Hoeing returns to MLB ranks

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Batesville graduate Bryan Hoeing made his MLB return last Friday night, throwing three innings against the Chicago White Sox.

For the first time in just a little over two months, 2015 Batesville High School graduate Bryan Hoeing found himself back on a Major League Baseball pitching mound, throwing three innings for the Miami Marlins on Friday night.

Miami had placed Hoeing on the 15-day injured list back on May 3 due to a left hamstring strain. Since then he had been assigned rehab stints with Single-A Jupiter and Triple-A Jacksonville, both minor league affiliates of the Marlins.
“I think with the injuries that have happened to our team this year, specifically with the starting pitchers, I really think just being able to provide innings after this rehab would just really help out this bullpen,” Hoeing said after his first game back on Friday. “The whole goal was to provide innings and give our bullpen a blow.”

Despite being forced to take a loss in his MLB return against the Chicago White Sox, Hoeing dazzled the Miami crowd in the first inning by striking out the side and spent the next two frames fending off a much more aggressive White Sox offense. Hoeing’s exit after three complete frames wrapped up a solid evening that saw him allow just one earned run on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk. The Marlins gave up two more runs after relieving the former Bulldog and Miami’s offense was unable to complete a comeback late, falling 3-1 in the first of a three-game series.

“They (Chicago) definitely came out swinging in the second inning,” Hoeing added in his postgame press conference. “I was not expecting that. I don’t think that really changed my plan of attack though. We always preach in this organization about getting first pitch strikes. I knew Tuesday that I was going to open things up this weekend so I had all week to prepare and knew what I was getting myself into. I was just happy to be back after two months.”

Friday night was the 12th game thrown by Hoeing in the major leagues this year but his first since May 1. He has a win-loss record of 0-1 in 2024 but sports an impressive 1.99 earned run average in 22.2 innings pitched which includes 20 strikeouts. This past weekend was his first start as Hoeing’s three-year career has seen him alternate between being a starting pitcher and reliever. Miami’s inability to keep its pitching staff healthy has played a big part of that but Hoeing’s mindset allows him to fulfill whatever role the Marlins might need.

“I think it’s something I’ve always taken pride in … do multiple roles within a season,” Hoeing noted. “It certainly is not easy to balance those roles but I take pride in my preparation. Multiple innings, starting, relieving, I think our coaches know that they can throw me out there in any situation and I can get the job done.”

All eyes are now on later this week as it is very possible that Hoeing makes an appearance in nearby Cincinnati as part of a three-game weekend series against the Reds. Miami begins a three-game set in Houston tonight before trekking to the Queen City beginning on Friday night at 7:10 p.m.

The Marlins have yet to release any starting pitching information by time of print and we will provide an update in Thursday’s Versailles Republican.