The Marlins tweaked their roster on Thursday's off-day before beginning a six-game road trip out west.
Miami returned from rehab and reinstated from the 10-day injured list outfielder Esteury Ruiz and designated for assignment outfielder Austin Slater as the corresponding roster move. The 40-man roster is now at 39.
Ruiz, whom the Marlins acquired via trade from the Dodgers in late December, had yet to debut this season after sustaining a left oblique strain on March 20 during Spring Training's final weekend. In order to shore up its position-player group ahead of Opening Day, Miami signed the 10-year veteran Slater after he exercised the release clause on his deal with the Tigers.
The hope was the right-handed-hitting Slater, 33, would maintain his career splits against lefty pitching (.787 OPS). With a southpaw starting for Colorado on Opening Day, he served as Miami's right fielder. But Slater wasn't producing, going 4-for-23 (.174) with no extra-base hits, one RBI, four walks and nine strikeouts in 12 games (seven starts). He hadn't started since April 12 in Detroit.
The 27-year-old Ruiz replaces Slater and joins Heriberto Hernández as a right-handed-hitting backup option, especially in center behind Jakob Marsee. Miami, which entered Thursday tied for third in the Majors in steals (27), values Ruiz's elite speed. Though Ruiz has yet to consistently produce at the plate in parts of four MLB seasons from 2022-25, slashing .241/.296/.343 in 621 plate appearances, he stole an American League-leading 67 bases in '23. The Marlins could utilize Ruiz as a late-inning pinch-runner or defensive replacement.
Initially diagnosed with a high-grade strain, Ruiz healed quickly and began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on April 15. After going hitless in his first four games (15 at-bats), he went 2-for-2 with two runs, a homer and a walk on Wednesday.
Ruiz is the third Marlins position player to be reinstated from the IL over the past week, joining All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers and infielder Maximo Acosta. Stowers has appeared in all but one game since his return on Sunday, while Acosta was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville for regular playing time. First baseman Christopher Morel began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday for his left oblique strain.