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Fennelly: Jose Fernandez aims to harness all his skills

 
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) takes off his arm warmer as talks with home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom just prior to the first inning of the Marlins game against the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday, May 26, 2016 in St. Petersburg. CHRIS URSO  |   Times
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) takes off his arm warmer as talks with home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom just prior to the first inning of the Marlins game against the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday, May 26, 2016 in St. Petersburg. CHRIS URSO | Times
Published May 31, 2016

ST. PETERSBURG — The unquenchable Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins' pitching ace, takes the mound tonight. The precocious right-hander will be hard-pressed to top his previous outing, a jubilant, wild-child homecoming Thursday at Tropicana Field against the Rays.

Highlights: The former Alonso High star intentionally hit a Rays mascot with a pitch while warming up in the bullpen, got into it with the Rays dugout after getting out of a bases-loaded jam … and overpowered the Rays with 12 strikeouts to improve to 7-2 with a 2.82 ERA.

A day with Jose.

After admitting he plunked the mascot, no harm, no foul, Fernandez grinned.

"This is a game and I love to have fun."

There is a definite screw-loose quality to the 23-year-old Fernandez even as he battens the hatches on his pitching approach and continues a remarkable comeback from Tommy John surgery. His hot head and cockiness are a concern. What'll it be, live wire or third rail?

The 2013 National League rookie of the year has a career record of 29-11 and is a jaw-dropping 21-1 at home. He has a 2.47 ERA and 426 strikeouts in roughly 350 innings. He came back from 2014 Tommy John surgery and stayed a Marlin despite a winter of trade rumors, though the rumors could blossom again. Meanwhile, Fernandez needs to do some growing. He insists that he's trying.

"Over time you grow up and learn different things," Fernandez said. "But the way I play the game is the same way as when I was in high school. I love the game. I never want to lose that, because that's the only way I know how to play baseball."

"I like his personality, though some people might think it's a little harsh," said Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds, who in his day personally knew harsh. "But when he's not that person, he's not the same pitcher. If he's not out there trying to rip your head off, that's not him, that's not his approach."

Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich said, "We feed off his energy, but he's starting to understand that there are times for it and there are times when it needs to be toned down a little bit."

Part of Fernandez grew up fast. When he was 15, his family made three failed attempts to flee Cuba by boat before making it to America. Fernandez became a U.S. citizen in April 2015. He had to grow some more after he went down with an elbow injury early in the 2014 season. Fernandez missed 14 months. He's 13-3 with a 2.88 ERA since his return. There's an innings count in his future.

"The Tommy John thing, I know it, because it's right there," Fernandez said, pointing to the scar on his right elbow. "It was something that's marked my life in a very good way. It taught me so much. I'm very lucky. I didn't want this to happen, but I'm glad that it did because of the pitcher I've become after the surgery, the way I prepare myself."

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Marlins manager Don Mattingly has spoken with Fernandez about striking a balance between his power and finesse, to understand that every pitch doesn't need to be thrown through the backstop.

"He's really matured as a pro," Mattingly said. "He's calmed down."

"He's pitching now," Marlins pitching coach Juan Nieves said. "He understands he's healthy. That's important, especially for guys coming back from Tommy John. He's always had the arm. But he's pitching now — he's pitching."

"I tried to worry about a pitch at a time and not try to throw it 155 miles an hour every pitch," Fernandez said after beating the Rays.

But how do you not wonder if he'll keep his emotions in check from moment to moment?

"I would never take that fire away from him," Nieves said. "You want him to be himself. Incredible competitor. Fierce. He's a gladiator out there."

Marlins infielder Chris Johnson lent some perspective after Thursday's game. Late in Fernandez's rookie season, Johnson was playing for Atlanta when Fernandez hit his first major-league homer. Fernandez stared lovingly at trajectory, then looked at the Braves dugout. Benches cleared. Fernandez apologized after the game.

"We got upset. Things kind of escalated," Johnson said. "But (Thursday) he kind of showed that he's grown up a lot."

Johnson pointed to the fourth inning, when Fernandez got Rays catcher Curt Casali to foul out with the bags full. Fernandez chirped with players in the Rays dugout. Fernandez and Casali jawed at each other.

"Jose came in and he was fired up," Johnson said. "He was hot. Then we made three quick outs. I was hoping we'd have a little more time for him to cool down. But he was poised when he went back out there. He got it back, calmed down and got them."

Fernandez struck out eight of the last 10 Rays he faced.

"When I pitch, I feel like I can run through walls," he said.

That doesn't mean you have to.