At loanDepot park Wednesday night, Miami witnessed a script worthy of a stage play. Rookie infielder Maximo Acosta, ranked as the Marlins’ No. 25 prospect, finally broke through in unforgettable fashion while veteran ace Sandy Alcantara delivered a reminder of his Cy Young pedigree in a 6-2 win over the Cardinals.
Acosta entered the night 0-for-8 in his young big-league career, but patience gave way to release. After drawing a walk in his second trip to the plate and receiving some encouragement from Cardinals first baseman and fellow Venezuelan Willson Contreras, Acosta came up in the sixth inning with one on and one out. He unleashed on a 94.5 mph fastball from Andre Pallante and launched it straight to center for his first Major League hit — a home run. He rounded the bases in visible joy while his family and agent celebrated in the stands.
“I’m thinking of my father right there,” Acosta said after the game, dedicating the moment to his late dad, Maximo, and his mother, Suyin. According to Elias, Acosta became the first Marlin since Jerar Encarnacion in 2022 to notch a homer as his first hit, and the fourth in franchise history to start his career at three different infield positions. Alcantara later presented him the keepsake baseball in the clubhouse.
While the night belonged to the rookie in one sense, it was Alcantara who turned back the clock. The 29-year-old right-hander not only struck out a season-high nine batters, but he also threw a season-high 114 pitches across seven innings, limiting St. Louis to two runs (one earned). His final strikeout, fanning Iván Herrera, unleashed a rare show of emotion as Alcantara let out a shout coming off the mound.
“I didn’t know that I had that energy inside me,” he admitted. “But I wanted to win the battle, and I did it.”
For Alcantara, the outing felt like his old dominance — the kind that won him the 2022 NL Cy Young Award before Tommy John surgery derailed his momentum. His fastball touched 100 mph for just the second time this season, and he now sits second all-time in Marlins history with 163 starts. After a brutal 7.22 ERA in the first half, Alcantara has steadied himself with a 3.56 ERA since the break, showing more signs of health and command.
Manager Clayton McCullough praised the performance, noting how Alcantara dug deep when it mattered most. “He hasn’t forgotten how to compete,” McCullough said. “That was him getting out a ton of frustration and showing everyone he still has that fire.”
On a night where the present and future of Miami baseball collided, the Marlins got both a glimpse of tomorrow in Acosta and a vintage flashback from Alcantara.
Check out LifeWalletSports.com to get connected with all of our NIL athletes and partnered brands
