Caissie reinstated from IL after 2-HR rehab assignment

NEW YORK – The Marlins reinstated rookie outfielder Owen Caissie from the 10-day injured list prior to Saturday afternoon's game against the Mets at Citi Field. Miami optioned infielder Graham Pauley as the corresponding roster move.

Caissie, who was placed on the 10-day IL on July 9 with a right calf strain, appeared in three rehab games as scheduled for Triple-A Jacksonville, culminating with Friday night's contest (two walks and three strikeouts) while serving as the designated hitter.

"Caissie's en route here to New York, and I think we'll make a determination on when we activate him soon," manager Clayton McCullough said before the official announcement.

Caissie had homered in each of his first two games of the rehab assignment. On Tuesday, he finished 1-for-1 with a hit-by-pitch (on an 83.4 mph changeup) and two walks to go along with a homer while starting at DH. Due to a Wednesday rainout, Caissie went 2-for-3 with a first-inning single, a fourth-inning walk and a seventh-inning homer in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader while playing all seven innings in right field. Both of his home runs were hit to the opposite field.

The 24-year-old Caissie, who initially felt some tightness in his calf on July 7, was cleared on July 8, but he exited that day’s game and eventually landed on the IL.

"He's felt great," McCullough said. "It was a couple things. One, certainly how did the calf hold up getting some extended exposures, both running, playing defense? And then the other part, just giving him some plate appearances. While he was able to get some of those in live settings, but to be in a game and try to get some of his timing back before he rejoined, we felt was important. So [we] kind of extended that rehab to three games to try to satisfy both of those. He checked all the boxes, and [we're] excited [for him] to get back here with us."

Acquired by the Marlins in a four-player trade with the Cubs in exchange for right-hander Edward Cabrera, Caissie has a slash line of .239/.297/.459 with 12 homers (fourth on club) and 50 RBIs (tied for second). Prior to the injury, he had an .861 OPS since May 1.

In Caissie's absence, Heriberto Hernández and Griffin Conine have played the corner-outfield positions on a consistent basis. Hernández is tied with Kyle Stowers for the team lead with 16 homers, while Conine contributed two game-winning knocks in a sweep of the Phillies earlier this week. With a left-handed starter on the mound, Gold Glove-winning utility player Javier Sanoja has started in right field like he did on Saturday.

"Since late May, early June, Owen has really, really put together a good run," McCullough said. "He's done kind of what we thought coming into this year. He's provided power. There's going to be some strikeouts, which I think he curtailed some compared to the early part of the year. ... Look, there's going to be some whiff that comes with his game, but we also were betting on his ability to impact and walk, and I think we saw those things start to come together for him.

"Especially versus right-handed pitching, he really provided a difference in our lineup. When we get Owen back, hopefully he can kind of pick up where he left off and be able to provide us again another presence from that side that has some slug and can control the zone."