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Prospect Garcia among 4 added to Marlins' roster

MIAMI -- Lefty Jarlin Garcia, rated by MLB.com as the Marlins' No. 2 prospect, was among four pitchers added to the club's 40-man roster before Friday's 8 p.m. ET deadline.

Also joining the 40-man roster were right-handers Jacob Esch, Austin Brice and Nick Wittgren. The club also announced right-hander Matt Ramsey has been outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans.

The Marlins now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.

If Miami didn't protect those four pitchers, they would have been eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft in December.

International and high school players signed at age 18 must be added to the 40-man roster within five seasons or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Players signed at 19 or older must be added within four seasons.

Garcia, who represented the Marlins in the Futures Game, split time at Class A Advanced Jupiter and Double-A Jacksonville, combining for a 3.57 ERA. The 22-year-old threw 133 2/3 innings, striking out 104.

Wittgren, Miami's No. 11 prospect, had 64 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings at New Orleans.

Video: Top Prospects: Nick Wittgren, RHP, Marlins

Brice, the club's 16th-best prospect, had a 4.67 ERA and struck out 127 in 125 1/3 innings at Jacksonville.

Esch, 25, was Miami's 11th-round pick in 2011, and he pitched eight innings for the Rookie League Marlins, 85 1/3 innings for Jacksonville and 30 innings at New Orleans, posting a combined a 3.72 ERA in '15.

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter @JoeFrisaro and listen to his podcast.
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