Strictly for entertainment purposes, I would like to alert you to Tuesday’s unique performance by the Miami Marlins pitching staff. In a 7-5 loss to the Washington Nationals, eight Marlins arms combined for 19 strikeouts, the highest total ever logged for the franchise in a single spring training game (since at least 2006). The previous record was 18, which came against the Houston Astros on March 24, 2023.
Every position player in the Nats starting lineup—including All-Stars James Wood and CJ Abrams—punched out at least once. Overall, the Marlins K’d 45.2% of the batters they faced.
As is typically the case in the Grapefruit League, this took a group effort—starting pitchers get stretched out gradually, particularly in Marlins camp. Right-hander Eury Pérez (7 K in 3.0 IP) was relieved by Anthony Bender (2 K in 1.0 IP), Andrew Nardi (3 K in 1.0 IP), Pete Fairbanks (1 K in 1.0 IP), John King (3 K in 1.0 IP), Michael Petersen (1 K in 0.2 IP), Gabe Bierman (0 K in 0.1 IP) and Stephen Jones (2 K in 1.0 IP). Fun fact: Nardi also appeared in the 18-strikeout game from 2023.
This game was not televised and Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium’s center field camera was unavailable for media access. But an announced crowd of 2,059 had the pleasure of witnessing this historic “achievement”…even if they were oblivious to it in real time. In lieu of video, here are the approximate locations of every strikeout pitch courtesy of Baseball Savant (key word approximate, because I spot at least one technological hiccup):
Pérez, Fairbanks and King are considered locks for the Marlins Opening Day roster, as is Bender if deemed fully healthy coming off a shin injury. Nardi (left finger blister) is likely to make it, though he can be optioned to the minor leagues if the club wants to slow-play things with him following a lost 2025 campaign. Petersen is squarely on the roster bubble.
Next up for the Fish, they’ll host the Houston Astros at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Wednesday. Max Meyer’s first pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.