TODAY: The Marlins outrighted Villalobos to Triple-A after he cleared waivers, as per MLB.com’s official transactions page. It isn’t yet known if Villalobos will accept the assignment to opt into free agency.
MAY 27: The Marlins announced that infielder Xavier Edwards has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville. To open up a spot for him on the 40-man roster, right-hander Eli Villalobos has been designated for assignment.
Edwards, 24, battled a foot infection during Spring Training and began the season on the injured list. He has been playing in rehab games for over a week now and is healthy enough to be activated, though he only played seven games on his rehab so the club will keep him on optional assignment for regular playing time in Jacksonville. Though he won’t be joining the active roster, the Fish needed to make a corresponding 40-man move since Edwards was on the 60-day injured list, which will nudge Villalobos off his spot.
The right-handed Villalobos is about a month away from his 27th birthday. The Marlins claimed him off waivers from the Pirates last June but then passed him through waivers about a week later. He got his 40-man roster spot back earlier this month and was able to make his major league debut. He made three appearances for the Marlins, allowing one earned run in 4 1/3 innings, before being optioned back to Jacksonville about two weeks ago.
In addition to that small sample of big league action, Villalobos has also thrown 18 innings over 13 Triple-A appearances this year with a 4.50 earned run average. He has struck out 26.5% of batters faced at that level and kept 44.7% of batted balls on the ground, but he’s also walked 13.3% of hitters that have stepped to the plate.
That has generally been the recipe for Villalobos. Dating back to the start of 2021, he has tossed 196 innings in the minors with a 3.72 ERA. His 29.4% strikeout rate in that stretch is quite strong but he’s also given free passes at a 12.2% rate.
The Marlins will have a week to trade Villalobos or pass him through waivers. He can still be optioned for the rest of this year and one additional season, which could perhaps give him appeal for a club that is intrigued by the strikeouts and willing to wait to see if the control improves. If Villalobos were to pass through waivers unclaimed, he would have the right to elect free agency by virtue of his previous outright.
Huizinga backed off and unloaded his ’97ws champs when they still couldn’t draw fans in to watch. That team was mostly bought and paid for FA, not brought up talent and yeah.. I’ve always had a liking for the fish since they became a new franchise, less than handful of years before the title.
Alex fernandez was the only SP on that team (worth 2c) who Miami brought up. Pen was more of the same. Lineup included (best players) Sheffield, bobby bonilla, moises Alou.
best “home” talent wasn’t from the milb system they bad, but still wildly popular ‘the niner”.
that ’97 team was an NL version of george steinbrenner, buying every FA out there, then breaking it down less than a yr later in selloffs.
One of the most disapointing things was huizinga selling off a WS winner, into a team in ’98 barely winning 50g.
Always been hard to watch/root for this team because of lousy ownership and several awful gm’s along the way. That castoff title in ’97 has never been anything to brag about.
lol you literally just danced around the fact that the best pitcher in the Marlins rotation during that 97 WS run was Livan Hernandez, a homegrown player. As was Tony Saunders. Alex Hernandez didn’t even play in the playoffs. Most of their bullpen were players they either signed or acquired well before the player debuted in the majors. Even Nenn they acquired when he was an unknown.
They “bought their World Series” as much as any team in the modern era has bought theirs. Their 2003 WS team was a thing of beauty. I like the Marlins. I hate their ownerships and front offices. But I like the team and the players.
Like the fish as well, moreso than local TB Rays franchise, partly because thought huizinga was going to attempt turning them into long term winners. Only fans never saw that. Odd (2) titles, spread out 6y and totally different players.
Hernandez and saunders did both have nice post season runs, but were mostly mia for the regular season. kevin brown and alex fernandez drove that pitching thru 162g, not the to be traded and 1yr back end starter/rest of career quad A player tony saunders.
This also wasn’t some team, like ’07 rockies which went on a close to 2m streak of beating everyone. They were solid throughout that magical ’97y and guys, like fernandez and brown reason they make the post season.
Hutton and rich walz 9when he was there) used to tell things straight. Now, with hutton back after 5y layoff has become more of a cheerleader than honest on the air. disapointed in him, tho will agree when the jeter run team and ownership took over? it was a dark stain on that franchise. no wonder the nyy never gave him a job inside their front office.. it was way beyond him.
Id like to hear harry carry pronounce Villalobos on air
Fan base doesn’t show up to games unless the weather is fair
Funny stuff citazen. how many teams are ate up with fair weather fans? Miami never had much hope of drawing, especially (then) playing in joe robbie aka awful football stadium.
Tampa same way, only no matter win/lose they draw 10-15k max.
Cubs, giants, Yankees Red Sox draw well no Matter what record. Miami can’t even give tickets away in the new stadium.
If Eli Villalobos is related to Heitor Villa-Lobos, maybe he can make a living playing classical guitar once his MLB career is over.
And maybe if he listens enough to Bachianas Brazileiras and finds inner vibrational roots, Eli can improve his control and extend his MLB tenure.
(I do not expect anyone to understand my comment. Just showing gratitude to my Music History mentors and to the resonances of beisbol.)
One of these teams should move to Nashville!!
Eli’s going, hide your heart girl