Originally Posted by MLB.com

JUPITER, Fla. -- With exhibition games set to begin next week, the Marlins Spring Training rotation is starting to fall in line.

Getting the starting nod for Florida on Tuesday against the University of Miami will be Chris Volstad, the club's prize prospect.

Drafted 16th overall in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, the 6-foot-7 Volstad is a 20-year-old who has turned heads with his obvious talents. Picked out of Palm Beach Gardens High School, Volstad is expected to open the season at Class A Jupiter, but he could rise rapidly through the ranks.

Volstad is slotted to throw two innings against the Hurricanes. He will work with catcher Miguel Olivo, who likely will get one at-bat.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez is impressed with what he's already seen from Volstad.

"He has an outstanding arm," Gonzalez said. "I see him in the big leagues fairly soon, whether it is the end of this year or next. Those types of talented kids don't stay in the Minor Leagues too long."

Gonzalez said most of the starters will get about two at-bats.

Also slotted to pitch on Tuesday are Jacob Marceaux, Ryan Tucker, Gaby Hernandez, Aaron Thompson, Paul Mildren, Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom.

Grapefruit League starters: Grapefruit League games get underway on Wednesday at Roger Dean Stadium.

Florida will be the visitors against the defending World Series champion Cardinals. Scott Olsen will start, and work a couple of innings. Ricky Nolasco will follow him.

Nolasco and Olsen are projected to open the season in the rotation.

On Thursday, the Marlins take on the Orioles in Jupiter. With the high number of relievers in camp, the team is expected to use all bullpen pitchers in that game.

Dontrelle Willis is scheduled to make his first Spring Training appearance on Friday against the Orioles at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.

Going with Willis on Friday puts the D-Train in line to start on Opening Day at Washington on April 2.

Gonzalez has not yet announced the Opening Day starter. Clearly, Willis is expected to get the nod. A two-time All-Star who won 22 games in 2005, he pitched Opening Day 2006 at Houston.

By pitching Friday, Willis would be on course to start every fifth day until the end of Spring Training. His rest between starts lines up nicely for April 2 at RFK Stadium. Actually, Willis could get an extra day of rest and pitch Opening Day on six days' rest, assuming there are no changes to the schedule.

With Willis likely to go on Opening Day, indictations are that Anibal Sanchez would start the second game of the season, with Olsen getting the nod in the series finale against the Nationals. Nolasco would then be in line to start the home opener on April 6 against the Phillies at Dolphin Stadium.

By going with Willis, Sanchez, Olsen and Nolasco in the first four contests, the Fish would set up a lefty-righty, lefty-righty rotation for the start of the season.

And because the Marlins are off April 5 and April 12, they can conceivably go with a four-man rotation until April 17, when they visit the Astros. This is especially beneficiary due to the uncertain status of Josh Johnson, who is nursing a sore right triceps.

Pinto in the 'pen: Lefty Renyel Pinto made 18 starts at Triple-A Albuquerque a year ago, and he was a starter throughout his Minor League career.

The Marlins plan on using Pinto as a second lefty out of the bullpen.

Out of options, Pinto will have to make the Opening Day roster or the organization would risk losing his rights if they tried sending him to the Minor Leagues.

He's throwing well and is expected to be a key part of the bullpen.

"Pinto fits into the bullpen," Gonzalez said.

Having Pinto in relief gives another lefty alternative to go along with Taylor Tankersley.

When with the Marlins a year ago, all 27 of his appearances were in relief.

Ramirez's versatility: Hanley Ramirez is that rare talent who can provide tremendous power at the leadoff spot.

The 2006 National League Rookie of the Year is a fixture in the leadoff spot now, but later in his career, Gonzalez says the 23-year-old may end up batting in the middle of the order.

"He can hit for average, hit for power, drive in runs, steal you a base. He's got the whole package," Gonzalez said. "You can almost insert him at any spot. If his psyche is OK to do it, you can probably stick him anywhere. He's that talented and that gifted."

At 6-foot-3, 200-pounds, Ramirez is a maturing athlete who belted 17 home runs and stole 51 bases as a rookie.

In 2006, Ramirez was the second National League rookie in history to hit 17 home runs while playing 100-plus games at shortstop.

Ramirez currently doesn't want to sacrifice batting average and on-base percentage in hopes of increasing his power numbers.