JUPITER, Fla. -- Brian Anderson, the Marlins' top-ranked position-player prospect, was one of six players sent to the Minors on Thursday afternoon. The 23-year-old third baseman was optioned to Double-A Jacksonville after Miami's 5-3 loss to the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium.
The Marlins also optioned outfielders Destin Hood, Moises Sierra and Isaac Galloway, infielder Matt Juengel and right-hander Severino Gonzalez to Triple-A New Orleans. Miami now has 41 players remaining in big league camp. Before Thursday's game, Hood and Gonzalez were sent down. The other four transactions were made postgame, with all four playing.
Regarded as the Marlins' third baseman of the future, Anderson batted .385 with six doubles, one triple, one home run and seven RBIs in Grapefruit League action. Hood entered the day with 46 at-bats, which was tied with Justin Bour for the most of any Marlins player in Grapefruit League play.
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The Marlins are expected to carry four outfielders, with Ichiro Suzuki being the primary backup. But Hood, 26, is a candidate to be called up during the season. In Grapefruit League play, the Mobile, Ala., native batted .283 with a .346 on-base percentage. At this stage of his development, Miami would rather Hood get regular playing time with the Baby Cakes than be a backup in the big leagues.
In the final stages of Spring Training, the Marlins also are looking at three non-roster invitees -- Tyler Moore, Brandon Barnes and Matt den Dekker.
"Those guys have all had good springs," manager Don Mattingly said.
Each of the three NRIs have out-clauses. If they aren't on the Opening Day roster, they could wind up at New Orleans.
Gonzalez made seven Grapefruit League appearances with a 3.55 ERA in 12 2/3 innings. The right-hander is expected to be in New Orleans' rotation. Juengel projects to start at third base for New Orleans. He also plays first base.
Worth noting
• An announcement on an Opening Day starter could come sometime in the next couple of days, according to Mattingly. The club has a general idea of how the top of the rotation will shape up. Nothing is official, but Edinson Volquez and Wei-Yin Chen are lined up to pitch the first two games at Washington, respectively.