Sixto Sanchez has made his long-awaited spring debut for the Miami Marlins.

The 22-year-old's season debut was delayed by a visa issue and then a false positive on a COVID-19 test.

"I don't feel frustrated, but it was a weird feeling," the Dominican right-hander said via a translator. "That false positive spoiled my momentum, but I'm not that far behind. I just can't pitch as many innings as the other guys."

Sanchez is expected to join the rotation by mid-April and is widely projected as a future ace.

"We know what we have with Sixto," Don Mattingly said. "It's just a matter of getting the process started for him. ... It looked like his stuff was good. He was throwing strikes for the most part."