MIAMI -- The Marlins placed rookie outfielder Owen Caissie (right calf strain) and left-handed reliever John King (left lateral ankle sprain) on the injured list prior to Thursday night’s 8-4 victory over the Mariners at loanDepot park.
Miami recalled outfielder Rece Hinds and right-hander Ryan Gusto from Triple-A Jacksonville as the corresponding roster moves. The Marlins also returned from rehab and reinstated Janson Junk from the 15-day IL and optioned righty Zach Brzykcy to Triple-A.
Caissie said he wasn't sure how he sustained the injury, which he has never had before. Following an MRI, manager Clayton McCullough revealed postgame that Caissie has a return-to-play timeline of two to four weeks.
"Being this close to the All-Star break and all, we hope that that time also kind of helps," McCullough said.
Caissie, who turned 24 on Wednesday, was batting .239/.297/.459 with 12 doubles, 12 homers (tied for second most on club) and 50 RBIs (second most) in 80 games as the Marlins’ primary right fielder. Since May 1, he had an .861 OPS.
In Caissie’s absence, Miami could turn to the right-handed-hitting Heriberto Hernández, Esteury Ruiz or Hinds and the left-handed-hitting Griffin Conine at the corner-outfield spots depending on pitcher handiness. Conine took over for Caissie in Wednesday's game, going 1-for-3, and fell a triple shy of the cycle on Thursday.
"I think just always be ready for anything," Conine said Thursday. "Just coming into the game yesterday, you never expect to be there in the first when you're not starting. Got in there and hit in the first at-bat, which was cool, just to be ready for stuff like that. You want to be ready all the time. It's hard to do. Obviously, we've got to pick up the slack while he's gone. He's been a big piece for us the last month and even more than that. So, hopefully we get him back soon."
Hinds, whom the Marlins acquired from the Reds for righty reliever Zach McCambley on May 21, has a .647 career OPS in 131 big league plate appearances from 2024-26 with Cincinnati. Hinds hit .231/.296/.404 with three doubles and five homers in 28 games for Triple-A Jacksonville.
"We had a big meeting with a lot of hitting guys and stuff," Hinds said of his introduction to the organization. "The big thing was swing decisions. Working on seeing pitches and swinging at my zone and doing damage with my zone."
Since the 40-man roster is full, promoting a prospect like Kemp Alderman (Marlins No. 8) would have required clearing space.
According to McCullough, King rolled his ankle by stepping awkwardly on a platform while trying to make a catch in the outfield during pitching drills. One of the Marlins' offseason free-agent signings, King has been the club's most reliable lefty bullpen option. He has a 2.48 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP with one save and four holds in 40 appearances. His IL delegation is retroactive to Wednesday.
"It was going to be definitely a few days [that] he wasn't going to be able to throw," McCullough said. "And again, with the All-Star break coming, and the ability to build that in, hopefully it's not too long. But I think over the next two, three, four days, we'll have a better idea of what the timeline may end up being."
Without King, Cade Gibson is the only southpaw in the bullpen. McCullough noted that righties Michael Petersen, Calvin Faucher, Lake Bachar and Tyler Zuber could be called upon to face lefty bats.
Miami had optioned Gusto, who had made six starts (5.06 ERA) since June 5, last Friday to carry more relievers while pitching at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. With Max Meyer's start on Sunday being skipped for extra rest, Gusto is an option to open the first-half finale.