Marlins call up Galloway, Garcia; Riddle optioned

MIAMI -- To provide more roster flexibility and increase bullpen availability, the Marlins on Tuesday made a few personnel moves prior to facing the Cubs at Marlins Park.

Shortstop JT Riddle was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans, and in corresponding moves, outfielder Isaac Galloway had his contract selected, and left-handed reliever Jarlin Garcia was recalled from New Orleans.

Austin Brice, who has been dealing with a stomach virus for several days, was placed on the 10-day IL. Brice threw 1 1/3 innings on Monday in a 7-2 loss to the Cubs. And the right-hander threw three innings last Friday.

“We sent JT down to get his playing time going,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “And make sure he is getting at-bats, and playing regularly and being ready for anything that we need.”

Promoting Garcia fills an immediate need because Miami’s taxed bullpen entered Tuesday potentially without a long reliever. Wei-Yin Chen also threw two innings on Monday. Garcia last pitched on Saturday, and the 26-year-old has appeared in three games and has thrown 4 1/3 innings, with a 4.16 ERA.

Able to play all three outfield positions, Galloway got the start in right field on Tuesday. At New Orleans, he had a slash line of .297/.350/.730 with four home runs and eight RBIs in 11 games.

“I typically have pretty good springs, but I felt going into this spring I had more of a focus to be here,” Galloway said. “In the past, it took so long to get here. I was like, ‘Alright, it’s Spring Training. Let’s just go and compete.’ This year, I kind of took it as I was part of it.”

Galloway made his MLB debut last year, and he hit .203 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 43 games. After the season, he was taken off the 40-man roster. He had a chance to sign a Minor League deal elsewhere, but opted to return to Miami’s system. He was rewarded for that decision on Tuesday.

Riddle’s status changed in recent days when Mattingly announced Miguel Rojas was going to be used more regularly at shortstop. Riddle, in 15 games, was hitting .156 (5-for-32) with two home runs and three RBIs.

Rosell Herrera is the team's utility player who can play shortstop. Adding Galloway also adds a right-handed hitter to give Curtis Granderson days off.

At New Orleans, the Marlins anticipate Riddle will play shortstop a majority of the time, but once a week he also is expected to see time in the outfield. He played some outfield while at the University of Kentucky, but hasn't done so at the big league-level.

“Primarily, he will play short,” Mattingly said. “We’ll try to get him a game here or there in the outfield. We’d already started that process. There were already a couple of games that he was an out away in a double-switch of playing in the outfield here. So we do want to get him a game or so a week, but he primarily will be at shortstop.”