Muñoz 'on the attack' in strong start vs. Mets

By Christina De Nicola | July 20, 2024

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MIAMI -- In Marlins manager Skip Schumaker’s opinion, MLB is a “know how” -- not “figure it out” -- league.

“It's tough to learn at the big league level,” Schumaker said early Saturday afternoon. “You never stop developing at the big league level, that's for sure. … There are some guys that are still trying to figure it out up here. That's just part of where we're at with all the injuries in the rotation. But I think it's been good for him. It's been humbling for him. I think he's going to come out of it much better because of it.”

The him Schumaker was referring to is rookie right-hander Roddery Muñoz, who had just 10 starts at the Triple-A level in his professional career entering 2024 after bouncing around the Braves’ and Nationals’ systems in ‘23. The Pirates claimed him off waivers over the offseason, then dealt him to the Marlins for cash on Dec. 20.

Based on where Miami is in the standings, the second half will be used to see how players fit into the organization’s future. Muñoz is one of those young players to keep an eye on.

The 24-year-old Muñoz went five innings of one-run ball in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the Mets at loanDepot park. Miami was shut out for the 11th time this season after going hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position and leaving 10 runners on base.

“Roddery was really good,” Schumaker said. “I was impressed by how he was on the attack. He missed a lot of bats today, neutralized the lefties. I know a couple of lefties got hits, but that's okay. It's the big leagues against a really good lineup.”

The Mets presented a new challenge to Muñoz: they were the first opponent he has faced multiple times in 11 big league appearances. On June 13, he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning at Citi Field.

Though Muñoz didn’t flirt with a no-no this time around, contending New York managed just three hits against him and struck out five times. He recorded a game-high 13 swings and misses.

The game’s only run scored in the fourth on some self-inflicted damage. Pete Alonso doubled on a liner over left fielder Nick Gordon’s head before Muñoz hit Mark Vientos with a pitch and walked DJ Stewart to load the bases. Francisco Alvarez sent a grounder up the middle that seemed destined for center field, but rookie shortstop Xavier Edwards made a diving play and a flip to second base for a run-scoring forceout. Jeff McNeil lined a ball into first baseman Josh Bell’s glove to end the threat.

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In the fifth, Muñoz gave up a single to Francisco Lindor and walked Brandon Nimmo before J.D. Martinez lined into a double play. Schumaker decided that would be all from Muñoz after 74 pitches (44 strikes).

“I think you just trust your eyes,” Schumaker said. “There was some good defense behind him. It was just some atom balls that we were pretty fortunate to have hit at us and not one step the other direction, too. It was a good line, good job by Roddery. I just thought watching the game, it was just time to go to [Bryan] Hoeing.”

Pregame, Schumaker noted three things Muñoz must get better at moving forward:

Muñoz, who hopes to keep improving every time on the mound, showed progress on each front on Saturday.

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Muñoz’s effectiveness stems in large part from using his slider down and away and his cutter and four-seamer up and in. He also wasn’t afraid to backdoor the slider on occasion. Muñoz seems to have cleaned up previous issues with tipping his pitches.

“I've been working really, really hard on speeding up my move towards home plate, and also making the same movement with every pitch that I'm throwing, so pretty much just doing the same move,” Muñoz said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr.

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