Soler shines in Marlins debut, helps power lineup

JUPITER, Fla. -- "The first day was really good," Jorge Soler said with a smile.

It didn't take long for the Soler Era to get off to a strong start, as the Marlins sent 11 batters to the plate during a six-run first inning in Saturday afternoon's 9-2 Grapefruit League win over the Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

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Leading off, Soler reached on an infield hit -- the first of three consecutive singles by Miami -- before Jesús Aguilar knocked a one-out, three-run homer off the batter's eye. Soler collected another hit in the first before finishing 3-for-4 with three singles and two runs scored in 4 1/2 innings of play.

"The lineup that we have out there today, it's fun," said left-hander Trevor Rogers, who tossed three frames in his 2022 Grapefruit League debut. "When you have [Jazz Chisholm Jr.] hitting in the nine hole, I think we're going to be OK. But watching these guys do their work and how they prepare and go after the game, taking a little bit of pressure off my shoulders and vice versa. I go out there and make some pitches so we get back in the dugout and score some more runs. It's going to be fun."

The addition of Soler, especially at the top of the lineup, brings a different dynamic. How often Soler actually bats first remains to be seen, but he's an unconventional pick who flourished in the role during the Braves' 2021 run (to the tune of a .908 OPS). Miami's roster and lineup are undoubtedly deeper, and it showed in this first look. Chisholm, last year's primary leadoff batter, hit ninth in the veteran-laden order -- a spot he had never appeared at before.

The tactic also helped scatter lefty bats Chisholm, Jesús Sánchez and Joey Wendle -- who started over Brian Anderson at third base -- vs. southpaw Steven Matz. In 2021, the Marlins had the second-lowest OPS (.655) against lefties. The right-handed-heavy lineup features boppers in the middle with Garrett Cooper, Avisaíl García and Aguilar. The hope is that onslaught will keep the pressure on opposing pitchers.

"It seemed to work last year for Atlanta when he hit there late, so it's one of those things, somebody's got to do it," manager Don Mattingly said. "Who do you want getting the extra at-bat? It's a different game now. The old days, that guy gets on base, he steals bags and all that. The game has just changed from the standpoint trying to get your best hitters the most at-bats."

This offseason between Soler, Wendle, García and Jacob Stallings, the Marlins added a combined 75 homers to one of the Majors' weaker offenses. Soler is a former American League home run champion, while Wendle and García are All-Stars.

Their presence is already being felt by returning players, like two-hole hitter Cooper.

"You're going to get pitched differently, especially with those guys in front of you protecting you," said Cooper, who has been with Miami since 2018. "There wasn't much protection I would say as a hitter early on when I was here. So you got pitched differently, you were worked around a lot, you could take a walk. Just to be with Soler, me, Avi and Agui in the first four, there's not much miss there that you can be as a pitcher. Just to work counts and get on base for those guys. I think we'll do some special things this year."

As far as first impressions go, Soler didn't miss a beat for someone who didn't arrive to camp until Wednesday and hadn't seen live pitching. And while his bat is why the Marlins signed him, the reigning World Series MVP went to a back field with coach Keith Johnson for outfield drills following his exit.

"My goal is always every day to get better," Soler said. "I understand my defense is not top of my game, so I will continue to keep working on my defense, that way I can help the team in any way I can."