Opportunity good as it gets for Isaac Galloway

The ineptitude of the offense prompted the Miami Marlins to call up outfielder Isaac Galloway in order to provide the spark on Tuesday. 

Galloway knocked out a hit in each of his first two games but the Marlins lost both against the Chicago Cubs by a combined score of 10-0 and were swept for the third time this season.

In the minor leagues, Galloway was Mr. Marlin. He was drafted in the 8th round of the 2008 Draft out of Draft from Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and batted .286 in 48 Gulf Coast League Games that year. His biggest display of power came in 2011, where he belted 16 home runs and 54 RBI with 17 stolen bases in 110 games for Single-A Greensboro.

Overall, he’s been a .251 career hitter in the minors who has carved out the niche as a speedy, good defensive outfielder. He made a quick impression in his first game when he gunned down Cubs second baseman Daniel Descalso when he tried to tag up from second base to third base.

In the first 11 games of the 2019 minor league season, Galloway batted .297 with a .730 slugging percentage. Eight of his 12 hits were doubles and home runs, totaling eight RBI. While July 31, 2018 was his MLB debut, the early season call up finally allows Galloway a real opportunity to stand out in the barren wasteland of broken bats surrounded by the mirage of paradise.

“Which is obviously a great story for (Isaac Galloway), obviously, because it shows just his character and worth ethic to continue to be diligent with his work and always believing in himself,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “At this point, you kind of see a guy that’s really well rounded in his game and fundamentally sound in a lot of areas. His base running is really good, he can steal a bag, a really good defender. He’s hitting more and more as time went on and I think that’s why he’s here.” 

To make room for Galloway and relief pitcher Jarlin Garcia on the roster, shortstop JT Riddle was sent down to New Orleans and reliever Austin Brice was placed on the 10-day IL with gastroenteritis. The Marlins designated Galloway for assignment on February 4 to make room for Brice, so it comes as ironic that they would be involved in the same transaction but practically in reverse. 

How long will this opportunity last? Starting right fielder Garrett Cooper is recovering from a strained calf and has recently started running and taking batting practice. He may be making his return as early as next month. Riddle started at centerfield on Wednesday for New Orleans so that may add more options to the outfield in the coming weeks.

“Primarily, he will play short,” Mattingly said of Riddle. “We’ll try to get him a game here or there in the outfield. We’d already started that process. There were already a couple of games that he was an out away in a double-switch of playing in the outfield here. So we do want to get him a game or so a week, but he primarily will be at shortstop.”

Meanwhile, centerfielder Lewis Brinson is 1-for-18 in his last seven games. Austin Dean was called up to take over for the struggling Peter O’Brien and after a impressive first game, has fallen into the same slump.

At this point, as long as Galloway can keep his head above water, he’ll continue to swim with the Marlins.