Kyle Skipworth, the Marlins’ first-round draft pick in 2008, got a nice surprise yesterday before the first official day or workouts. He met Benito Santiago, the Marlins’ first catcher in their inaugural season (1993).
Santiago, a five-time All Star catcher from 1986-2005, visited the Marlins in Jupiter and spent a few minutes chatting with Skipworth.
“It was really, really cool to meet a guy who was so good at that position for such a long period of time,” said Skipworth, who turns 21 next month.
“He said he’d heard some good things about me. I thanked him for that,” Skipworth said.
Skipworth said their conversation was brief. But he said Santiago told he’d be around during Marlins camp off and on this spring.
“No words of wisdom yet, but hopefully I’ll get a chance to pick his brain a little bit.”
Before they parted ways yesterday, Skipworth did make sure to compliment Santiago: “I told him, ‘The big memory I have about you is throwing guys out from your knees.”’
Skipworth batted .249 with 17 homers and 59 RBI last year at Class A Greensboro. The Marlins will be thrilled if he’s major-league ready by the time start starting catcher John Buck’s new three-year deal expires after the 2013 season.
“I don’t worry about any of that stuff,” Skipworth said. “All I can do is get mysef better, be a better catcher and force the issue.”
Skipworth and the rest of the catchers and pitchers won’t start working out today until 3 p.m. (The late start is because of Fan Fest at Sun Life Stadium which goes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today).
