Ejection just the latest frustration for Marlins’ Jean Segura. ‘I need to figure it out’

Jean Segura is trying not to let his frustrations boil over. The 12-year MLB veteran signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Marlins this offseason to bolster a lineup that needed quality hitters.

He hasn’t produced, and he knows it.

It reached a tipping point in the sixth inning of the Marlins’ 5-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Monday. Segura was ejected after slamming his helmet and argued with home plate umpire Mark Ripperger after a called third strike on a Zac Gallen four-seam fastball that appeared to be low and inside.

It was Segura’s third strikeout of the game, his first time striking out three times in a game this season and first overall since Sept. 23, 2021.

“It really sucks,” Segura said of his struggles. “This is one of the worst feelings I have felt in my career, to know I haven’t been able to produce and to help the team, to be the kind of player I have always been at the Major League level. I just can’t explain how terrible I feel and how bad it’s been.”

Segura, a career .283 hitter with 1,500 hits to his name, enters Tuesday with a .186 batting average and .445 on-base-plus-slugging percentage — the latter of which is the lowest in MLB by nearly 100 points among qualified hitters (Jose Abreu has the second lowest OPS at .540). He has grounded into a MLB-high-tying nine double plays and has just three RBI.

“We’re almost a month and a half into the season,” Segura said. “Hitting .180 stinks, and I’m not here for hitting .180 and not helping this ballclub.”

It’s easy to see why Segura’s results are what they are. Nearly two-thirds of his balls in play (65.2 percent) are groundballs, and he’s chasing pitches out of the zone more than he ever has (42.6 percent this season compared to a career average 33.1 percent)

But what is it that Segura’s doing at the plate that is causing these numbers? The veteran is still trying to figure that out. He’s making adjustments with his swing and trying to keep a free and positive mind, but to this point, nothing has worked.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” Segura said. “Mechanically, mentally, physically — it could be all those three things. We don’t know. I don’t really know what’s going on. I need to figure it out soon because this is the big leagues. You’re not here to go there and not produce and not help the team. You have to figure it out soon. At some point, somebody’s going to come over and take your job.”

Segura’s answer also potentially sets up another point: Should the Marlins have Segura sit for a few days to try to reset mentally? With Joey Wendle back from the injured list, it gives Miami the option to slide Jon Berti over to third base for the time being while Wendle plays shortstop to see if a recharge fixes things.

“He wants to play and try to get out of it,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “Sometimes, guys need a couple days of work, sometimes guys want to keep playing and get through it. There’s obviously been conversation on both sides of it. We talk to each player every day about how they feel.”

Segura’s perspective on it: “I’m employed by the Miami Marlins. My job is to come here and mentally prepare to play every single day, but it’s not in my hands, that decision. ... It’s about what works for me and for the Marlins. I’m always open for everything. Just take your time. Find a way.”