Marlins give rookie Justin Nicolino giant bat to help with bunting
If there’s one big advantage to being a rookie in MLB, it’s that life is never boring. Whether your teammates are sending you on a coffee run or just flat ignoring you after your first career home run, they’re always looking for ways to crack you and keep you on your toes.
Here’s another pretty cool example of that.
Miami Marlins pitcher Justin Nicolino is only two starts into his big league career, but he’s definitely getting a strong welcome from his new teammates. After faltering on the hill in Friday night’s 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, his teammates put the focus elsewhere by poking fun at his bunting during Saturday’s batting practice.
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Nicolino failed to get a bunt down on Friday night, so they equipped him with this absurdly large piece of lumber.
What’s particularly funny about the video above is that it actually takes Nicolino three attempts to get a successful bunt down with the bigger, badder bat.
We’ll blame that one on the grip? Perhaps?
But hey, at least he’s a good sport about it, which is the key to any rookie’s survival in the big leagues. With that said though, another key might be actually improving his bunting. When you get a chance to help yourself in the big leagues, it’s an opportunity you can’t afford to let slip through your fingers.
He’ll learn that fast, and he’ll also learn his teammates won’t let it go until he does.
BLS H/N: Cut 4
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813