Freshman infielder Manny Marin took advantage of Opening Day nod

Tennessee’s starting lineup for the 15-0, run-rule dominating win over Hofstra on Friday’s Opening Day probably wont be the routine starting nine for Tony Vitello this season.

Or maybe it could be. Who knows? Only the guy writing the lineup card does and the players who force his hand. Still, it didn’t come without some expected, temporary moves and maybe one surprise.  

Freshman Manny Marin’s start at third base was not a surprise. He was swinging a great bat in preseason leading up to the start of the year and his glove is arguably as good as any on the roster not named Ariel Antigua. Because of presumed starting third baseman Andrew Fischer’s injury limitations for now, his move across the diamond to first base opened a spot at third for one of the two: either Marin or Antigua.

“The other guy over there [Manny Marin] just played better than everybody since he came back,” Vitello answered when asked about Marin in postgame. “He came back with a different type of energy and not that he didn’t play well in the fall, but you could just see it.”  

Marin singled twice in three at-bats Friday night. He didn’t press at the pate, but rather let the game come to him. He was smooth with his swings and showed some goo discipline to lay off certain pitches. The moment wasn’t too big for him and he’ll continue getting opportunities.  

“He just swung the bat really well and some of them aren’t even at-bats where he gets a hit,” Vitello continued on Marin’s camp. “He did hit a couple homers in spring training period, but it’s just more, you can tell how well he is seeing the baseball and how aggressive – yet loose his swing is at times. And he showed that a couple times tonight too. Manny.”

The Hialeah, Fla. native signed with Tennessee’s Clas of 2024, ranked as the No. 88 overall prospect in the cycle, according to Perfect Game. The publication also tabbed Marin as the No. 23 shortstop in the class. The freshman has gotten plenty of work all over the diamond in preseason camp and over the fall, checking in at third base (where he started in the season-opener), shortstop, second base and even some first base and right field.  

“Some of those guys have made the depth conversation a little bit more interesting when we’re talking upstairs about guys,” the skipper admitted when asked about depth of his team. 

We’ll see what Vitello decides to do about a lineup card for Saturday’s Game 2 of the series. Antigua, who singled in a pair of runs while pinch hitting in the seven-run sixth inning, could earn a start at some point this weekend. Dalton Bargo, who was a surprise starter in left field on Friday, can also play third base.

Fischer will likely be the everyday third baseman once he is fully healthy, but the transfer showed no signs of confusion at first base in the opener.

“I feel fine. Pretty simple. Catch the ball,” Fischer said when asked about playing first base. “You’re talking about some of the best infielders in the country who are going to be throwing the ball to you. Dean Curley. Gavin Kilen. They have both been amazing. Even Manny [Marin] – he looked great tonight. The guys just play at a high level and rarely they are going to be giving you tough balls to handle anyways. Kind of easy, on the fly.”   

Vitello will throw several different combinations out on the diamond over the course of the next few weekends prior to the start of Southeastern Conference play. Maybe Marin is an answer at one of the positions.

Regardless, he earned the Opening Day start and took advantage of his chance.