Morel reinstated from IL; Hernández optioned to Triple-A

LOS ANGELES -- Christopher Morel rejoined the Marlins rocking new braids for a literal and metaphorical statement.

"Trying to feel new," Morel said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. "Fully new."

The Marlins returned from rehab and reinstated from the 10-day injured list Morel and optioned outfielder Heriberto Hernández to Triple-A Jacksonville as the corresponding roster move prior to Monday's series opener against the Dodgers. Morel was available off the bench at Dodger Stadium.

Morel, whom the Marlins signed as a free agent over the offseason, began the season on the IL after straining his left oblique during batting practice on Opening Day. Miami planned on him being the club's primary first baseman -- a position he didn't play until Spring Training.

"I just have to focus on the present, forget what happened," said Morel, who got his hair cut on Saturday after letting it grow during his rehab assignment. "Past is the past. Just continue helping the team any way we can, and just focus on winning games."

In Morel's absence, the right-handed-hitting Connor Norby started 20 of the Marlins' 28 games at first base. Also a novice at first, Norby had projected to split time at third base with the left-handed-hitting Graham Pauley.

Since Norby has produced at the plate (.728 OPS), he is forcing the Marlins to find him at-bats and keep him in the lineup. The plan is for him and Morel to play first base, with the latter mostly spending his time there while also serving as the designated hitter. Norby could see outfield reps.

"I think Connor has performed in that way where he's earned at-bats," manager Clayton McCullough said. "We've got to try to continue to find ways to get him in there and keep him going, and if that means moving around a little bit more, juggling it up some, we're going to try to look for ways that on that particular day, trying to put the best nine out there to start the game."

During a four-year career, Morel has appeared at second, third, short and all three outfield spots. The Marlins inked him as a flier, hoping he could bounce back and regain his 2022-24 form, when he hit 63 homers and drove in 177 runs.

Morel went 3-for-14 with five strikeouts and two walks in four games on a rehab assignment, which began last Tuesday.

"Want to try to give him a chance to get into a rhythm, have some regular plate appearances, because we felt coming into this year that Chris could be someone that could help impact our lineup with some power," McCullough said. "[He's] still a young guy that had a lot of ability, that hopefully we're the right place at the right time for him to put some things together and have a big year."

Going back to the Minors is the right-handed-hitting Hernández, who primarily started against lefty starters in a left-handed-heavy outfield. After recording a .785 OPS in 87 games as a rookie in 2025, Hernández got off to a slow start in '26 (.474 OPS in 22 games).

By sending down Hernández, the Marlins opted to keep speedster Esteury Ruiz on the roster instead. Acquired in a trade with the Dodgers over the offseason, the right-handed-hitting Ruiz also began the season on the IL before returning on Friday in San Francisco.

"He was struggling to start the year, just couldn't really get things going," McCullough said of Hernández. "Hope that he can go down to Jacksonville and just kind of get away from it a little bit, reset some, get himself back going offensively. We saw what he was able to do last year and perform here at a high level. It was as much just his performance right now, and we had to make a move. While difficult, it was best for him to go to Triple-A and try to get himself back on track."

All four of the Marlins' injured position players to open the season have since returned from their rehab over the last two weeks: All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers, Morel, Ruiz and infielder Maximo Acosta, who is at Triple-A.