How one part of JJ Bleday’s routine has given him a ‘little more comfort’ early in MLB career
It’s about three hours before first pitch, and JJ Bleday’s eyes are glued to his iPad as he bides his time in the clubhouse.
The Miami Marlins’ rookie outfielder, not even a month into his MLB career, is taking one final look at his opposition. He’s studying a montage of clips, none more than maybe five seconds long, of the opposing pitchers he’s about to face. He’s trying to find any tendency he can exploit, any nuance that can be used to his advantage early in his big-league career.
“I just like being prepared,” said the 24-year-old Bleday, who noted he put an increased emphasis on going over video this season. “It might not always help you, but I feel like if it’s some type of small edge that can put you over the top of the other team, you might as well take advantage. ... It’s good to have maybe a little more comfort going into the at-bat.”
The results haven’t always been there, but Bleday’s preparation has served as a good foundation.
Through his first 25 games since making his MLB debut on July 23, Bleday is hitting .200 with a .299 on-base percentage and .388 slugging mark. He has swatted three home runs and nine of his 17 hits overall have gone for extra bases. Bleday has also drawn 12 walks through his first 97 plate appearances and he has safely reached base in 13 of last 15 games and 20 of 25 games overall.
Diving a bit deeper, Bleday’s 42.1 percent hard-hit rate (the percentage of balls in play with an exit velocity of at least 95 mph) is well above the league average of 35.8 percent.
Bleday has also shown a knack for making in-game adjustments and being patient at the plate. Five of his nine extra-base hits have come in his second plate appearance against a starting pitcher. Eleven of his 12 walks have come either the third time he faces a starting pitcher in a game or when facing a reliever.
“I’m still learning,” Bleday said. “The main thing’s just been kind of getting on time, swinging at a good pitch and trying not to miss it. That’s what you get at this level. Pump that zone. You can’t make mistakes and you’ve gotta learn from it if you do.”
Thirty for Berti
Utility player Jon Berti stole his 30th base of the season on Tuesday, becoming just the 12th player in Marlins franchise history to reach that mark in a season. The last to do so was Dee Strange-Gordon in 2017, when he led MLB with 60 stolen bases.
Berti’s 30 steals lead MLB entering play on Thursday despite the fact that Berti has only played in 64 games this season. The Baltimore Orioles’ Jorge Mateo is second with 27 stolen bases in 109 games. The Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. (25 stolen bases in 83 games) and Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins (25 in 114 games) are the only other players with at least 25 stolen bases this season.
Up next
The Marlins begin a six-game West Coast road trip on Friday with a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers followed by three games with the Oakland Athletics.
The Marlins have Jesus Luzardo (3-5, 3.72 ERA) scheduled to pitch on Friday, followed by Braxton Garrett (2-6, 3.67) on Saturday and Sandy Alcantara (11-5, 1.92) on Sunday. The Dodgers have Tyler Anderson (13-2, 2.81) listed as their starter for Friday and Julio Urias (13-6, 2.40) slated for Sunday. Their starter for Saturday has not yet been announced.
