Caminero adds power arm to Marlins' bullpen

WASHINGTON -- At the end of Spring Training, Arquimedes Caminero got caught in the business side of the game. Because he had an option remaining, the Marlins opted to send the hard-throwing right-hander down to Triple-A New Orleans.

The 26-year-old's Minor League stint didn't last long, as he was recalled on Wednesday to fill Jacob Turner's roster spot.

The Marlins didn't wait long to use Caminero. The right-hander pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in Wednesday's 10-7 loss to the Nationals. He struck out two batters and walked one.

If Caminero keeps building on what he started in Spring Training and with the Zephyrs, it may be hard to send him back this time.

The 6-foot-4 right-hander was considered lights-out at New Orleans, ramping up his fastball to 98-99 mph. He mixes in a split-finger fastball, and is still refining his slider.

At New Orleans, he had a pair of two-inning appearances.

"I was working very hard down there to keep getting better every day," Caminero said.

Not making the club out of Spring Training naturally was disappointing, but he knew he was first in line to come up. It happened when he was informed Turner was going on the disabled list late Tuesday night. He was on a flight to Washington in the morning, and arrived around noon.

"I just thought I need to keep working and doing what I was doing in spring," he said.

Caminero, who had a strong Spring Training, provides bullpen depth, and he is an option to pitch multiple innings.

"It was a tough decision for us," manager Mike Redmond said of sending Caminero down in the spring. "We all know how this game works. You're going to end up needing guys. That was the message we said to him. To go down there and keep pitching like you did. You never know what's going to happen. Here we are."

In the spring, Caminero had a 2.00 ERA in nine innings with nine strikeouts and one walk.

"It was good," he said. "Could be better."

Caminero saw his first big league action last season, and he posted a 2.77 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 13 innings.

The Marlins are hoping he could be a multiple-innings candidate.

"However they want me to pitch, I will pitch," he said.

Caminero and Marcell Ozuna, both from the Dominican Republic, are two of the Marlins' most recent international signees.