Sandy Alcantara Returns, Hits 99 mph in Spring Start

Sandy Alcantara made his return to the mound for the Miami Marlins after nearly two years, showcasing his powerful pitching by reaching 99.3 mph during a spring training game against the New York Mets. Alcantara, who underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2023, pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit while throwing 17 pitches. His performance was a positive sign for the Marlins, who have struggled in recent seasons and aim to bounce back with Alcantara leading the rotation. The two-time All-Star and 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner hopes to regain his form from that award-winning season, where he posted a 2.28 ERA. The Marlins have signaled they might consider trading Alcantara if they continue to struggle, despite his importance to the organization. He is set to make his franchise-record fifth Opening Day start on March 27 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.