No introductions necessary

JUPITER, Fla. — In case Jose Fernandez needed to be reminded, introductions were once again in order.

The first day of Spring Training, the Marlins top prospect was asked by a reporter from Miami’s WPLG Local 10 about manager Mike Redmond.

“Who?” said Fernandez, baffled by the question.

Once informed Redmond was the manager, Fernandez replied: “Oh, ok. I don’t know his name. I just met him a little bit ago.”

Like so many around the team right now, Fernandez is getting acquainted with new names and new faces — big league manager included.

Redmond, who likes to keep things light, found the incident amusing.

“I didn’t really have a reaction,” he said. “He’s a young kid. He’s in his first big league camp. It may have caught him off guard a little bit. I just told him, ‘Hey, you just go out there and do what you do — throw strikes. I’ll take that 95 [mph fastball]. Don’t worry about my name. We’ll worry about that later.”

Since Tuesday, Fernandez clearly knows who the manager is now.

“I know who he is, you’re not going to get me,” the 20-year-old pitching sensation said.

To make sure there is no more doubt, Redmond re-introduced himself again.

“Twice,” Redmond laughed. “I think he’s got it now. It’s all good.”

– Joe Frisaro