Down on the farm
Ian Lewis steals the show in head-scratching fashion
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Ian Lewis went 0-for-4 last night for the Marlins’ low-A Jupiter club, but the 20-year-old may one day tell his grandchildren about his performance in the Hammerheads’ 10-inning 4-3 win at St. Lucie.
Without the benefit of a hit, and drawing only one walk, Lewis stole 5 bases.
While MLB.com reports there have been 7 other no-hit, 5-steal games in the minors since 2005, it’s only happened once in modern (post-1900) major league history. Hall of Famer and all-time stolen base king Rickey Henderson turned the trick for the Athletics in 1989.
The closest any Marlins have ever come is 3 steals in a game without a hit: Quilvio Veras and Chuck Carr both did it in 1995, and Jon Berti accomplished the unusual feat in 2020.
Lewis, a switch-hitting Bahamian infielder who is ranked as the Marlins’ #30 prospect by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline in their respective mid-season updates, signed with the Marlins as an international free agent in 2020. And speed has been his calling card since he made his pro debut in 2021.
He’s stolen 51 bases in 65 attempts in 193 professional games the last 3 years, including 26 in 35 tries in 99 games with the Hammerheads this season.
As for his night last night…
Top of the 1st: With one out and the bases empty, Lewis popped to shortstop.
Top of the 3rd: With one out and the bases empty, Lewis reached on an E-4, stole second (#1) on the next pitch. He came around to score on a triple by Kemp Alderman.
Top of the 5th: With 2 outs and the bases empty, Lewis reached on an E-6. After a pair of pick-off attempts, he stole second (#2). Two pitches later he stole third (#3) and then stole home (#4) on a pick-off attempt at first base on which the runner Jake DeLeo got caught in a rundown between first and second. Lewis broke for the plate and dove in head-first ahead of the throw from Mets first baseman Yeral Martinez.
Top of the 7th: With a runner at second and 2 outs, Lewis walked then stole second base (#5) on the back end of a double steal with Jordan McCants.
Top of the 9th: With a runner at first base and one out, Lewis popped to second base.
For Lewis, the 5 steals surpassed his previous career high of 3, set April 28 of this season against Tampa. Last night marked his 9th career multi-steal game.
2023 MARLINS ORGANIZATION STOLEN BASE LEADERS
Nasim Nunez (Pensacola)…41
Javier Sanoja (Jupiter, Beloit)…35
Xavier Edwards (Jacksonville)…30
Jordan McCants (Jupiter)…29
Ian Lewis (Jupiter)…26
If you’re wondering, no Marlin has ever stolen 5 bases in a game. The club has had 4 games with 4 steals, one by Luis Castillo in 2000, 2 by Dee Gordon in 2015 and one by Jon Berti in 2019.
Each of them had at least 2 hits in his 4-steal game.
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I heard a lot of good things about this kid when they signed him but he hasn’t hit much yet.