Brinson, Joyce placed on 10-day IL
Joe Frisaro
@JoeFrisaroMIAMI -- A couple of outfielders who were expected to be contributors to the Marlins will start the season on the 10-day injured list.
On Thursday, Miami announced outfielders Lewis Brinson and Matt Joyce on the 10-day injured list.
Miami did not specify why either player was placed on the IL, but neither has been seen participating so far in Summer Camp activities.
With the season just 60 games, the setback raises questions as to how much either might contribute in 2020.
Brinson, especially, has been in the spotlight, because the organization has been evaluating what his future with the club would be. The 26-year-old was not projected to start in center field, regardless.
But Brinson had a solid Spring Training, hitting .345 with three home runs in 13 Grapefruit League games.
¡°It¡¯s pretty well documented that this was a big year for Brins,¡± Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. ¡°He looked really good in Spring Training. Obviously, falling on the IL puts him behind a little bit. But that doesn¡¯t mean that it¡¯s not going to end up good.¡±
Joyce, 35, was a candidate to be the Opening Day starter in right field. The veteran signed with Miami as a free agent in February after hitting .295/.408/.450 with seven home runs across 238 plate appearances in a part-time role with the Braves last year.
Mattingly said in Spring Training that Joyce could start about three or four times a week in right field. That was before the designated hitter was added for the 2020 shortened season.
¡°They¡¯re both kind of in the same boat,¡± Mattingly said of Brinson and Joyce. ¡°They¡¯re going to end up being behind.¡±
Brinson was projected to be a bench option in his fourth season for Miami. Acquired as part of the 2018 trade that sent Christian Yelich to the Brewers, the outfielder has slashed .189/.238/.294 across 184 games in a Marlins uniform.
Mattingly hasn¡¯t ruled out that Brinson or Joyce will play in 2020.
¡°Let the year play out,¡± Mattingly said.
Villar: minor back spasms
Jonathan Villar is dealing with some minor back spasms. So rather than take any chances, Mattingly scratched him from Thursday¡¯s intrasquad game. Villar was initially expected to be on the home team, which features the projected Opening Day lineup. Instead of playing center field, Villar got a breather. For the scrimmage, one of the coaches got the start in center.
Anderson sees bright future in Miami
While this is a conversation more for another day, third baseman Brian Anderson was asked on Thursday¡¯s Zoom call if he was open to signing long term with the Marlins.
Anderson is eligible for arbitration after this season, and he projects to have enough service time for free agency after the 2023 season. So there is absolutely no urgency to do anything right now.
¡°At the end of the day, I¡¯ve only been with the Marlins since I¡¯ve been in pro ball,¡± Anderson said. ¡°They¡¯ve obviously given me an incredible opportunity here. I would love to stay here.¡±
Anderson was Miami¡¯s third-round Draft pick in 2014, and he¡¯s one of the core players.
¡°That¡¯s obviously something that¡¯s going to have to be worked out,¡± Anderson said. ¡°I¡¯m not really focused on it this year, especially with the shortened season. We¡¯re more focused on what¡¯s going on here and now. I have always been a Marlin. I love the direction that we¡¯re going.¡±
The Marlins' more immediate focus is on getting the season started, and seeing how 2020 plays out.
Vocal crowd
There was a little more energy at Marlins Park on Thursday night, mainly because the stadium sound system was in full swing, and a steady stream of crowd noise was piped into the building.
Without actual fans being able to attend games, MLB plan to simulate the rumbles and cheering of a crowd.
¡°I like the thought of crowd noise,¡± Mattingly said. ¡°It¡¯s almost like a hum. It¡¯s almost like background noise.¡±
The Marlins tested the noise on Thursday during their intrasquad game.
¡°A totally silent ballpark is not probably what you like,¡± Mattingly said. ¡°I like the thought of the noise being pumped in.¡±