The Marlins tweaked their roster on Thursday's off-day before beginning a six-game road trip out west.
Outfielder Esteury Ruiz returned from rehab and was reinstated from the 10-day injured list, while outfielder Austin Slater was designated for assignment 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.
“Most of [Ruiz's] starts come versus left-handed pitching and he gives us some coverage in all three outfield spots,” Marlins coach Clayton McCullough said Friday before Miami’s game in San Francisco. “He is someone that can cover center field behind [Jakob Marsee]. The unique and interesting thing about Ruiz … the speed element and how to potentially be able to weaponize that off the bench during games.”
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 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.
“Great teammate,” McCullough said of Slater. “No secret we had some injuries right at the end of Spring Training and Austin felt like he was someone that could come in and give us a shot in the arm from the right side. I know he probably didn’t maybe perform as well as he would have liked. Austin was very up for what we were asking and needing of him.”
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.