Meyer back in MLB action without innings restraint

This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

MILWAUKEE – At the beginning of the season, Marlins No. 3 prospect Max Meyer emerged as one of the leading National League Rookie of the Year candidates after posting a 2.12 ERA through three starts.

But 20 months removed from Tommy John surgery, the organization decided to protect Meyer by optioning him to Triple-A Jacksonville once some of its starting pitching healed. Miami had his long-term future in mind.

“It was really hard for that first month, kind of just, 'Did I deserve it?' and all that stuff going through my head,” Meyer said. “But I was able to snap out of it talking to manager [Daren Brown] down there and [pitching coach Jeremy Powell]. I'm not just going to go down there and let guys beat up on me. I’ve got to keep going and go about my business like a pro, and I'm kind of glad I got to taste that, because it was very humbling. But now I think I'm in a better spot.”

With an eye on his workload, Meyer wasn’t allowed to go deeper than four innings until July 9, which was his 13th start with the Jumbo Shrimp. He often found himself trying to air it out early – rather than pitching, which led to subpar results (5.36 ERA).

The 25-year-old right-hander had boxes to check before returning to the big leagues, like utilizing his changeup more and getting back on a regular starter’s routine of pitching every five days. Due to starting-pitching injuries and others not performing, Meyer made his long-awaited return in Saturday’s 7-3 comeback victory over the Brewers at American Family Field. He is back without restraints in terms of pitches per start or innings.

“Max was going to make his way up here no matter what, because he's so good,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “He was going to find his way. I don't think it was one thing or another, more just protecting, making sure that he's good to go when he does come up here.”

In his first MLB start since April 13, Meyer went four innings, allowing four hits – three singles – with three strikeouts and two walks. He threw a lot of strikes but wasn’t efficient, as Milwaukee fouled off 27 of his 85 pitches.

Meyer, whose slider and four-seamer combination make him MLB Pipeline’s No. 79 overall prospect, worked on his changeup and a new two-seamer in the Minors. Though he didn’t debut the latter on Saturday, he threw his changeup 14 percent of the time – including on Rhys Hoskins’ three-run homer with two outs in the fourth.

“It's good stuff, it's crisp,” Hoskins said. “I had faced him before his injury, in '22, and it seemed pretty similar to that. I know he had some helium as a Draft guy, but I haven't heard his name much since. But he attacked the zone a lot. I think he got himself into some good counts where he had chances to keep us off-balance and off the barrel, and he executed."