Marlins need Aguilar's production to start spreading

SAN DIEGO -- Modern baseball doesn't take as much stock in RBIs because variables like placement in the lineup and opportunities can impact the total. But the name of the game is scoring runs, something the Marlins have been inconsistent at doing so far in 2022.

There hasn't been a more reliable run producer for the Marlins over the past three seasons than Jesús Aguilar. The problem is getting the rest of the order -- chock-full of veterans -- going.

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Aguilar's two-run shot off Yu Darvish was the only offense in Friday night's 3-2 loss to the Padres at Petco Park, extending the Marlins' skid to six. Miami stranded a pair of runners in the ninth, cementing its eighth one-run defeat on the season and fifth in a row.

“He's a good hitter first and knows what he's doing,” manager Don Mattingly said. “That was huge for us tonight. We get down three right there, and he gets us right back in it. From there, our bullpen did a nice job of keeping the game there, giving us chances. Obviously, we're down to the last out tonight with chances to do something. He's always been a really good hitter. I liked him in Milwaukee from the beginning. He's shown that here. He's been a run producer.”

Claimed off waivers from the Rays on Dec. 2, 2019, Aguilar is tied for the 18th-most RBIs (141) among Major Leaguers since the '20 season. That is more than the likes of Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, J.D. Martinez, Shohei Ohtani and Bryce Harper -- and in fewer games. Prior to season-ending left knee surgery last September, Aguilar was tied for second in the National League with 93 RBIs.

Across Aguilar’s nine-year career, here are some key stats:

• .296/.370/.520 with runners in scoring position
• .286/.378/.513 late-and-close games
• .278/.368/.521 high-leverage situations

Those numbers are even better in a Marlins uniform:

• 2021: .328/.401/.568 with runners in scoring position
• 2021: .299/.382/.522 late-and-close games
• 2021: .321/.412/.643 high-leverage situations
• 2020: .314/.361/.471 with runners in scoring position

So what makes a clutch player? Mattingly believes RBI guys like Aguilar are hit-first, not power bats.

“You always put pressure on yourself to get a good pitch to hit, hit the ball hard,” Mattingly said. “You can't direct it. You'd love to be able to, but you just can't guide it. So I think guys like Agui, guys who have been RBI guys, they don't change their demeanor with guys in scoring position. They just keep getting a good pitch to hit, keep having a game plan and stay with it. And other guys, I think, try differently when they get guys in scoring position.”

While the Marlins wait for free-agent signees Jorge Soler and Avisaíl García to turn it around at the plate, Aguilar’s resurgence is a much-needed development. Since his first multihit game of the season on April 21, he is 18-for-51 (.353) with one double, three homers and 11 RBIs. Before this 14-game stretch, Aguilar had a slash line of .171/.262/.171 with no extra-base hits and just three RBIs through his first 10 games of the season.

“I just try to be aggressive, just try to hit a good pitch,” Aguilar said. “Now I'm seeing the ball really good. I think that's why I’m getting success right now, but it's not enough. We're still losing games. It's not about me, it's about the team.”

No player better embodies the Marlins' spirit than Aguilar. He keeps teammates loose and always appears to have fun on the diamond. It was prevalent in 2020 during the playoff run, and it will be needed again during this rough stretch.

“I just try to say, ‘Everybody stay positive,’” Aguilar said. “It's the name of the game. But we've got to stay positive. It's a long season, a lot of ups and downs. Now we're in a down, but we know we're going to be all right.”