Speed Demon Promoted To Marlins

The Miami Marlins have added some more serious speed to the roster, calling up former Colorado Rockies outfielder Garrett Hampson. 

Add that to the speed of Jon Berti, and the Marlins can roll out some serious acceleration on the basepaths. 

garrett hampson really about to save the marlins season :)

— Eric Bolanos (@ebolanos13) April 4, 2023

Hampson was in the 96th percentile in sprint speed in the majors last season. And that was actually his slowest mark in five seasons. His first four years he was in the 98th or 99th percentile in sprint speed. 

The 28-year-old had spent the first five years of his career with the Rockies, but despite playing in the hitters' paradise that is Coors Field, Hampson only managed to hit .235 with a meager .296 on-base and a .665 OPS in his half-decade in Denver. In fact, last season, he had the second-worst OPS+ of any player in the majors, at 59. That's 41% worse than average. 

He's got speed to burn, but he'll need to get on base first if he's to help the Marlins in that department. 

He started at second base and batted 9th, right behind Berti, in today's 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins, against former Marlins pitcher Pablo Lopez. Hampson went 0-for-2 before being pinch-hit for by Luis Arraez.