SEE IT: Marlins’ Max Meyer Dominates Durham

DURHAM, N.C. — In his first start of the season, which came on Triple-A Opening Day, Marlins righthander Max Meyer was very good. The 2020 first-rounder struck out five and allowed two runs over four innings. 

A start later, this time on the road against Durham, he was sublime. For five perfect innings, Meyer did just about anything he wanted. His fastball sizzled in the mid 90s. His slider consistently was the same devastating version he showed at Minnesota, where the pitch earned the nod as the best overall breaking ball in the class. 

Perhaps the biggest revelation, however, was his changeup. The pitch, which showed potential in college but was inconsistent in 2021, was outstanding against Durham. The high-80s offering consistently darted away from lefthanders, often leaving them flailing at air. 

Meyer needed just 53 pitches to complete five innings. In that time he got 12 swings and misses and allowed just one ball—a warning-track fly from Rene Pinto—to leave the infield. 

Unfortunately, Meyer’s outing was cut short by what looked like a minor leg injury that cropped up while he was warming up for the sixth inning. Assuming the injury is as innocuous as it looked, Meyer’s early outings this season make it easy to believe he could contribute in Miami sometime this season. 

Below, you can watch videos of his full outing, all 12 swings and misses, and slow-motion captures of his fastball, changeup and slider. (Trigger warning for the slow-motion videos because of the strobe-effect on the lightboards in the background.)

SLOW-MOTION

Fastball

Slider 

Changeup

Swings And Misses

Full Outing