JUPITER, Fla. -- An encouraging sign was shown on the very first pitch Sandy Alcantara delivered on Saturday at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

The scoreboard reading flashed 96 mph on a called strike to the Cardinals' Kolten Wong, and he later reached 98 mph in the inning. It didn’t take long for the Marlins' 23-year-old right-hander to put to rest any questions about his fastball velocity.

“I prepared in the offseason a lot,” Alcantara said. "I want to say thank God for the ability to be healthy. Today, I was aggressive with my fastball. First pitch was 96. The others were 97-98. I am working a lot for that.”

When the Marlins acquired Alcantara, their No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, from the Cardinals after the 2017 season as part of the Marcell Ozuna trade, they knew he was a hard-thrower with middle-to-top-of-the rotation potential. 

But in his first season with Miami in 2018, his four-seam fastball readings were down from '17 over six starts.

According to Statcast, Alcantara’s four-seam fastball average last year was 95.5 mph, off his 98.6 mph pace in 8 1/3 relief innings with St. Louis in 2017.

“He had it last year,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Alcantara's ability to reach the upper 90s more regularly. “He was a little more tentative. He’s probably a little more comfortable. He seemed to be aggressive today.”

Fastball velocity alone won’t guarantee Alcantara a spot in the Opening Day rotation. More important will be his fastball command, and the ability to work both sides of the plate.

Alcantara struck out three batters over two scoreless innings in Miami’s 11-1 loss to the Cardinals in their Grapefruit League opener.

“It seems his better games last year were when he was more aggressive in the strike zone,” Mattingly said. “The only time he got in trouble is when he was nitpicking around and walking some people, and getting himself in bad situations.”

In six starts with Miami last year, Alcantara threw 34 innings, with 30 strikeouts and 23 walks.

“I feel good,” Alcantara said. “I hope they give me the opportunity to be in the rotation.”

Victor Victor vs. Velocity

It didn’t take long for Victor Victor Mesa to see high-end fastball velocity. In Saturday's eighth inning, the Marlins’ No. 2 prospect faced right-hander Ryan Helsley, the Cardinals’ No. 11 prospect.

Mesa capped the at-bat by grounding out to third after facing fastballs that ranged from 96-99 mph.

“My timing is still a little off still, but with more games I should get it down,” Mesa said through an interpreter. “But at least I was able to make contact with pitches at speeds that I’ve never seen.”

Mesa came in as a defensive replacement in center field in the sixth inning. Pipeline’s No. 99 overall prospect hasn’t played in an organized game in 23 months, since representing Cuba in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

“This starts the process," Mattingly said. "I expect it to probably look better as time goes on. I don’t know how fast that is, but I’m sure he will get more comfortable as time goes on.”

Back in action

A lingering right wrist injury turned 2018 into a lost season for first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper.

The 28-year-old was Miami’s Opening Day right fielder, but he was struck by a pitch on the wrist in the second game and eventually underwent surgery on Aug. 31. In all, Cooper appeared in 14 games, last seeing big league action on July 20.

On Saturday, Cooper came off the bench to play first base against the Cardinals, legging out an infield single in the ninth for Miami’s third hit.

“He basically missed a year,” Mattingly said. “He’s healthy. It’s not like there’s any restrictions on him. We will play him in a number of spots. The biggest thing is getting him at-bats.”

Cooper fits into the roster picture as a option at first base and either corner-outfield spot. At least early in camp, he will be eased into action.

“The first couple of games, I’m backing up at first, just to kind of ease back into it,” Cooper said. “Then, as the weeks progress, you get back in the outfield and at first.”

Up next

The Marlins travel to Bradenton to face the Pirates at 1:05 p.m. ET on Sunday. Trevor Richards gets the start for Miami, with Nick Kingham going for the Pirates.