Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara hits 99 mph in return to mound after missing 2024 season

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Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) throws during spring training baseball workouts for pitchers and catchers at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP)

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Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) reacts as he attends spring training workouts for pitchers and catchers at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Jupiter, Fla (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP)

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Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara throws the ball during the first full-squad spring training workouts on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Jupiter, Fla. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara threw one scoreless inning against the New York Mets in a spring training game Sunday as he continues his comeback from elbow surgery that caused him to miss last season.

The 29-year-old looked like his old self against the Mets, blowing a 99 mph fastball past Jose Siri for the final out of the first inning. Alcántara threw 17 pitches and gave up one hit.

The Marlins hope the two-time All-Star can return to his 2022 form, when the right-hander won the NL Cy Young Award after finishing with a 14-9 record, 2.28 ERA and 207 strikeouts in a league-leading 228 2/3 innings.

Alcántara was not as effective the next year, going 7-12 with a 4.14 ERA before having Tommy John surgery on Oct. 6, 2023.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb