MIAMI -- In a flurry of roster moves, the Marlins designated for assignment Opening Day first baseman Matt Mervis and reinstated outfielder Dane Myers from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday’s series-opening 2-0 loss to the Giants at loanDepot park.
Miami optioned infielder Graham Pauley to Triple-A Jacksonville, designated for assignment utility player Ronny Simon and selected the contracts of outfielder Heriberto Hernandez and infielder Jack Winkler.
Mervis, whom the Marlins acquired from the Cubs for Vidal Bruján on Dec. 29, was considered a bounceback candidate. He started the season that way, slugging a then-team-high seven homers and driving in 14 runs through his first 19 games.
But since then, Mervis was 7-for-60 (.117) with two doubles, no RBIs, four walks and 25 strikeouts over 23 games.
“Just didn't quite really get it going offensively, and just felt like it was time with some of the opportunity there, and the performance really didn't pick back up, to shift gears a little bit and give some other guys a chance to come up here, and see if they can be a spark and help us out,” manager Clayton McCullough said.
Fellow offseason acquisition Eric Wagaman will get the majority of the first-base reps moving forward, though rookie catcher Liam Hicks will see time there soon to help with the rotation of three backstops on the active roster. So could Hernandez and Winkler.
“Liam's been getting some work over at first, and I think we've all seen Liam's done some really nice things for us offensively, and [this is] an opportunity to maybe find some times to get Liam into the lineup in that regard,” McCullough said.
Myers, who landed on the IL with a right oblique strain on May 12 (retroactive to May 11), started in center and batted fifth on Friday after appearing in one game for Triple-A Jacksonville while on rehab assignment. Myers recorded his sixth outfield assist -- tied for second-most in the Majors -- in the second inning and went hitless in three at-bats.
His return gives the Marlins two natural center-field options in him and No. 26 prospect Victor Mesa Jr., with Derek Hill on the IL again with a left wrist sprain. Kyle Stowers and Javier Sanoja could also be inserted in center if need be.
Pauley had been playing sparingly, especially with Connor Norby back and starting nearly every game at third base. The 24-year-old Pauley was hitting .210/.261/.284 with six doubles in 28 games.
“We like Graham a lot as a current and future piece here, and that it’s just going down to Triple-A at this point and getting some regular playing time, getting back playing every day, getting into a rhythm there,” McCullough said. “That was as much just the opportunity to play on a regular basis, especially someone still as young as Graham, that it just made more sense for him to go down there and be able to get consistent at-bats.”
Simon, 25, hit .234/.327/.277 with two doubles, five RBIs, seven walks and seven strikeouts in 19 games to begin his MLB career. Most notably, he was taken out of Tuesday's game after committing three errors in an eventual loss.
This marks the first Major League callup for both Hernandez and Winkler.
Hernandez, 25, was batting .220/.319/.454 with four doubles, one triple, nine homers and 21 RBIs in 41 games for the Jumbo Shrimp. He also was a non-roster invitee at big league camp. According to McCullough, Hernandez will primarily be used as a right-handed option against left-handed pitching -- as was the case Friday for his MLB debut -- as well as off the bench. He walked in his first plate appearance before getting picked off.
Unlike Hernandez, Winkler was not at MLB camp. The 26-year-old was hitting .275/.331/.423 with six doubles, five homers and 19 RBIs in 41 games for Jacksonville. Winkler’s defensive versatility will come into play at both the middle and corner infield spots.