Miami Palms Blog

Pat Grant has been a very good hitter in short bursts so far in his career, and will get a chance to prove that it’s not a mirage, with a longer look at the plate, taking over as the regular designated hitter or first baseman, splitting time with Edwin Encarnacion in the field. Grant hit .339 in his brief time at the plate, with a penchant for finding gaps, if not the long ball. His ability to get on base will be a vital asset at the top of the order

Jaspero Gonzalez was sent to Philadelphia for a few years after the 2012 season, but his return to Miam in free agency showed that he still has quite a bit left in the tank. He hit .309 with 25 home runs in his first season back. It was an incredible output for anyone, but especially from a second basemann. He will be relied upon to supply offensive production as well as veteran leadership.

Incredibly, Johnny Giavotella is now entering his 7th season with the Palms. He as been a consistent, if light hitting batter off the bench, and a welcome respite for Jaspero Gonzalez at 2nd. Recently, he has played a little bit of short stop, but the keystone is his signature position. After coming after his first season with Kansas City, Giavotella is now something of a veteran presence, and leaned on for his knowledge.

Garcia spent his first season with the Palms in 2017, but 2018 will likely see his role increase as Miami hopes to bolster their bullpen, reducing the number of  spots on the bench. Garcia will be needed for his versatility in the field, if not his bat, which is fairly pedestrian.