The Marlins’ search for infield depth has come full circle.
Isan Díaz, the club’s Opening Day starting second baseman, was recalled from the alternate training site in Jupiter, Fla. on Thursday. It’s his first time with the club since the third game of the season, on July 26.
Díaz, who elected not to play the rest of the 2020 season at the beginning of August, was cleared to return by a joint MLB/MLB Players Association panel.
Even with Díaz back on the active roster, that doesn’t automatically mean he will be written regularly in the lineup at second.
In the opener of Miami’s crucial seven-game, five-day series with Philadelphia at Marlins Park, Jazz Chisholm got the start at second base.
“We need all of our guys,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “We’re going to need Isan. We’re going to need Jazz. …. Anyone who is on our roster, we’re going to need them to do their part.”
Mattingly said Díaz has also taken some reps at third base, and he has played the position in the past. But that is considered more of an emergency spot for him.
“He was mostly at second,” Mattingly said. “That’s where we really see him the best. He was taking some ground balls, just a little bit of an introduction at third. He’s played some third, he said, in the Winter Leagues in Puerto Rico. So it’s not something that’s foreign to him.
“I really look at it as kind of an emergency thing. You do that with all your guys. It’s part of development.”
The addition of Díaz comes on another busy day of roster moves.
Infielder Jon Berti (right index finger laceration) was placed on the 10-day injured list.
“Bert went down,” Mattingly said. “It didn’t look like he’s going to be able to play for a few more days, at least. We couldn’t go through this without having enough guys. Isan is part of the group.”
Right-hander Jordan Yamamoto and lefty Alex Vesia were optioned to the alternate training site. Yamamoto surrendered 13 runs (12 earned) in 2 2/3 innings in Wednesday’s 29-9 loss at the Braves. Vesia yielded five runs (four earned) in 1 1/3 innings in the record-setting loss.
Additionally, catcher Francisco Cervelli (concussion) was transferred to the 60-day injured list, ending his season. This is the third straight year Cervelli has spent time on the injured list with concussions, which raises the question if he is leaning towards retirement.
Brought in as bullpen reinforcements are left-hander Daniel Castano, who was recalled, and righty Brett Eibner, who had his contract selected.
Castano, who has been a starter, is available as a long reliever.
“[Wednesday’s] game, as a manager, you’re trying get through that and use as few guys as possible,” Mattingly said. “It would have been great if Yamamoto could have went six innings and got us to the end of the game and kept us in it.”
Rebounding from the road
With their focus now on the Phillies, the Marlins have to quickly turn the page from Wednesday’s nightmarish loss.
It was a frustrating night all around. Still, before the game got out of hand, the Marlins had a few umpire calls, including a replay review, go against them. They also felt at least two pitches to Ronald Acuña Jr. should have been called strike three. The pitches in question were in the second and fourth innings.
“A lot of times you get frustrated over one call or another,” Mattingly said. “I think you have to get past it right away. You are frustrated by it, but it’s not going to do any good. We had plenty of chances to get outs after that.”