Elieser secures 5th spot in Marlins' rotation

MIAMI -- The competition for the Marlins’ fifth starter had basically been a tossup, but now that spot appears to be resolved. The team's decision to option right-hander Jordan Yamamoto to the alternate site on Friday night cleared the path for Elieser Hernandez to step in as the fifth starter.

Hernandez, 25, gave up two runs in six innings in an intrasquad game at Marlins Park on Friday, and showed plenty of promise in Spring Training and Summer Camp.

“Those guys were pretty much neck and neck in everything they were doing,” manager Don Mattingly said on Saturday in a Zoom call. “They were both throwing the ball well. We just felt like Elieser was a tick ahead of [Yamamoto] physically at this moment, coming out of the break and everything else. It was more about that.”

With no Minor League season, players optioned will be sent to the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla.

Other than naming Sandy Alcantara as their Opening Day starter on Friday at the Phillies, the Marlins have not officially announced the rest of the rotation, but it is setting up as Caleb Smith going second at the Phillies, followed by José Ureña, Pablo López and Hernandez.

Hernandez and Yamamoto were considered the favorites for the fifth spot, with prospects Nick Neidert and Robert Dugger in the mix. Neidert and Dugger are bullpen candidates.

Hernandez was rushed to the big leagues as a Rule 5 Draft claim by the Marlins in 2018. Then 23, Hernandez had not pitched about Class A Advanced with the Astros. As a Rule 5 choice, he had to stick on the big league roster or be offered back to Houston. So without being fully developed in the Minors, he grew on the job at the big league level.

Hernandez offers versatility, and he’s a strike thrower. In 2019 he went 3-5 with a 5.03 ERA in 21 games, 15 of them starts.

In Spring Training, Hernandez was starting to throw as effectively as anyone in the rotation mix at the time MLB shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic on March 12. In 11 Grapefruit League innings, his ERA was 4.91, but those numbers didn’t reflect the quality of his pitches.

Hernandez ran into trouble in the fifth inning of Friday's scrimmage, giving up a two-run single to Magneuris Sierra. He appeared to fatigue a bit, but made it through six innings.

“We feel like he got a little tired late, in that last inning,” Mattingly said. “He started missing a little bit.”

Hernandez’s story is one of inspiration, and he has turned into a nice addition for the Marlins, seemingly securing a spot at the back of the rotation from among the Rule 5 pool of players.

“This is a kid who was a Rule 5 guy a couple of years ago,” Mattingly said. “This is a kid who has been around now. I think he comes into the season with a little different mindset, knowing who he is a little bit more. Knowing what pitches he needs to use, where he needs to get them to.”

Even with Hernandez expected to be in the rotation, the Marlins still may need to rely on Yamamoto. In a 60-game season, and with all the strict health protocols, Miami is intending on using plenty of pitchers.

In his rookie season, in 2019, Yamamoto went 4-5 with a 4.46 ERA in 15 starts. He had 82 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings.

“The main thing with Jordan is, it really wasn’t the way he pitched,” Mattingly said. “It was just that we felt like he was a little behind, and wasn’t quite going to be ready.”

The Marlins considered Yamamoto for a bullpen role, but since he had never pitched in relief, they were more comfortable sending him to Jupiter to keep up as a starter.

“We thought [pitching in relief] was a possibility,” Mattingly said, "but we didn’t feel like that was the best thing for him.”