Marlins Don't Have Innings Limit For Sandy Alcantara
Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said that "no innings limit is set on Sandy Alcantara." There have been various reports floating around this spring that Alcantara will be on an innings limit in 2025 after he missed all of last year due to Tommy John surgery. However, Alcantara said on Saturday night that he wasn't aware of any innings limits, and now the team's new skipper has confirmed that. While fantasy managers may still want to temper expectations for the 29-year-old after the long layoff, the news that he won't be held back at all will surely cause his ADP to rise before your league's draft day. That is especially true after the Dominican hurler has looked electric this spring, allowing no runs in his three starts (5 2/3 innings) while striking out five and walking two. The two-time All-Star has ace potential and won the National League Cy Young in 2022 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 207 K's.
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara said he is not aware of a potential innings limit. Earlier in the week, there were reports that former Cy Young winner will be put on an innings limit during the early part of the 2025 season. While this may still occur, the right-hander has not been informed of this strategy. Alcantara is working his way back from Tommy John and slated to be the team's Opening Day starter. After enjoying a career-season in 2022 where he held a 2.28 ERA with a stellar 0.98 WHIP across 228 2/3 innings of work, he took a slight step back in 2023 as he posted a 4.14 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP. During that season he still showed strong command with a 6.3 percent walk rate and generated groundballs at a strong 51.9 percent rate. Even though he may be limited at times during the season, Alcantara is a high upside starting pitcher when healthy.
ESPN's Jeff Passan write that Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow), who is back after missing all of last year due to Tommy John surgery, will be on an innings limit early this year. The 2022 National League Cy Young winner has looked like his old self in spring training, throwing sinkers at 98-100 mph, mixing in one of the best changeups in the league and also sporting a 90-mph slider. The 29-year-old has been so impressive already that teams are already wondering whether he will be available at this summer's trade deadline, especially since he's under contract through 2026 and has a club option in 2027. There's inherent risk in counting on pitchers coming off TJ surgery in fantasy -- RotoBaller has Alcantara ranked at No. 44 among starting pitchers -- but his draft stock will continue to rise he keeps looking good this spring. In three Grapefruit League starts, Alcantara hasn't allowed a run with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 frames.
Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow) has been named the team's Opening Day starter on March 27 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to MLB.com's Christina De Nicola. Alcantara missed all of the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery that he had in October of 2023, but he's avoided any setbacks and is a full-go for spring training. While RotoBaller has Alcantara ranked as the No. 46 fantasy starting pitcher going into the 2025 season because of the fact that the Marlins will likely limit his innings this year, his draft stock should continue to rise if he avoids any setbacks in Grapefruit League games and looks more like his pre-surgery self. The 29-year-old had excellent command and control when he won the National League Cy Young in 2022, but don't be surprised if he's not as sharp out of the gates in his return in 2025. Although the upside won't be as high early on, an Opening Day matchup against the Bucs is enticing.
Sandy Alcantara Throws Live Batting Practice On Wednesday
Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow) was seen throwing live batting practice in camp on Wednesday. It was Alcantara's first live BP session of spring training as he finishes the final steps of his recovery from Tommy John surgery that he had in early October of 2023. The 29-year-old missed all of the 2024 campaign as a result, but he's making good progress already this spring and should be able to eventually pitch in Grapefruit League games. However, this is a reminder that the Marlins will be extremely cautious with the former National League Cy Young winner. But barring a setback in spring training, Alcantara has a good shot to be ready for Opening Day in late March. There is the allure of Alcantara returning to his pre-surgery ace form, but fantasy managers may want to temper expectations. RotoBaller has him listed as the No. 46 fantasy starting pitcher in 2025.
Sandy Alcantara Likely To Be On Innings Limit Early On
Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow) told the media that he will let the team handle his innings in the first two months of the 2025 season. But after that, Alcantara said, "I think they gotta let me compete." Alcantara did not pitch at all in 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, so the expectation all along is that he'd be limited from a workload perspective early on this year as Miami eased him back into the starting rotation. It's unclear exactly what the Marlins' plan for Alcantara is, but the good news for fantasy managers is that the 29-year-old is expected to be ready for Opening Day at the end of March. The two-time All-Star won the National League Cy Young in 2022, so we already know the kind of upside he possesses, but fantasy managers should temper expectations in his first season back. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 46 fantasy starting pitcher in 2025.
Sandy Alcantara Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day
The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson writes that Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow), who is returning from Tommy John surgery, is ready to pitch on Opening Day on March 27 against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Alcantara, a former National League Cy Young winner, had Tommy John surgery in October of 2023 and missed all of the 2024 season. However, he began facing live hitters last September and isn't expected to have any restrictions during spring training. Alcantara has already shown that he can be a fantasy ace, but his long layoff should have fantasy managers wondering if he can immediately return to that high-end form in 2025. Pitchers typically struggle with control and command in their return from TJ surgery, and Alcantara relied heavily on his command and control before his injury. He'll be a risk/reward fantasy pitcher this year, with RotoBaller ranking him as the No. 46 starting pitcher.
Sandy Alcantara Will Not Be Traded Before Opening Day
According to Craig Mish of the Miami Herald, Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (elbow) will not be traded before Opening Day. Reports earlier this week suggest the former Cy Young winner could be on the trade block, but Mish dismisses any of these claims. The 2022 Cy Young winner was sidelined for the entire 2024 campaign due to Tommy John surgery. However, he has been progressing very well and should be a full go for spring training. During the 2023 season, he took a step back as he posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 184 2/3 innings of work. This was a sharp decline from the excellent 2.18 ERA and the 0.98 WHIP he held across a hefty 228 2/3 innings of work in 2022. The right-hander will operate as the ace of the rotation and could eventually find himself on the trade block if the Marlins fall out of the playoff picture later in the season.
Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow) faced live hitters in a live batting practice session at LoanDepot Park on Tuesday, and according to a source, he was pumping 99 mph on his fastball. It's a notable development, as it represents the first time that Alcantara has faced live hitters since undergoing Tommy John surgery early last October. The 29-year-old continues to progress from elbow reconstruction and will spend all offseason getting up to speed that he can be ready to rock for the start of the 2025 campaign next spring. The Dominican hurler won the National League Cy Young award in 2022 before regressing to a 4.14 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 28 starts last year before having TJ surgery in October. As long as Alcantara doesn't have any setbacks in the offseason or in spring training next year, he'll likely be a sought-after fantasy selection as a high-end bounce-back candidate in fantasy.
Sandy Alcantara To Throw Another Bullpen On Wednesday
Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow) is set to throw another bullpen session on Wednesday after getting through a 40-pitch up-and-down bullpen session last Saturday. Alcantara threw his first bullpen on July 24 that consisted of 20 pitches. He initially felt discomfort in his right arm on his 94th and final pitch on Sept. 3 of last year and was diagnosed with a right-forearm flexor strain. An MRI exam later showed a right UCL sprain that required Tommy John surgery on Oct. 6. The 28-year-old is making slow and steady progress as he looks to be fully healthy and ready to go for the start of spring training and the regular season in 2025. Alcantara has already shown the ability to be a fantasy ace after winning the 2022 National League Cy Young in his sixth year in the league. However, fantasy managers will be hesitant to draft him as an ace next spring.
Sandy Alcantara
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Marlins
