The Miami Marlins have gotten off to a surprisingly strong start this season, taking three of four from the Pittsburgh Pirates to begin the 2025 MLB campaign.
Timely hitting and strong pitching have been the name of the game for the Marlins early on, much like was the case during their most recent trip to the playoffs in 2023.
However, prior to Miami’s final game of the series with the Pirates on Sunday, the Marlins made a rather surprising decision concerning their starting rotation: they optioned Valente Bellozo to the minors.
Bellozo got the start for the Marlins on Saturday, going 4.1 innings and allowing just one run on four hits. He struck out four batters. Last year, he pitched to the tune of a 3.67 ERA over 13 starts, surrendering 69 hits while registering 44 punchouts across 68.2 frames.
The 25-year-old was forced into Miami’s rotation in 2024 due to a rash of injuries up and down the pitching staff, and the same thing has occurred this season with the Marlins dealing with injuries to numerous starters at the outset of the campaign.
While Bellozo’s peripherals weren’t great last year (.254 BABIP, 5.73 FIP, 1.311 WHIP), his results were effective enough where you would have figured he would get more of a chance with the Fish this time around. However, Miami has chosen to demote him in favor of Xzavion Curry.
Curry actually pitched out of the bullpen on Sunday, throwing 1.1 scoreless frames to help the Marlins secure a 3-2 victory. He made nine appearances for Miami in 2024, recording a 3.00 ERA while permitting just nine hits through 18 innings.
Miami will be without Braxton Garrett for the entire season and are also dealing with injuries to Eury Perez, Ryan Weathers and Edward Cabrera. Perez, a 21-year-old who dazzled during his rookie campaign in 2023, is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is expected to return to the mound midseason. He missed all of 2024. At the very least, Sandy Alcantara is back on the bump in South Beach.
Perhaps Bellozo will make a return to the big leagues sometime down the line in 2025.
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