Chisholm calls his shot again; Alcantara deals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Another year, another prediction by the clairvoyant Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Chisholm, who called his shot during last spring's Grapefruit League opener, did the same in Friday night's 8-3 win over the Nationals at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Prior to first pitch, Chisholm caught up with fellow Bahamian Lucius Fox and told the Washington infielder that he would go deep to center field.

Lo and behold, three at-bats into the game, Chisholm sent a 1-2 offering from right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. to straightaway center for a three-run homer in the fourth inning. After crossing home plate and heading to the dugout, Chisholm pointed toward the stands at his grandmother, Judy, who helped raise him.

"Last year, she was here for the first at-bat of Spring Training, and I hit a homer," Chisholm said. "So I told her again, I said, 'Listen, you and your two sisters better make it out for this first game so I can hit another homer. And for sure they came out [and] I hit another homer, and she was really excited."

Marlins fans will be happy to hear that the 24-year-old Chisholm expects his grandmother to be around more this year, feeding him his favorite meal of conch rice and plantains so he can gain some weight and keep that power coming.

In his first full big league season in 2021, Chisholm finished with 18 homers and 23 stolen bases, falling just shy of becoming the first Marlins player since Hanley Ramirez in 2010 to post a 20-20 season. Miami has him penciled in for second base and likely at the top of the order in 2022.

• Bleier borrowed Chisholm's chains. Hilarity ensued

Ace on the mound
Projected Opening Day starter Sandy Alcantara looked to be in midseason form in Friday's Grapefruit League opener, retiring all nine Nationals he faced across three perfect innings. The 26-year-old right-hander induced four groundouts and four outs in the air. His lone strikeout came in the first against Nationals superstar Juan Soto.

Alcantara, who signed a five-year extension over the offseason, needed just seven pitches to get through the first and second frames. He didn't reach a three-ball count until the third.

"I was throwing everything," Alcantara said. "My slider I was throwing a little too much in the dirt, but I just got to keep working, keep getting better and keep throwing."

Added new catcher Jacob Stallings: "Guys are going to be excited, but he was locked in and he was pounding the zone with all of his pitches. It's fun back there as a catcher when you feel like you can call whatever you want and feel confident he's going to hit your spot. So that's how I felt with him tonight."

On the backfields
In a game against the Nationals' Triple-A hitters at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex, left-hander Braxton Garrett threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with one strikeout and no walks. He needed 19 pitches (14 strikes). Part of the organization's starting-pitching depth, the 24-year-old was shuttled back and forth between the Majors and Minors last season. Garrett compiled a 1.82 WHIP in eight games (seven starts) for the Marlins, and a 1.23 WHIP for the Jumbo Shrimp.

Right-hander Paul Campbell also tossed two scoreless frames, scattering two hits with two strikeouts and one walk. He threw 37 pitches (24 strikes). A Rule 5 Draft selection in 2021, Campbell was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, and then had his season cut short by an undisclosed arm issue. Over 16 games (one start), the 26-year-old recorded a 6.41 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP in multi-inning duty.

"I think we brought him in thinking that this is a guy that could be a really good quality starter," manager Don Mattingly said. "We keep those Rule 5 guys -- it seems like they end up in the 'pen to be able to keep throughout the course of the year. But now he is ours. Make sure he's healthy, and then just get him built and see where we are."

Worth noting
• JJ Bleday (MLB Pipeline's No. 69 overall prospect) entered the game in center field.

• Right-hander Cody Poteet, who ended the season on the 60-day injured list with a right knee injury, pitched two scoreless innings.

Up next
Right-hander Pablo López makes his 2022 Grapefruit League debut at 1:05 p.m. ET against the Astros at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. López, who returned in the 2021 finale after missing all of the second half due to a rotator cuff strain, is expected to throw two innings.