The Miami Marlins kicked off their Grapefruit League schedule with a thrilling 7-6 comeback victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The game showcased an early test for the Marlins’ pitching depth, with right-hander Valente Bellozo making an impressive case for a rotation spot.
Bellozo, who joined the Marlins’ organization during the 2024 season and quickly made an impact, started the game with a perfect first inning. The 25-year-old had never pitched above Double-A before last year but proved to be a reliable arm, allowing three or fewer earned runs in 10 of his 13 starts. He finished the 2024 season strong, pitching into the sixth inning in all five of his September outings.
Despite averaging just 86.6 mph on his fastball—the fourth-slowest among Major Leaguers with at least 500 fastballs thrown—Bellozo’s effectiveness stemmed from generating weak contact. His fastball run value ranked in the 82nd percentile, and his ability to induce popups and shallow fly balls set him apart. The Marlins, however, encouraged him to work on increasing his velocity in the offseason through strength training and improved nutrition.
The early results were evident in his 16-pitch outing against the Cardinals. Bellozo struck out Brendan Donovan looking with a cutter on the outside corner before fanning Willson Contreras on a 92.5 mph fastball up and away—one of the hardest pitches he has thrown in a Marlins uniform.
With Miami’s fifth rotation spot still up for grabs, Bellozo’s performance put him firmly in the mix alongside Max Meyer and prospect Adam Mazur, who followed him with a scoreless second inning.
The Cardinals struck first in the sixth inning, breaking a scoreless deadlock. Iván Herrera’s sacrifice fly put St. Louis up 1-0 before Matt Koperniak’s RBI single made it 2-0. The Cardinals took advantage of Miami’s pitching struggles, adding runs on consecutive walks to Bryan Torres and Nathan Church. A two-run single by Jose Barrero extended the lead to 6-0.
Miami answered in the seventh inning, finally getting on the board with a Colby Shade RBI single. Heriberto Hernandez then delivered a bases-clearing double, cutting the deficit to 6-4.
The Marlins tied the game in the eighth when Jack Winkler doubled in a run, but Troy Johnston was thrown out at home on the same play. Moments later, Joe Mack’s RBI single completed the comeback, giving Miami a 7-6 lead.
The Marlins’ late-game rally highlighted the depth of their young hitters, while Bellozo’s strong outing added intrigue to the team’s rotation battle. With several weeks of spring training ahead, Miami will continue evaluating its pitching staff, but Bellozo’s performance in the opener was a promising sign for his chances in 2025.
