Miami Marlins News: Kevin Slowey to DL, Steven Ames Promoted

May 28, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey (45) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

If pitcher Steven Ames pitches Sunday, Miami Marlins will witness the third major league debut of the week. Top outfield prospects Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick made their major league debuts on Tuesday, at Coors Field in Colorado.

After the Marlins’ 7-4 loss last night to the Pirates, the team placed right handed pitcher Kevin Slowey on the 15-day DL with right forearm tightness. Slowey felt some discomfort when he was warming up during the early stages of the ballgame, and was not able to get into the game.

Slowey, who opened the season as the Marlins number two starter, but was pushed to the bullpen with Henderson Alvarez and Nathan Eovaldi returning from the DL, has a 4.11 ERA and a 3.80 FIP for the season in 92 innings of work. In his 15 innings of work since moving to the bullpen, Slowey owns a 3.60 ERA and an even more impressive 1.57 FIP. He has struck out over ten hitters per nine innings as a reliever.

Though the likelihood that Slowey is traded is shot with him heading to the DL just three days before the MLB’s July 31st trading deadline, it will be interesting to see if Slowey can return this season. The right hander is under team control next season, but his arbitration price could knock him out of Miami’s price range for a reliever.

To take replace Slowey, the Marlins have promoted Steven Ames, who was apart of the three pitching “prospect” return the Marlins got in the Ricky Nolasco deal earlier this month. Josh Kusnick, Ames’ South Florida-based agent, confirmed the promotion on his Twitter last night.

Ames, like manager Mike Redmond, is a product of the University of Gonzaga, has pitched seven scoreless innings with the New Orleans Zephyrs since the team acquired him earlier this month. Ames had a 3.67 ERA and a 4.25 FIP in 34 1/3 innings with the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate this season prior to the trade.

Coming into the season, Ames was ranked as the Dodgers 21st best prospect, according to Baseball America. Ames has a lot of zip on his fastball that sits between 92 and 95, but touches 97 at times.

Although it is unlikely, a roster move we could see in the coming days could be a Brian Flynn promotion to the big leagues (would require a 40-man roster move). Flynn, who starts today for the Zephyrs, could slot into the rotation, with Tom Koehler taking over as the long relief guy in the Marlins bullpen.

That’s the roster move I would personally make, but I don’t run the Marlins.