Mat Latos had been on the mound earlier this spring, but not on a main field facing big league hitters.
Making his Grapefruit League debut Friday, Latos blanked the Cardinals on two hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts over three innings in the 6-3 win. Latos erased baserunners in the first and second innings with double play grounders.
"It was good to get the adrenaline going," Latos said. "I was good enough to make pitches and get outs when I needed to. The defense was good behind me…I'm happy with the result. I pitched downhill."
Acquired in a December trade with the Reds, Latos is coming off an injury-married 2014. He made just 16 starts due to knee and elbow issues. That may have contributed to his average fastball velocity dipping from 92.5 mph in 2013 to 90.7 mph last season, per PITCHf/x.
One scout in attendance said Latos' fastball sat 89-90 and touched 92 once during the 39-pitch, 27-strike outing. He noted that Latos no longer features an above-average offering, but he's employing what he has accordingly.
"I don't know how hard I was throwing," Latos said. "I'm not worried about it. I felt good. Everything feels good."
Added Redmond: "He threw some strikes and got some early contact…I anticipate him pitching the way he has…He can be huge for us. That's why we went out and traded for him. This guy has pitched in big games, he's won big games. He's won a lot of games. That's the guy we need."
From 2010-'13, Latos totaled a career-best 14 wins three times. As recently as 2010 while with the Padres he logged a 2.92 ERA in 31 starts.
Fernandez inching forward
Rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, Jose Fernandez is continuing to throw off the mound twice per week. His last session was Thursday, when he threw 30 fastballs. Fernandez will throw 35 fastballs in the bullpen Sunday and 40 more on Thursday. Thereafter, he should be cleared to incorporate breaking balls.
Friday, Fernandez passed the time serving as bat boy during a 'B' game against the Cardinals.
"I'm going crazy here," he said. "I have to find some way to do something."
Arms race
Ichiro Suzuki, 41, who already has seen time in right and center field this spring, got the start in left Friday. In the second inning, he fielded a Stephen Piscotty base hit and threw out Mark Reynolds at the plate trying to score from second. That was Ichiro's second outfield assist this spring, both against the Cardinals.
"He's going to have to be able to do that," Redmond said, of moving Ichiro around the outfield. "That's the beauty of Ichiro. He can play all those positions. We talked about ways of getting him in the lineup during the season and that's how it's going to be: Maybe a day off for [Yelich], a day off for Ozuna, a day off for Stanton at some point, maybe. I want to make sure we're comfortable with him playing all those positions."
Said Latos: "Ichiro at 100 years old is still throwing rockets. I want his arm when I'm his age."
First cuts
The Marlins made their first round of roster cuts Friday, reassigning right-hander Brian Ellington and Reid Ryan, catcher Sharif Othman, and infielders Justin Bohn and Viosergy Rosa to minor league camp. They also optioned left-hander Grant Dayton to Triple-A New Orleans. ...
The Marlins opted to have Tom Koehler pitch in a simulated game in Jupiter Saturday rather than face the Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. David Phelps will start in Viera.
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