Miami Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Marlins are thriving under new leadership

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 6/18/23

With 20 comeback wins on the season, the most in the majors, the Miami Marlins are not the typical pushover from years past.

Holding a 41-31 record, good for second place in the National League East and a two-game lead for the first Wild Card spot, the Marlins are playing with a never give up attitude under new manager Skip Schumaker and his coaching staff filled with ex-big leaguers.

A rotation featuring 2022 National League Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo and Edward Cabrera came into the season with high expectations, but the star of the show has been recently promoted rookie Eury Perez.

With a 1.80 ERA through his first seven MLB starts, Perez has been a spark on the mound while keeping his team in every game he has appeared in.

No. 1 @Marlins prospect Eury Pérez stays dangerous.

6 IP
2 H
0 R
1 BB
6 K

The rookie has a 1.80 ERA through seven MLB starts pic.twitter.com/3GXj80jFA3
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 15, 2023

Alcantara pitched 228 2/3 innings and allowed only 58 runs during last season's Cy Young campaign. In 2023, he has thrown 88 2/3 innings and allowed 49 runs while struggling to find the strike zone or missing bat.

The Marlins are led offensively by second baseman Luis Arraez and outfielder Jorge Soler, but the team's supporting cast has taken steps to help the unit become a well-rounded one.

Arraez was acquired this offseason in a trade with the Minnesota Twins and all he has done at the start of his Marlins career is hit.

With a .388 average on the season, Arraez is getting on base in front of the power bats at a high clip, jump-starting the offense every time he is at the plate.

One of those power bats is Soler's. The Cuban slugger is off to one of the best starts of his career. Slashing .260/.366/.553 with 20 home runs, he is looking like the hitter who belted 48 long balls for the Kansas City Royals in 2019.

Jorge Soler's 20th HR of the season

(via @Marlins)pic.twitter.com/9ka44Axnlj
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 15, 2023

With one of Miami's bright young stars, Jazz Chisholm, battling a turf toe issue that has sidelined him since May 13, the Marlins are also hopeful to be adding his dynamic ability back into the lineup in the coming weeks.

A team not known for its dramatic flair has had many highlights during the young 2023 season.

JESUS SAVES. pic.twitter.com/YeATwRvKaX
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) June 15, 2023

With only three postseason appearances in the organization's 31 seasons – the Marlins won the World Series in 1997 and 2003, with their only other appearance coming at the end of the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign – this current version of the team is looking to establish a winning tradition in 2023, one which they can build on season after season.

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