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Miami Marlins News: Derek Dietrich Promoted to Majors

By Ehsan Kassim

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After the Miami Marlins 6-0 win last night over the Colorado Rockies, the team made a roster move, optioning left-handed pitcher Adam Conley to AAA. The move was presumably made to make room for starter Mat Latos, who is expected to come off the DL and start for the Marlins tomorrow.

The Miami Marlins initially called up Conley to take the place of the injured Bryan Morris, giving the team a second left-handed option in the bullpen. With Latos set to take the place of Brad Hand in the rotation, the team didn’t need Conley as the third lefty in the pen. 

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Conley made only appearance in the big leagues, throwing a perfect inning, retiring all 3 hitters he faced on ground balls. Conley owns a 2.86 ERA and a 4.35 FIP in 63 innings of work in New Orleans, but has a 2.78 FIP over his last 5 starts.

If Conley continues to pitch well and the Marlins staff struggles like they have much of this season, don’t be surprised to see his name surface again.

This morning, the team made a surprising move, promoting the forgotten Derek Dietrich to the majors.

The promotion of Dietrich is surprising, as most people around the Marlins suspected the Conley demotion was to make room for Latos. It’s also surprising because since the Tino Martinez incident, Dietrich has been placed on the back burner by the franchise, often passed up on a promotion.

Martinez was accused of being too rough with the Marlins younger players a couple of seasons ago, and with Dietrich one of the people who came forth, it was rumored that Jeffrey Loria was not happy with the second baseman, as Martinez was his handpicked coach.

Dietrich owns a career .220/.297/.397 slash line in 416 plate appearances. He posted a .228/.326/.386 line last season with a 104 wRC+, but was demoted due to his troubles on defense at second base on July 1st and didn’t get promoted by the club when the rosters expanded September 1st.

This year, Dietrich owns a .260/.357/.458 slash line with a 119 wRC+ and 7 home runs in 224 plate appearances. He brings left-handed power, and power overall, that the Marlins lineup needs.

As Christina De Nicola notes on Twitter, Dietrich also brings versatility to the team, having played first, second, third, and in left for the New Orleans Zephyrs. With the Marlins, he’ll probably have a chance to play all four of those positions as well.

The Miami Marlins bench will again have 4 players on it, instead of the 3 they had been carrying while carrying an 8-man bullpen. I’d expect Kendry Flores to be demoted tomorrow to make room for Latos, with one of Tom Koehler and David Phelps heading to the bullpen.

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