ESPNReading: 3 min.
Jesus Sanchez puts the Marlins on the board with huge home run
Sanchez hit a three-run homer to make it 3–0 against the Diamondbacks.
Miami Marlins top prospect Yuri Perez will become the youngest pitcher in franchise history on Friday when he makes his major league debut against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Marlins announced Wednesday that they would promote the 20-year-old Perez from Double-A Pensacola to start Friday’s home game. At 20 years and 27 days old, Pérez would become the youngest pitcher for the Marlins, surpassing the late José Fernández (20 years, 253 days), who debuted in 2013.
“Exciting for him, exciting for the organization,” Marlins general manager Skip Shoemaker told reporters Wednesday, according to MLB.com. “Our top prospect has a bright future – a tremendous talent.
“We look forward to seeing him take the mound. It’s going to be a really exciting time for the organization to see him walk into that clubhouse and for us.”
Pérez was informed of his pending promotion by Miami ace Sandy Alcantara, who broke the news to the right-hander in a video shared by the Marlins on their social media accounts.
Marlins general manager Kim Ng told reporters that “there’s a need for him here” with a major league club, citing long-term injuries to starting pitchers Trevor Rogers and Johnny Cueto.
“I also think when you watch him, he’s throwing all his pitches for strikes,” Ng said Wednesday, according to MLB.com. “So those are the things you really make sure he can do before coming here. He’s proven that, so we’re fine with him coming.”
The 6-foot-8 (2.03-meter) Pérez was rated as the Marlins’ top prospect and the No. 6 overall prospect in the majors by ESPN’s Kelly McDaniel earlier this year. A hard thrower whose fastball has reached 100 mph, Perez is 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 31 innings this season in Pensacola.
