Victor Mesa Jr. looked out from the Miami Marlins’ dugout a few hours before the start of their homestand Friday, his fifth day as a major-leaguer, with the exuberance of a little leaguer who just snuck past security.
The same expression, maybe, that teammate Eric Wagaman saw when Mesa showed up Monday.
“From the second he walked in, in San Diego, he just had this big smile on his face, going around to say, ‘Hi’ to everybody,” Wagaman said before the 2-0 loss to San Francisco at loanDepot park.
“I’m still processing how everything is,” said Mesa, who came in as a defensive replacement in center field to start the ninth and drew a walk at the plate in the bottom of the inning.
“At the same time, I’m seeing everything that is new to me, but with my feet on the ground. Because there is still a lot of work to do. This is a big step, but not the only one I want to make. This is just the beginning, hopefully, of a long career here.”
While cautious about feeling content, Mesa fully comprehends the significance of this past week’s milestones. Not just for the 23-year-old himself, who began playing baseball when he was 5.
But for his many supporters, including his father, Victor, a legendary player in Cuba, and his older brother, Victor Victor, who like Mesa signed with the Marlins in 2018 but never made it past the Triple-A level.
Mesa’s family defected from Cuba seven years ago, with the two brothers signing with the Marlins in 2018 for a combined $6.25 million. Victor Victor, who was the higher touted prospect of the two, received $5.25 of that amount.
Monday’s MLB debut — Mesa entered in the seventh inning as a defensive substitute in center field after being recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville — was a special achievement for the family.
“They’re even more happy than me,” Mesa said. “It’s not only great for me, but for them, too. I always say, ‘It’s not my victories. It’s victories for all of them because they put all the effort to put me in this situation. I’m grateful for them and every person that helped me to be in this position. I’m going to try to take advantage of that and give my max.”
After a back injury ended Mesa’s 2024 season in Jacksonville, injuries slowed his progress this spring. He strained his right hamstring before the start of Grapefruit League play and then his left hamstring while rehabbing. After 10 games at Single-A Jupiter, Mesa moved to Jacksonville, where he slashed .300/.375/650.
When Derek Hill hurt his left wrist making a diving catch Sunday, Mesa got his opportunity. Mesa contributed “in multiple ways” against the Padres, Marlins’ manager Clayton McCullough said, citing a sacrifice bunt among other things.
“He brings certainly some defensive abilities, some speed off the bench if he’s not starting, the ability to pinch hit — he brings some utility to us,” McCullough said.
Catcher Liam Hicks said of Mesa: “He’s a very energetic guy. He’s got a lot of passion and enthusiasm for the game, so it’s sort of a cool injection into the lineup.”
The first few days were especially emotional for Mesa. He told MLB.com during the series in San Diego that, “every day is a dream out here.”
And of his first major-league hit, an RBI single in the first inning Tuesday that family members loudly celebrated from behind the Marlins’ dugout, he noted, “In that moment, I was the happiest person in the world.”
Mesa said Friday that he’s “still getting used to” the reality of being in the majors.
“I try to add my salt, as I say, a little bit to the team: Try to help as much as I can on and off the field,” Mesa said. “I don’t see getting here or staying here as pressure. All I see are opportunities to show the player I am.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ The Marlins had three hits, were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base in Friday’s shutout loss. Connor Norby doubled to lead off the eighth, and the Marlins had runners on second and third with one out, but Nick Fortes and Augustín Ramírez struck out. Jesús Sánchez singled to start the eighth, but they again stranded two.
▪ Dane Myers was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and started in center field. Returning from a right oblique strain, Myers recorded his sixth outfield assist of the season in the second inning, tying Cleveland’s Steven Kwan for second most in the majors.
▪ First baseman Matt Mervis and infielder Ronny Simon were designated for assignment.
Mervis, acquired from the Cubs for Vidal Bruján on Dec. 29, had five home runs and eight RBI during a five-game stretch early in the season, but was 7-for-60 (.117) over his last 23 games and hadn’t driven in a run since April 23. Simon committed three errors in Tuesday’s loss in San Diego.
▪ Outfielder Heriberto Hernández and infielder Jack Winkler were selected from Triple-A Jacksonville. Infielder Graham Pauley was optioned to the Jumbo Shrimp.
Miami Marlins left fielder Heriberto Hernandez (64) reacts after striking out against the San Francisco Giants in the third inning of their MLB game at loanDepot park on Friday, May 30, 2025, in Miami, Fla.
▪ McCullough confirmed that Xavier Edwards will move to second base when he returns from the injured list. Otto Lopez will remain the starting shortstop. Lopez has played there seven of the past eight games, with Javier Sanoja and Simon splitting time in his place at second.
▪ With the Marlins moving on from Mervis, Hicks might spell Wagaman at first base, where Hicks worked pregame Friday, in the next few days, McCullough said. “We’ve all seen Liam’s done some really nice things for us offensively, and it’s an opportunity to find some times to get Liam in the lineup in that regard,” McCullough said.
▪ In other injury news, reliever Declan Cronin (left hip) was scheduled to pitch for Jacksonville on Friday and starter Eury Pérez (Tommy John surgery) is slated for a pitch design on Saturday.