Blue Wahoos Top Pick Max Meyer Eager For Pro Debut In Opener 

His eagerness showed as Max Meyer briskly walked down the dugout ramp, becoming the first player on the field Sunday for the team’s lone preseason workout at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

An appropriate entrance for a much-acclaimed pitcher getting ready for a unique spotlight.

“I can’t wait for it,” said Meyer, a few minutes earlier.

Meyer, 22, a 6-foot, righthander and third-overall pick in the 2020 Major League draft, following college fame at the University of Minnesota, is bypassing the preliminary courses and going straight to advanced placement.

He was named Sunday as the Blue Wahoos opening day starter, set for his professional debut at the Double-A level as Pensacola begins its new era Tuesday night as Miami Marlins affiliate in a season-opening, road series against the Mississippi Braves in Pearl, Miss.

“I spent a lot of time (past month) at the (Marlins alternative training site in Jacksonville) and I thought there was a good chance I could jump right in there,” said Meyer, who grew up in Woodbury, Minn, a suburb of Minneapolis, and rose into becoming one of baseball’s top prospects.

“(Marlins) told me and I was pretty pumped about it and they told me I was going to get the opening day start, too. So I’m fired up for it. My family is. My friends are. And I can’t wait to get out there.”

Meyer will pitch in his first game that counts in 424 days.

The gap began March 6, 2020 when he worked eight innings for Minnesota against Utah before the sports world shut down from coronavirus pandemic.

Since then, Meyer was anointed as early first-round pick, received a $6.7 million signing bonus from the Marlins, along with waves of expectations. Meyer said he’s avoided the social media buzz and hyperbole on his future.

“The only time someone will bring it up to me is probably my buddies giving me a hard time about it,” he said. “That’s about it. I tried to stay away from that stuff.”

Along with Blue Wahoos outfielder JJ Bleday, the tandem are the Marlins’ first round picks from the past two years, which is reminiscent of the Blue Wahoos’ 2019 team as a Minnesota Twins affiliate.

That year, it was infielder Royce Lewis and outfielders Trevor Larnach and Alex Kirilloff all together in the second half of the season as past first-rounders.

The Marlins saw enough qualities in Meyer, whose fastball hits 100 mph and is accompanied by a wicked slider and well-honed changeup, to decide putting him on a fast-track. He impressed in workouts and scrimmage games late summer 2020 and into the fall.

Though he did not pitch in a Grapefruit League during the 2021 spring training, the Marlins were further convinced of his steady progress. In making his pro debut Tuesday, the plan is for Meyer to throw 75 pitches or five innings, whichever happens first.

“He’s a pretty special one,” said Blue Wahoos pitching coach Tim Norton, who worked with Meyer the entire spring. “And he’s been pitching against some guys at high level at the ATS (alternative training site) and big-league spring training.

“I know he’s excited. I don’t want to take the reins from him. He should be fired up. He’s probably going to get after it like he always does. I might need to settle him down, but I think he’s in a pretty good spot and he’s ready to compete.

“I’m going to let him go out there and get after it.”

Meyer will be going against an M-Braves lineup which features seven of the Atlanta Braves’ top 30 prospects including both first-round draft picks from 2019 with catcher Shea Langeliers and shortstop Braden Shewmake.

"I can't really describe it, but I can't wait for it," Meyer said. "I know every time I went out for college, I feel like I had a little nerves in me, a little butterflies before every start.

“I feel like you need that, too, and I can't wait to feel that again and pitch against some really good hitters. I'm just super excited, and for my family to be here to watch me. It pumps me up a little bit more."

Meyer was a part of a workout Sunday at Blue Wahoos Stadium which included a five-inning scrimmage. It was the first the players had been together on the same field.

On the pitching staff, Norton said he was meeting seven pitchers for the first time face-to-face. Such has been the circumstances as minor league baseball resumes after its 2020 shutdown.

“There will be some fans there, it will be a real game setting,” Meyer said. “The last time I feel like I pitched in a real game was back into college I can’t wait for it.”

His parents will fly in from Minnesota. Family and friends will watch on the Internet. Miami Marlins fans and team personnel will be among the interested observers.

"We will [have a] limited look with him," said Blue Wahoos manager Kevin Randel said. "It's his first year, and it's going to be his first professional outing underneath the lights. And all the rumors are true.

“This guy's pretty good. Big arm, excellent slider, controls the game really well. It's going to be fun to watch him pitch his first professional outing."

Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and current senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos/Studer55. He can be reached at [email protected]

WANT TO LISTEN/WATCH?

WHAT: Blue Wahoos Season-Opener

WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Mississippi Braves

WHEN: 6:35 p.m.

WHERE: Trustmark Park, Pearl, Miss.

ON RADIO: ESPN Pensacola (99.1 FM, 1330 AM), with Chris Garagiola on play-by-play.

ON WEB: MILBTV.com (Subscription required).

HOME OPENER: May 11 vs. Birmingham Barons.