Don Mattingly, Miami Marlins manager, says Jorge Soler has added power at the plate.
Mattingly stated, “We’ve discussed about the length of your lineup getting better.” “He adds another guy to that lineup that is dangerous.”
On Tuesday, the Marlins officially announced Soler’s signing to a $36 million contract for three years. This was just before the Grapefruit League match against St. Louis. Miami designated Isan Diaz, second baseman, for assignment in order to make Soler available on their 40-man roster. Diaz was the Marlins’ last remaining player in the 2018 Christian Yelich trade.
Soler’s mother, father, husband, and children all live in Miami. Soler, a Cuban defector, will now be playing in Miami, a city known for its Cuban culture.
Soler, speaking through a translator, stated that signing with the Marlins was his top choice. My family was thrilled that I would be joining the Marlins. It’s like playing at home.
Miami can place a World Series MVP in the middle if they have no other options. Only two other teams scored fewer homers than Miami’s 158 last season.
Bruce Sherman, Marlins owner, stated that he couldn’t be happier for Donnie and the entire team to have a player of such caliber.
Miami’s 2021 low home run total can partly be attributed the pitcher’s park. Mattingly doesn’t think Soler’s power will be affected by the large park. While he was playing in Kansas City, another pitcher’s park, he led the American League in home runs with 48 in 2019.
Mattingly stated, “Guys with this kind of power don’t care about the ballpark.”
In the middle of last season, Soler was traded by the Royals to Atlanta, Miami’s division competitor. In only 55 games, he smashed 14 of the 27 homers last season with the Braves.
Soler hit three more homers in World Series to lead the Braves, who won their first title since 1995. He also earned series MVP honors.
Mattingly wasn’t happy to see Soler pound National League pitching at Atlanta.
Mattingly stated, “But now he is on our side so it’s much more fun.” “I look forward to seeing him in the lineup each day.”
Soler was primarily a right-handed hitter throughout his career. However, he will now play left field for the Marlins. In 2016, he played 53 games in left field for the Cubs, and seven more the next season. But he hasn’t been there since.
Mattingly is focusing on getting Mattingly enough at-bats in the last two weeks before Miami’s opening game at San Francisco on April 8.
Mattingly stated, “The most important thing is going to being trying to find his timing.”
Miami rescheduled Soler’s press conference for 45 minutes to allow Soler to practice batting against Edward Cabrera at a minor league baseball field. Soler’s first swing sent an errand back up the middle.
Soler will not be playing in his first Grapefruit league game for at least a few more days. Soler could be allowed to play in minor league games in the backfield, where there are less strict rules that allow him to pitch in as many innings as possible.
Soler is a career.246 hitter who has 121 home runs as well as 343 RBIs in eight seasons.
