LOS ANGELES -- The Marlins returned from rehab and reinstated from the 10-day injured list first baseman Christopher Morel and optioned outfielder Heriberto Hernández to Triple-A Jacksonville as the corresponding roster move prior to Monday's series opener against the Dodgers.
Morel, whom the Marlins signed as a free agent over the offseason, began the season on the IL after straining his left oblique during batting practice on Opening Day. Miami planned on him being the club's primary first baseman -- a position he didn't play until Spring Training.
In Morel's absence, the right-handed-hitting Connor Norby started 20 of the Marlins' 28 games at first base. Also a novice at first, Norby had projected to split time at third base with the left-handed-hitting Graham Pauley.
During a four-year career, Morel has appeared at second, third, short and all three outfield spots. The Marlins inked Morel as a flier, hoping he could bounce back and regain his 2022-24 form, when he hit 63 homers and drove in 177 runs. Morel went 3-for-14 with five strikeouts and two walks in four games on a rehab assignment, which began last Tuesday.
In a left-handed-heavy outfield, Miami primarily turned to the right-handed-hitting Hernández against lefty starters. After recording a .784 OPS in 87 games as a rookie in 2025, Hernández got off to a slow start in '26 (.474 OPS in 22 games).
By sending down Hernández, the Marlins opted to keep speedster Esteury Ruiz on the roster instead. Acquired in a trade with the Dodgers over the offseason, the right-handed-hitting Ruiz also began the season on the IL before returning on Friday in San Francisco.
All four of the Marlins' injured position players to open the season have since returned from their rehab over the last two weeks: All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers, Morel, Ruiz and infielder Maximo Acosta, who is at Triple-A.