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Double Feature: Grasshoppers and Hammerheads

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The Marlins single-A affiliates have truly done a great job this year. Both the low-A and high-A affiliates are in their league’s championship round. The Jupiter Hammerheads won the Florida State league Southern Division title and were champions of the second half in the FSL. Meanwhile, in the South Atlantic League, the Marlins own Greensboro Grasshoppers won the Northern Division title and are a part of the championship round as well.Matt Smith

The Hammerheads have Robert Morey on the mound tonight against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, and affiliate of the Detroit Tigers in the decisive game 5, the game for all the marbles and decides the Florida State League Champion. The series is tied at 2 games apiece.

The Greensboro Grasshoppers are up against the Asheville Tourists, an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies are currently their series is tied as well, at 1 game apiece.

After taking a 3-2 lead in the 8th inning of game 4, the Hammerheads allowed the Flying Tigers to battle back, as Lakeland later won 5-3, to even the series. Marcell Ozuna gave Jupiter an early 1-0 lead with an RBI double as he continued his great year. The Hammerheads shut out the flying Tigers for a game 3 win.

Now lets talk about the Grasshoppers. Greensboro won the South Atlantic League title last season with players such as Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, Noah Perio, JT Realmuto, and Michael Brady who all moved up to Jupiter this year and are looking to give the Hammerheads their first title. This year’s Grasshoppers team includes new prospects such as Austin Barnes, Matt Smith, and newly drafted pitcher Andrew Heaney.
Barnes is a catcher and a second baseman out of Arizona State University, drafted in the 9th round in 2011. Barnes is an excellent hitter who hit .318 this year with 68 RBIs. He also has more walks than strikeouts in his pro career – a truly impressive stat. Knowing the Marlins, they need catching help quick, and Barnes has impressed so far.

Matt Smith in an outfielder/infielder/DH. He crushed 20 homers this year with 74 RBIs this year. A little over a year ago he had Tommy John Surgery. Just a couple nights ago he went 3-3, with 2 RBIs and 2 runs. He homered in his first at bat. The 24-year-old rookie finished just a triple shy of the cycle in the first championship game of his professional career. He’s hitting over .400 in the playoffs. He finished 2nd in the league with his 20 long balls.

Andrew Heaney was drafted 9th overall in the 1st round this past June. He is now in Greensboro averaging over a strikeout per inning. The other day in the Grasshopper’s win he struck out nine and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, but did not factor into the decision.

Another guy to look out for is Nick Wittgren, who has 3 saves in the playoffs so far. The 21 year old 9th round pick in 2012 this past summer was mowing down the Gulf Coast League, averaging over 12 strikeouts per 9 innings with a 1.46 ERA in 17 games. He was promoted to Greensboro where he had a 0.00 ERA in 6 games, averaging almost 20 strikeouts per 9 innings. (He had 13 K’s in 6 innings, small sample size.)

About his recent surge Smith said: “No, there’s no way I would have predicted this. I obviously haven’t played much defense. But at the plate, I’ve been hitting with some power, the RBI totals have been good. I’m just really learning to play baseball at this level, where everything’s so much different than it was in college.” Smith is just 1 year removed from Tommy John Surgery.

Good Luck to both teams as they fight for the championships in their leagues! Go Hammerheads! Go Grasshoppers! Bring home the title!

Anthony Codella is a writer for Marlins Nation. Follow them on Twitter @ACodella130 and @Marlins_Nation.

 

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