Marlins first-round pick visits loanDepot park. Plus updates on Johnny Cueto, injuries

Noble Meyer stepped onto the field at loanDepot park on Friday and took in the sight. It served as the Miami Marlins first-round pick’s formal introduction to the organization after signing for $4.5 million as the No. 10 overall selection in the 2023 MLB Draft.

If Meyer has his way, the 18-year-old right-handed pitcher will be back here sooner than later.

“Hopefully,” Meyer said, “you’ll be seeing me soon.”

Meyer has the raw stuff to get to the big leagues. How quickly it happens depends on his work that starts Saturday when he reports to the Marlins’ minor-league complex at Jupiter’s Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Meyer, rated as the top high school pitcher prospect this draft cycle out of Portland Jesuit High, stands 6-5 and has a fastball that touched 97-98 mph to go along with a mid-80s slider, changeup and curveball. Meyer said his slider is his best pitch and that improving his fastball command is his top priority for his first season of professional baseball.

His immediate schedule includes an orientation in Jupiter on Saturday before starting mound work on Sunday.

“It’s a little scary, I’ll admit that,” Meyer said of moving cross-country alone from Oregon to South Florida, “but I’m so excited. It’s kind of drowned out from the thought of getting to play professional baseball.”

Noble Meyer’s quest to be ‘best version’ of himself continues as Marlins’ first-round pick

During his time at loanDepot park, Meyer took pictures with his parents, girlfriend, agent, and Marlins area scout Scott Fairbanks, whose responsibility includes the Pacific Northwest and northern California. He also met Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, who actually knew of Meyer long before the draft process.

“One of my buddies lived next door to me in Ladera Ranch [California] and moved out to Oregon,” Schumaker explained. “He talked about this kid for a few years and said he’s going to be a No.1. pick one day. I get that a lot from parents and that usually never happens. And then this comes around the last couple months and he’s like ‘Dude, I think he’s a top-10 pick.’ I started researching the draft a little bit and then saw who he was and obviously we really liked him. Didn’t think he’d fall to us, which was obviously great, and here he is today. Kind of a weird story, but kind of a cool story as well.”

Johnny Cueto back in the rotation

Right-handed pitcher Johnny Cueto’s stint in the bullpen lasted one relief appearance.

Schumaker said pregame Friday that Cueto will be back in the starting rotation on Saturday, bringing an end to his brief stint as a reliever.

Cueto pitched three shutout innings in the Marlins’ 5-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. He threw 50 pitches in that outing, with his four-seam fastball averaging 93 mph and topping out at 93.7 mph.

“That was the most encouraging part,” Schumaker said. “We didn’t see 94 in any of the rehab starts. I said this before, sometimes it’s tough to get the blood going in minor-league rehab when you’re [a veteran] in the league and trying to get that adrenaline going. We saw it a little bit more in Baltimore. ... Hopefully he continues that and we get that version of Johnny, which is a really good version.”

Injury updates and roster moves

▪ Left-handed pitcher Andrew Nardi threw a 25-pitch bullpen on Friday that included an up-down to simulate pitching multiple innings. A rehab assignment is his likely next step

▪ Center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. is doing plyometric work but not hitting yet as he recovers from a left oblique strain

▪ Right-handed pitcher Sixto Sanchez threw a 19-pitch bullpen on Friday.

▪ The Marlins outrighted outfielder Jerar Encarnacion off the 40-man roster, which now has an open spot. Encarnacion remains in the organization with Triple A Jacksonville.

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