Meyer dazzles with 10 K's in Triple-A debut

Max Meyer, the Marlins’ No. 3 prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 31 overall prospect, struck out a career-high 10 batters across five innings in his Triple-A debut on Friday night against the Memphis Redbirds. He fanned at least two batters in each of the frames.

Meyer, who walked one, didn't allow a hit until Justin Williams' two-strike, two-out double in the fourth. Nick Plummer's solo homer in the fifth was the lone blemish in Meyer's 73-pitch, 52-strike start. He showed off his 65-grade fastball and slider, which sat in the low 90s.

The 22-year-old right-hander began his first professional season with 20 starts at Double-A Pensacola, where he was among the Double-A South leaders in several pitching categories: ERA (first, 2.41), batting average against (first, .226), WHIP (second, 1.23), strikeouts (second, 113) and innings (fourth, 101). He was named to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in July for his efforts.

Outfielder Peyton Burdick, who also joined Triple-A Jacksonville from Pensacola, set the single-season Blue Wahoos record with 23 homers in 2021. MLB Pipeline projects both Meyer and Burdick (Miami’s No. 14 prospect) will make their MLB debuts in 2022.

“Just having him and Peyton, who have done very well this entire year, get a little taste of Triple-A, get acclimated to what it looks like and where they'll most likely be next year, was important,” general manager Kim Ng said. “Their season's gone on longer, and it's a way to get them more reps and innings.”

Meyer, the third overall selection in the 2020 MLB Draft, previously participated at the alternate training site and in the fall instructional league after the Minor League season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He took part in big league Spring Training in 2021, but he did not pitch in a Grapefruit League game.