11 Hammerheads alum receive invite to Marlins' Spring Training Camp

On Tuesday morning, it was announced that 11 former Jupiter Hammerheads, including nine from the 2019 roster, were invited to Major League Spring Training camp with the Miami Marlins. 
Two years removed from their time in Jupiter, pitcher Dylan Lee and outfielder Brian Miller will both be present among the established players making up the Marlins' Major League roster. 
Lee finished his 2019 campaign on the last ever roster of the then Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes as the Marlins' Triple-A Affiliate shifts to Wichita. The south-paw finished the season with 14 saves between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans.
Miller spent the entire season with Double-A Jacksonville and led the team in hits (119), triples (5), and stolen bases (22). He finished the year hitting .265 with a .326 on-base-percentage in 120 games. 
2019 Hammerhead pitchers Braxton Garrett, Trevor Rogers, Alex Vesia, and Daniel Castano will all return to the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium backfields in Jupiter for Major League Camp in February. 
After 12 appearances out of the Jupiter bullpen, Daniel Castano was promoted to Jacksonville where we flourished both out of the bullpen and starting. With Jupiter, Castano had a 3.82 ERA in 33 innings and a save. Following the promotion, the Orlando, Florida native had 18 appearances (11 starts) with a 7-2 record to go along with a 3.35 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. In 86 innings with the Jumbo Shrimp, Castano allowed just two home runs. 
Florida State League All-Star Trevor Rogers also split his 2019 campaign between Jupiter and Jacksonville following a promotion late in the season. With the Hammerheads, Rogers led the team with 122 strikeouts in just over 110 innings and his 2.53 ERA led all starters with at least 60 innings pitched. In Jacksonville, the cousin of former Marlins outfielder Cody Ross, Rogers made five starts, going 1-2, and struck out 28 batters in 26 innings. 
When Braxton Garrett took the hill for the first time in 2019, it marked his first appearance in 684 days following his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The former first-round pick suffered the injury just four starts into his professional career back in 2017 but rebounded upon his return making it through the entire 2019 season without a trip to the injured-list. In 105 innings pitched, the Alabama, native went 6-6 with a 3.34 ERA while striking out 118 batters. He made one start in Jacksonville in late August throwing another 1 ⅔ innings. 
Alex Vesia swam through the Marlins' organization after beginning the season in Single-A Clinton and making it to Double-A Jacksonville by seasons end. Out of the Clinton bullpen, the 23-year-old struck out 51 batters in 31 ⅔ innings pitching. Despite the competition getting better and the higher levels, Vesia continued his dominance, striking out 24 batters in 18 ⅔ innings in Jupiter and another 25 in 16 ⅓ in Jacksonville. Combined, the 2018 17th round pick struck out 100 batters in 66 ⅔ innings with a 1.76 ERA and 0.95 WHIP.
Catcher B.J. López split his 2019 season between Jupiter and Jacksonville making an appearance in 40 games. The 25-year-old will report to Major League camp for the second straight season. 
Infielder Jose Devers missed a portion of the season due to injury, but still made an impact during his time on the field. With Jupiter, the Samana, DR native hit .325 in 33 games and recorded 41 hits. Devers spent the final three games of the season in Clinton where he hit .455 with two doubles. 
2019 Marlins first-round pick JJ Bleday went straight from winning the College World Series with Vanderbilt to start his career with the Marlins organization in Jupiter. The outfielder hit .257 with three homers and 19 RBI in his first 38 professional games. 
Slugger Jerar Encarnacion who hit 16 home runs between Clinton and Jupiter was also selected as a non-roster invitee. The 22-year-old hit a combined .276 in 135 games with a .253 average and a .331 on-base-percentage.
Víctor Víctor Mesa, who was also a NRI in 2019, spent his first professional season state-side with Jupiter and Jacksonville. In 116 games between the two levels, the outfielder hit .235 and had 18 stolen bases. In centerfield, Mesa did not make a single error in 860 innings adding 11 outfield assists. 
These Hammerheads alum will feel right at home as the Miami Marlins use the same game-field during Spring Training as the Jupiter Hammerheads do for the Florida State League season. 
Miami Marlins Spring Training begins on February 23rd. Tickets are on sale now and are available at Rogerdeanchevroletstadium.com.