The Marlins are facing a setback as they place Christopher Morel on the 10-day injured list due to an oblique strain, which is expected to sideline him for four to six weeks. In response, Deyvison De Los Santos is being called up to fill the gap.
Morel, 26, joined the Marlins in the offseason after being non-tendered by the Rays. He was slated to start at first base for Miami.
His journey in the majors began in Chicago back in 2022, where he was promoted directly from Double-A. Morel's versatility saw him play multiple positions, though his defensive skills were below average.
Offensively, he showed promise with a .235/.304/.433 slash line over 113 games.
In 2023, Morel started in Triple-A but quickly moved up to become the Cubs' designated hitter, also covering the outfield and second base. He impressed with a 120 wRC+ and 26 homers in just 107 games.
However, his 2024 season didn't go as planned. Although he was given the third base role, his defense faltered, and his batting average dropped to .199/.302/.372 over 103 games.
This led to his trade to the Rays during the Isaac Paredes deal.
Morel's time with the Rays was challenging. The team tried to stabilize his performance by focusing him in left field, but his offensive struggles continued, hitting only .208/.277/.355 in 154 games. With a strikeout rate of 35.7% in 105 games last year, the Rays eventually let him go, paving the way for the Marlins to take a chance on him.
Miami hoped that the lower pressure environment and a position at first base would help Morel regain his form. Unfortunately, his injury delays his debut for the Marlins this season. While he recovers, players like Connor Norby, Graham Pauley, and Javier Sanoja might see more infield action.
The real opportunity here is for De Los Santos. At 22, this corner infielder is stepping up for his MLB debut.
Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the A.J. Puk trade, De Los Santos showed potential in 2024 but struggled with power at Triple-A last year.
Now, he has the chance to make an impact against left-handed pitchers and potentially become a valuable asset for the Marlins moving forward.