Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas deserves Gold Glove consideration

MIAMI — Regardless of their place in the standings, the Miami Marlins have plenty to play for in the final weeks of the season.

The Marlins open a six-game road trip at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night 14-games under .500, and 23½ games behind the New York Mets in the National League East.

They’re 12½ games off the pace for the final wild-card spot.

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Not only is the organization evaluating who to build around, several players are in the running for individual achievements. The Palm Beach Post addresses some of these players in our weekly five takeaways.

Miguel Rojas is deserving of Gold Glove consideration

At 33, Miguel Rojas doesn’t know how much longer he will be an everyday shortstop. Even if Rojas is slowing down a bit, the veteran still has been one of the National Leagues’ top defensive shortstops.

So much so that he should receive strong consideration as a N.L. Gold Glove finalist. Not saying Rojas is the frontrunner to win the award, but he’s worthy of being among the top three finalists at his position.

“I take a lot of pride in my defense, and playing every day,” Rojas told The Palm Beach Post. “Even though I’m 33-years-old. Playing a premium position like shortstop and being at the top with a couple of guys that I know are having really good years, I’m pretty aware of what the situation is with those guys. To be in the top with them is a privilege.”

Dansby Swanson (Atlanta Braves), Nico Horner (Chicago Cubs), Ha-seong Kim (San Diego Padres), Francisco Lindor (New York Mets) and Willy Adames (Milwaukee Brewers) also are deserving. Horner leads all N.L. shortstops in defensive runs saved with 12, and Rojas is second with nine. In UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating), Kim is first at 5.4, and Rojas is second (2.9), among qualified shortstops.

The managers and coaches, along with a percentage of advantaged metrics, decide the Gold Glove winners.

“With the new generations of defensive metrics, to be in the top, I feel like is a good honor,” Rojas said.

Sandy Alcantara is the Cy Young frontrunner, but no lock

No Marlins’ pitcher has won the Cy Young Award. Sandy Alcantara is marching toward being the first.

But still he has work to do. Alcantara (11-5) made another statement on Monday, shutting down the high-powered San Diego Padres. The All-Star threw seven shutout innings, striking out seven in a 3-0 victory.

In three August starts, the right-hander has a 1.52 ERA. The 26-year-old paces the N.L. in ERA (1.92), and he’s first in the Majors in innings pitched (173), as well as complete games (three).

Still, Alcantara has to finish strongly, because Dodgers’ right-hander Tony Gonsolin (15-1, 2.12 ERA) is in the race.

Guess who leads MLB in stolen bases? Jon Berti!

Missing almost a month didn’t bump Jon Berti off his perch atop the stolen bases leaderboard. That’s because Berti built such a sizeable lead that he wasn’t caught.

From July 15 to Aug. 12, the super utility standout was on the injured list with a left groin strain. Berti has 30 steals, and holds a lead over Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jorge Mateo (27). Cedric Mullins II of the Orioles and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves are tied with 25.

In an era that prioritizes power, stealing bases has become a lost art. Not to Berti, who is a throwback player in many ways.

Berti does all the little things well, playing multiple positions, while offering occasional power. What the 32-year-old is doing is impressive, because he’s reached 30 stolen bases, while playing in just 64 games.  Mateo, for example, has played in 110 games.

Dee Strange-Gordon, with 60 steals in 2017, is the last Marlins’ player to pace the Majors in steals.

JJ Bleday offers quality approach, power threat

The results haven’t always been there, but the quality approach has been. The small sampling of rookie JJ Bleday has shown the 24-year-old has a chance to be a productive everyday big leaguer.

In 25 games, the left-handed hitting outfielder has shown a knack for delivering the extra-base hit. Along with three home runs, he has five doubles and a triple. Bleday also is hitting .200, and his OPS is .687.

“What I see, is a guy with a good idea of how to handle an at-bat,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He kind of has an idea of what they’re trying to do to him. He has an idea of what he wants to do. So, he’s ahead of the game from that standpoint.”

At Triple-A Jacksonville, Bleday hit 20 home runs, while hitting .228, and his OPS was .835. The former Vanderbilt star can impact games with one swing.

Yet, he has to make more contact. He has a 28.9 percent strikeout rate.

“He’s got a good eye, which leads to him getting better pitches to hit,” Mattingly said. “It gives him a better chance to be more productive in general.”

Catching in tandem with Jacob Stallings and Nick Fortes

Their roles may eventually reverse, but for now, the Marlins are getting offensive production from both their catchers. Jacob Stallings and Nick Fortes have had their moments in recent weeks.

Stallings, a Gold Glove-winner with the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, overall has had a down season. Fortes, 25, is making a push to get most of the playing time, with Stallings moving into a reserve role.

For now, both are contributing. Fortes had two home runs against the Padres in Tuesday’s win. A fourth-round pick in 2018 from Ole Miss, Fortes is hitting .254 with a .328 on-base percentage and a .458 slugging percentage. He has six home runs and 17 RBI.

Fortes’ offensive upside is what projects him to become a regular. Before the All-Star Break, Stallings was hitting .184. Since the break, his average is .356, raising his season batting average to .223.

Joe Frisaro covered the Marlins from 2002 to 2020 for mlb.com. He is the founder of ManOn2nd Baseball. Follow him @ManOn2nd and his podcast on the Five Reasons Sports YouTube Channel.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas deserves Gold Glove consideration