JUPITER, Fla. (AP) - Jose Reyes made his spring debut with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday and hit a line drive to third in his first at-bat.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello was impressed.
``He hit that ball so hard,' Porcello said. ``He's obviously a good hitter.'
Reyes went 0 for 3 in a 3-1 exhibition loss in his first game with his new team, but the reigning National League batting champion isn't concerned with his results this early in the spring.
``Spring training is all about feeling good at the plate and putting a good swing on the ball,' said Reyes, who also flew out to left and grounded into a fielder's choice.
Reyes was part of an offseason overhaul for Miami. The speedy shortstop agreed to a $106 million, six-year contract with the Marlins over the winter, leaving the New York Mets in free agency.
``It's nothing different,' he said. ``It's baseball. It's still the same game, but with a different uniform. It was kind of exciting to get on the field in a real with my new team. It was good.'
Porcello, who went 14-9 last season, also made his spring debut. He allowed an unearned run and a hit in two innings
``It's definitely good to see my sinker had good life on it, my four-seamer wasn't as consistent as I'd like it to be at this time of year, but my changeup and slider, I had a pretty good feel for those,' Porcello said.
Porcello allowed the run in the first inning after a throwing error by third baseman Danny Worth, but then retired the next five batters on groundouts.
``He's starting to mature as a pitcher,' Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. ``You can see it in his face, his work habits, and confidence on the mound. Body language tells a lot.'
Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton went 1 for 3, former All-Star Omar Infante was 1 for 2, and center fielder Emilio Bonifacio went 1 for 2.
Marlins starter Alex Sanabia allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits in 1 1-3 innings.
Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson went 2 for 3 to raise his spring average to .444 in four games.
NOTES: Leyland shared a big laugh with Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen before the game. Leyland coached Guillen back in 1985 and managed against him when Guillen was with the division-rival White Sox. ``We had a lot of fun, a lot of good games against each other,' Leyland said. ... Marlins 3B Matt Dominguez left in the second inning with a right eye contusion after a grounder by Worth took a bad bounce.
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