Stowers provides flexibility for Marlins after MLB debut at 1st base

SAN FRANCISCO -- Kyle Stowers didn’t feel any pressure making his first career start at first base in the Majors.

If anything, it was the exact opposite for a player who only a few seasons ago was a Gold Glove finalist in the outfield.

“I did some in college, worked on it, so I felt somewhat familiar in that aspect,” Stowers said Sunday following the Marlins' 6-3 loss to the Giants at Oracle Park. “Tried to keep it simple and have fun with it.”

Despite the final score overshadowing his infield debut, Stowers looked very comfortable at his newest position.

He only had a few opportunities to make plays defensively and was flawless on them all, including a 5-3 fourth-inning putout of Rafael Devers that required him to snag an off-target throw from Graham Pauley and get back to the bag in time.

That didn’t translate into much at the plate -- Stowers went 0-for-4 -- but that’s not an issue that concerns the Marlins much. Stowers left San Francisco carrying a respectable .273 average.

Stowers hadn’t played much first base since college. He had only one game there in the pros, and that came earlier this month during a rehab stint with Triple-A Jacksonville.

Given that, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough liked what he saw.

“To go out there in a Major League game, I thought he moved around well,” McCullough said. “We’ll see how he felt out there, but the first one, he stood up well. He handled himself well and he’s looked solid when he’s done his ground-ball work.

“We’ll see how much more we utilize him there, but it’s certainly nice to have that option to start or maneuver in during a game.”

Stowers is at ease with whatever decision the Marlins make in terms of where they play him defensively.

The challenges of playing first base, he said, were relatively minor.

“Just getting comfortable with being closer to the action,” Stowers said. “Just like infield in, holding the runner on, getting comfortable with all the nuances. It’s not that easy to go to a new position, but we’ve got great coaches here who have helped me a ton.”