Miami Marlins: Kyle Skipworth Optioned to Triple-A; Joe Mahoney to be reinstated off DL

Mar 9, 2013; Melbourne, FL, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Joe Mahoney (25) against the Washington Nationals during a spring training game at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

After the Miami Marlins won their third game of the season, defeating the Washington Nationals 8-2, the Marlins made a roster move to accommodate one of their first baseman coming back from injury. Catcher Kyle Skipworth was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans and the team will reinstate Joe Mahoney off the disabled list tomorrow.

Mahoney will likely step right into the starting first base role for the Miami Marlins. This will allow veteran Greg Dobbs to go back to his role as the Marlins primary pinch hitter. He had been in the competition with Casey Kotchman to be the Marlins starting first basemen until Logan Morrison returned, but an oblique injury knocked him out of the race.

Joe Mahoney is a former sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Richmond. Mahoney has recieved some love as a prospect in the past, being ranked as the tenth-best prospect on the Baltimore Orioles prior to 2012 by FanGraphs’s Marc Hulet. Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus ranked Mahoney as the 13th best prospect in the O’s system just last season.

Mahoney has a big frame 6’7 and should provide an additional batter to provide some pop for the Marlins in their lineup, beyond Justin Ruggiano and Giancarlo Stanton.

Kyle Skipworth was brought up by the Marlins when Kotchman went down with a hamstring issue. The Marlins did not have an immediate first base option in their minor league system, so the team decided they would give catcher Miguel Olivo a crack at first. Hence, the team decided a third catcher would be necessary. Olivo never played at first for the team.

Skipworth will likely jump back into the starting role with New Orleans. He showed some promise defensively during spring training to warrant another shot in the big leagues, granted he improves his hitting.