Marlins’ Max Meyer talks ‘long process’ of returning to mound, confidence in slider

Since July 2022, All Max Meyer could do was bide his time before getting his next opportunity. That’s the nature of undergoing Tommy John surgery as a pitcher.

Meyer’s first taste of the big leagues ended after just two starts and six innings when he tore the UCL in his right elbow, and the arduous undertaking to get back to the mound began for the Miami Marlins’ 2020 first-round pick.

For 19 months, he rehabbed, built up his arm strength and waited.

“It’s been a long process,” Meyer said.

The latest step in that long process came Thursday, when Meyer pitched a pair of scoreless innings in a spring training game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

Meyer gave up a leadoff double in the fifth inning to Anthony Volpe, the first batter he faced, before retiring the his six batters and logging two strikeouts. He threw 31 pitches, 20 of which landed for strikes.

Both strikeouts came on Meyer’s slider, arguably his best offering. Yankees hitters whiffed three times on seven swings against the pitch, which averaged 89 mph and maxed out at 90.7 mph.

“It’s always going to be there,” Meyer said about his confidence in his slider. “I never lost it.”

Some more talking points from Meyer following his outing on Thursday, as said to reporters on site in Tampa:

▪ The pros and cons of his performance: “I thought I filled [the strike zone] up well, throwing strikes with multiple pitches. There were a couple bad misses, but I just like getting out there and throwing strikes.”

▪ On how he controlled his emotions of returning to the mound for the first time in nearly two years: “I just realized what it is. It’s a spring training game. I’m trying to pitch for [a full season], so I just wanted to compete and I think I controlled my emotions pretty well.”

▪ On the boxes he’s trying to check off during spring training: “I just want to bounce back when I should. Get on that five-day, six-day [plan], whatever it is. I want to throw strikes, and I want to be healthy.”

▪ On if any players have taken him under their wing: “There’s a lot of guys like [Jesus] Luzardo, Braxton [Garrett]. Just honestly everybody. It’s a fun team to be around. We’re always playing cards, joking around, it’s fun.”

▪ Who he leaned on during the rehab process: “It was tough. Just all the trainers and all the family. It’s a very long process. It’s very hard. I’m just finally glad it’s over. and honestly don’t really want to talk about it too much more.”