In Major League Baseball, some nights feel like someone is trying to play catch in a thunderstorm. No matter how well one positions oneself, chaos ultimately catches up to them. And one Miami Marlins player knows it better now than anyone.
Just days ago, Ronny Simon had one of those dreaded nights. The game that had started with so much promise in the end spiraled into a complete heartbreak for him. One where he legitimately broke down on the field, overwhelmed by the number of mistakes he made. Strangely, things started very well for the Miami Marlins as they came out swinging, putting six runs against the San Diego Padres.
Simon contributed to the play too, knocking in a run with a single and eventually crossing the plate himself. For a rookie who has spent seven years simply grinding through the minors, it was the night that should have ended with him smiling. But baseball is not predictable, and it has a cruel sense of timing. And that game may be the biggest reason why the Pirates are his new home now.
According to my sources, the Dominican infielder Ronny Simón has reached an agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates. #MLB pic.twitter.com/8yb38F7T6m
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) June 2, 2025
In the second inning, Simon mishandled a routine grounder from Tyler Wade. The ball simply slipped out of his glove and rolled away, and that allowed a run to be scored. His hurried throw home was off the mark, too, leaving the home plate unguarded as another Padres player came in. But that was not all. His misplay in the third, along with the two more errors, including a flip over the shortstop’s head. And these were huge mistakes.
The Padres took advantage of this and tied the game. Simon, meanwhile, couldn’t hold back and screamed into his glove and was even seen in tears. Then he headed to the clubhouse and didn’t return. The Marlins eventually lost 8-6, and now, five days later, Simon has a different home. The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed Simon off waivers, bringing the infielder into their fold after Miami designated him for assignment. For Simon, this is a sudden turn but also a chance at redemption—at a fresh start. And one thing is for sure: if nothing else, through the difficult times, he had his friends’ support. For example, Max Meyer, even after witnessing a disastrous game by Simon, had told him words of encouragement. “I told him, ‘I know you’re not trying to do that behind me. Keep your head up’…”
And Simon has potential and impressed in Triple-A, hitting .354 before his call-up. He managed 11 hits and five RBIs in 19 games with the Miami Marlins. Also, it’s not just him who has seen this sudden, drastic fall from the top—there is another Marlin who was possibly on a stranger passage.
Matt Mervis takes a detour from the Marlins after a hot start cools off
It’s not just Ronny Simon feeling the shift, because there is a wind of change elsewhere, too. Marlins first baseman Matt Mervis is also stepping into a new chapter of his life, though it starts a few miles south in Jacksonville. Just a few months ago, Mervis arrived in Miami with a fresh slate and with big expectations. He was part of the December deal that sent Vidal Bruján to the Cubs. And when he landed, it didn’t take long for him to make some noise. He came in swinging, blasting five home runs in his first six games, and earned a place alongside Miguel Cabrera in the Marlins’ record books.
By late April, Mervis had seven home runs and 14 RBIs, and the front office and fans were feeling pretty good about the trade. But in baseball, even hot streaks go cold, and they do so without warning. Over the next 23 games, Mervis’s bat went completely silent—almost eerily. Or how do you explain no home runs? No RBIs? Just a .117 average and a .335 OPS. The one who looked unstoppable suddenly couldn’t hit!
The terrible slump forced the Miami Marlins to do what they did. So when Dane Myers came back from the injured list, they designated Mervis for assignment to make room. On Monday, he cleared waivers and is now officially outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville. Of course, the good news is that he is still in the organization.
And for Mervis, it is his chance to reset in a more familiar setting while remaining out of the spotlight. Do you think he can revamp himself in minors? Let us know in the comments.
The post Days After Emotional Exit, Marlins Star Rumored to Have Found New MLB Home appeared first on EssentiallySports.
