling (6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K, 99 pitches/61 strikes) lowered his Jumbo Shrimp ERA to 1.13. He looks unequivocally major league-ready. Cody Morissette went 3-for-3 with a walk in his first career Triple-A start. Victor Mesa Jr. drove in six runs during the latter game. Double-A Pensacola lost, 6-1. Fenwick Trimble homered to provide the only Blue Wahoos offense. High-A Beloit lost, 6-2. Watching this game closely, it was a very mixed bag for Jacob Jenkins-Cowart. He went 2-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch, but also made two outs on the bases and had a crucial misplay in right field to allow a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning. Low-A Jupiter lost, 4-1. Liomar MartÃnez (5.0 IP, 2 H 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 70 pitches/44 strikes) had his fifth scoreless start of the season. Esmil Valencia‘s 24-game on-base streak was snapped. DSL Miami defeated DSL Marlins, 3-1. It was the opening playoff game for both teams.
The new Forever, Marlins blog includes daily Marlins in the Minors recaps that go into much greater detail.
More Marlins news and content below:
🔷 The Atlanta Braves claimed Cal Quantrill off waivers and they’re plugging him into their starting rotation. The Marlins are calling up Ryan Gusto to take over his rotation spot. Quantrill is scheduled to make his Braves debut on Saturday, which means he is not lined up to pitch during next week’s series at loanDepot park.
🔷 Congrats to Nate Karzmer on his Marlins Jeopardy victory over fellow Fish On First staffers Isaac Azout, Alex Krutchik and Sean McCormack. The full trivia competition is embedded below.
🔷 Janson Junk spoke with David Laurila of FanGraphs about pitch design and sharpening his command. Also on FanGraphs, Michael Baumann noticed how Jakob Marsee is pulverizing weak competition and mistake pitches.Â
🔷 The Prediction Time leaderboard has been updated through the first 41 series. Become a SuperSub and we’ll keep track of your predictions all season long!
🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers became the first MLB team to reach 80 wins. They remain comfortably on pace to post the highest winning percentage in franchise history. Aroldis Chapman completed a hidden no-hitter, having record 27 consecutive outs since he last surrendered a hit. Jesús Sánchez snapped out of an 0-for-27 slump with a 5-for-5 performance.
🔷 Today’s MLB game: the Marlins begin a three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays (probable starters RHP Ryan Gusto and RHP Shane Bieber). This will be Bieber’s first start for his new club, marking his return to the majors after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2024. The Jays have drastic home/road splits—a 42-21 record in Toronto, but a 32-33 record in away games. The Marlins have a 39.4% chance to win, per FanGraphs. First pitch at 7:10 p.m. ET.
🔷 Prior to the series opener, Fish On First LIVE will preview it all beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET. FOF LIVE is presented by About The Fans. Check out our new merchandise collection (coupon code fof10 for 10% off).
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