New Miami Marlins bench coach James Rowson's first priority in spring training was to get to know each of the team's position players individually.
Find out their routines, their struggles, what adjustments need to be made to their swings and their approach when they step into the batter's box.
"He's always listening to us," outfielder Corey Dickerson said in March. "He wants communication, good or bad."
That adjustment period continued for months longer than originally scheduled, with spring training stopping two weeks before Opening Day and Major League Baseball going on a three-plus-month hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. It kept Rowson from the direct interaction he yearned to have with his new players.
But it didn't stop him from doing what he could to ensure that the hitters were still as prepared as they could be for when the season ultimately picked back up.
So once spring training stopped and players went their separate ways before reconvening again in South Florida this month, Rowson and the rest of the Marlins' hitting department came up with individualized plans to keep hitters as ready as possible.
"It's unfortunate that we weren't able to play, but I do think as a group we used the time wisely," said Rowson, who's also unofficially known as the Marlins' offensive coordinator. " ... You can't have one game plan for nine guys. Each one of these guys is different. Each one has different strengths, so we really spent a lot of time talking about how to put them into the best spot to succeed."
It all circles back to the Marlins' overall emphasis since the start of spring training: Scoring more runs. Miami finished last in MLB in runs scored in 2018 (589) and 29th out of 30 teams last season (615).
Personnel plays a part in that. Adding Jonathan Villar, Corey Dickerson and Jesus Aguilar among others should complement fixtures the Marlins already had in their lineup in Brian Anderson and Jorge Alfaro.
So, too, was hiring a guy in Rowson, who played a pivotal role in helping the Minnesota Twins last season set MLB's single-season home run record (307). The Twins also scored the second-most runs in baseball (939) and had the league's fourth-lowest strikeout rate (21 percent).
So how much can a new face in Rowson help the Marlins spark their needed improvement?
"I think we'll find out," Rowson said. " ... We know at the end of the day, the players are going to go out there and win games. It's going to be their ability, but I think our job and our mind-set it to every day put these guys in the best position to succeed."
That started in spring training. That continued with the individualized workouts during the shutdown.
And that has translated to this condensed, three-week training camp ahead of Miami's season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 24. Rowson has kept daily tabs on those at Marlins Park and the prospects getting reps at the Marlins' spring training site in Jupiter while paying attention to analytics for additional insight.
Although Rowson said he has seen things he likes out of each hitter who has been in camp, he also singled out second baseman Isan Diaz, shortstop Miguel Rojas, outfielder Monte Harrison and first baseman Aguilar when asked specifically about players who have impressed. He also likes the potential of prospects Jesus Sanchez and Lewin Diaz, calling them and Harrison "dangerous hitters."
"The talent's there," Rowson said. "Now we're trying to take that talent and get it to the next level. ... Guys have done a great job so far this camp of kind of adapting to that, and the bats are showing that."
The camaraderie among Rowson, manager Don Mattingly, hitting coach Eric Duncan and vice president of player development and scouting Gary Denbo _ all of whom have previous ties to the New York Yankees either as players or coaches (or both, in some cases) _ helps as well with the transition and making sure everyone in the organization is on the same page.
"The hitting philosophies all match up now," Mattingly said.
"We're all in lock step with what the message is," Duncan added, "and what it's about."
And Rowson: "It's not just a major-league philosophy. It's going to be the Marlins (organization's) philosophy. ... It's important that the group kind of stays together.
"One plan, one philosophy."
