Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara hits 99.3 mph on radar gun in first start since 2023

Spring Training has arrived, and Miami Marlins fans—what’s left of them, anyway—finally have something to cheer about. Their long-lost ace, Sandy Alcantara, has made his return, and boy, did he make an entrance. Firing a 99.3 mph fastball in his first start since 2023, Alcantara sent a clear message: The man is back. Or is he?

From Cy Young to Tommy John—And Back Again?

Just a couple of years ago, Alcantara was on top of the baseball world. The 2022 NL Cy Young winner was a workhorse, eating innings like they were cheap hot dogs at a minor league game. Then, disaster struck. His golden arm betrayed him, leading to the dreaded Tommy John surgery—a baseball death sentence for some, a mere speed bump for others.

Fast forward to Sunday, and Alcantara took the mound against the New York Mets in a Spring Training showdown. The result? A high-velocity showcase that had Marlins fans cautiously optimistic and baseball purists rolling their eyes.

The 99.3 MPH Heater: A Sign of Greatness or Just a Gimmick?

Let’s talk about that fastball. 99.3 mph is no joke. It’s a speed that screams dominance—or desperation. Sure, it’s great to see Alcantara hitting high numbers, but here’s the problem: velocity alone doesn’t win games. Just ask any washed-up fireballer who spent more time walking batters than striking them out.

Alcantara himself seemed thrilled.

“I say ‘Thanks God’ for giving me the opportunity to be out there and compete and be healthy,” he told reporters. “It feels great after a long time without competing.”

Great sentiment. But Marlins fans know better than to start planning a parade based on one pitch in February.

Marlins’ 2024 Disaster: A Team in Freefall

The excitement around Alcantara’s return is understandable. The Marlins have been an absolute disaster. They limped to a brutal 62-100 record in 2024, a season so miserable that even die-hard fans were looking for other hobbies.

Miami’s front office seemed to be in full “fire sale” mode, trading away key players, including fan favorite Jazz Chisholm to the Yankees. (Because, of course, the Yankees get whatever they want.) The Marlins, meanwhile, were left with a roster that looked more suited for Triple-A than the Majors.

So yeah, Alcantara’s return? It’s something. But is it enough to drag this franchise out of the basement? Doubtful.

Tommy John Recovery: Is He Really Ready?

Here’s where things get dicey. Tommy John surgery is no joke. Some pitchers come back stronger. Others, well… they never fully recover.

Alcantara said all the right things after his start:

“I know that the hard work that I was doing in the offseason, during my rehab, today, my arm feels so good, and I’m just trying to let it go.”

Sounds great. But let’s be real—rehab is one thing, real game action is another. And no, a Spring Training game against the Mets doesn’t count.

What happens when Alcantara starts logging actual innings? What happens when he faces a real lineup in a high-pressure situation? Will that 99.3 mph fastball still be there in June? Or will his arm turn into overcooked spaghetti by midseason?

The Marlins Need a Miracle—Is Alcantara It?

Let’s not sugarcoat it: The Marlins are bad. The team lacks depth, lacks star power, and most importantly, lacks any sense of a winning culture.

Bringing back Alcantara is a nice story, but Miami needs way more than a returning ace to be relevant. They need offense. They need defense. They need, well, pretty much everything.

Manager Clayton McCullough knows how much Alcantara means to the clubhouse.

“Just shows how much he means to a lot of the guys in our clubhouse,” McCullough said. “It’s a credit to him [for] guys to come up here, just to watch that, knowing how big a deal it was for him and us.”

Nice words, but clubhouse chemistry won’t fix a team that finished 38 games under .500.

Alcantara’s Future: Cy Young Comeback or Trade Bait?

Here’s the real question Marlins fans should be asking: Is Alcantara a long-term piece of Miami’s future, or is he just rebuilding his value for a midseason trade?

The Marlins love trading away talent. It’s practically tradition at this point. If Alcantara proves he’s still got it, don’t be surprised if Miami ships him off to a contender for a bunch of prospects nobody’s ever heard of.

It would be classic Marlins. Develop a star, watch him shine, then trade him away before fans even get a chance to enjoy it. Depressing? Yes. But at this point, would anyone be shocked?

Final Verdict: Hope, Hype, or Heartbreak?

Sandy Alcantara’s return is a big deal—for now. He threw a blazing fastball, looked solid on the mound, and gave Marlins fans a brief moment of joy. But let’s not get carried away.

One good start in Spring Training doesn’t erase the fact that Tommy John recovery is unpredictable. It doesn’t erase the fact that the Marlins are still a mess. And it sure as hell doesn’t mean Miami is suddenly a contender.

So, is Alcantara back? Maybe. But if history tells us anything, Marlins fans might want to hold off on the celebrations—because heartbreak is always lurking around the corner.