Alfaro reminisces on first trip back to Philly

PHILADELPHIA -- Before taking the field on Thursday night, Marlins catcher Jorge Alfaro spent some time catching up with some former Phillies teammates, coaches and friends.

The four-game series is the first time Alfaro has played in Philadelphia since being acquired by the Marlins as part of the J.T. Realmuto trade.

“It feels good to be back,” Alfaro said. “The fans have always been great. Now I’m on the other side. I’m trying to go out there and do what I’m going to do -- give 100 percent all of the time. Just playing hard, but I’m on the other side now.”

Alfaro is off to a promising start in Miami, hitting .267/.323/.467 with four home runs and seven RBIs. Alfaro homered on Tuesday at Cleveland in Miami’s 3-1 win to open the road trip.

The Marlins see plenty of untapped potential in Alfaro, a 25-year-old with elite power, but high-strikeout numbers.

“I think we look at him as what we are trying to help him get to, as far as everything,” manager Don Mattingly said. “Just help him improve in all areas, his catching, his game-calling.”

While Realmuto was an All-Star last year, Alfaro still has plenty of room for growth.

In 2018, his first full season in the big leagues, Alfaro hit .262/.324/.407 with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs.

“I had a lot of good moments with the coaches and the people who were helping me and supporting me the whole time,” Alfaro said. “The fans, my teammates and the coaches. The fans. They’re always here supporting the team. That’s how I felt last year when I was here. The fans were huge for us, supported us.”

In Miami, Alfaro has quickly adapted to a youthful squad, with one of the top young rotations in the game.

At the plate, his power has been attention-grabbing. But he’s also striking out 40 percent of the time he comes to the plate.

“You want to get those rates down where they are acceptable, and give him a lot better chance to be successful,” Mattingly said. “Strikeouts are more a part of the game, more now than ever. So you do live with them. But you don’t necessarily want to. You want him to be able to put the ball in play when he needs to.”

Brinson back in lineup

Playing time has been sparse for center fielder Lewis Brinson of late. On Thursday, he was in the starting lineup for the first time since Sunday against the Nationals. Isaac Galloway has been getting more playing time in center, but in the opener with the Phillies, Brinson got the starting nod.

Brinson has been spending time in the cages and watching video as he aims to make more consistent contact. He entered the night hitting .179 with four RBIs.

After Wednesday’s 6-2 loss at Cleveland, Brinson said he talked with third baseman/right fielder Brian Anderson about relaxing and having fun.

“We talked about going back and having fun,” Brinson said. “Going out there and letting my ability take over. I’m one of the best athletes on the field. I have to remind myself of that. Go out there and just play my game and have fun. I belong up here. I know I can play up here for a long time.”

To reach that point, Brinson has to do a better job with pitch recognition and swinging at strikes.

According to Statcast, Brinson has a 39.7 percent chase rate on pitches out of the zone. The MLB average is 28.1 percent. His contact on swings in the zone is 72.2 percent, below the league standard of 83.1 percent.

“Swing at strikes,” Brinson said. “You have to be able to put those strikes you do get in play. Hunt one pitch. I’ve been kind of in between maybe the past week, going outside of the zone and swinging at pitchers’ pitches, instead of swinging at my pitches. When I do get my pitch, instead of fouling it off or missing it, putting it hard in play.”

Worth noting

• Right-handed reliever Austin Brice (gastroenteritis) threw a rehab assignment inning on Tuesday at Class A Advanced Jupiter, and he’s scheduled to throw again on Friday.

• Riley Ferrell (right biceps tendinitis) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Thursday, and Julian Fernandez (recovering from Tommy John surgery) is continuing with his throwing program.

• Outfielder/first baseman Garrett Cooper (left calf strain) played in extended spring as a DH on Thursday. He will be evaluated on Friday, and if he is deemed ready, he may start a rehab assignment for the Hammerheads as early as Friday.