Norby, Brzykcy optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville

The Marlins optioned infielder Connor Norby and reliever Zach Brzykcy to Triple-A Jacksonville during Thursday’s off-day.

There were no corresponding roster moves yet, though right-hander Max Meyer will likely be the one for Brzykcy since he is expected to be reinstated from the bereavement list to start Friday’s series opener against the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Norby, who was the club’s Opening Day first baseman, had seen reduced playing time of late with Kyle Stowers starting there on a regular basis in order to keep the hot-hitting Heriberto Hernández’s bat in the lineup in left field.

Leo Jiménez and Javier Sanoja, meanwhile, have split most of the third-base reps. During Spring Training, Norby battled Graham Pauley for the job and seemed poised to win it with Pauley nursing an injury most of camp. When Christopher Morel sustained an injury on Opening Day, however, that facilitated Norby’s move across the diamond to a position he was just learning. He wound up getting the majority of the work at first, with a club-high 41 starts.

Through 65 games this season, Norby had a slash line of .205/.313/.325 with 12 doubles, four homers, 16 RBIs and 24 walks to 70 strikeouts in 233 plate appearances.

Brzykcy, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday, had yet to make his club debut.