This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Life as a Major Leaguer isn't always glamorous.

About three hours into his drive north on Interstate-95 from Miami to Jacksonville, left-hander Devin Smeltzer noticed a call coming through his CarPlay from Max Thomas, the Marlins' director of team travel and clubhouse operations. The message arriving at 10:30 p.m. was simple: Turn around.

Smeltzer, who was designated for assignment last Friday and again Thursday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday. His itinerary included driving to Jacksonville that night, as he was doing, then hopping on a Wednesday morning plane to Memphis, where the Marlins' affiliate is playing this week.

But Johan Quezada walked five batters in two-thirds of an inning against the Braves and altered Miami's plans. After receiving the news, Smeltzer had to drive another 10 miles until the next exit before getting gas and heading back south.

In the time between being designated for assignment and waiting in transactional limbo, Smeltzer stayed in Miami. He threw weighted balls off the wall, played golf and had date night with his wife. They packed up their place in Cutler Bay, where they had rented a house for the summer. In the lease, there was a stipulation that if he got DFA'd or traded, the two-month fine would be covered by the team. With next month's rent not due until May 18, they held off on alerting the homeowners association just in case. It's a good thing they did.

"Growing up, I've always loved routine and everything that goes with it," said Smeltzer, who wound up pitching 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday, hours after unpacking his Ford Bronco. "But as my career's gone, if you try to live that life, you're not going to last very long in this game. It's just going to tear you apart. So, you just kind of get used to it and where you're supposed to be."

Manager Skip Schumaker can empathize. He recalled shuttling between Triple-A Memphis and St. Louis in 2007.

"I was up and down six times in one year with a pregnant wife, two dogs and a small kid," Schumaker said. "That year was a lot. It was easier for me -- a lot more challenging for her on that drive back and forth. I totally understand it's much easier turning around coming here then going the other way. I understand how challenging that is, and it's just the reality when you are one of those up-and-down players, and you get DFA'd, and that's kind of the business of the game. He's a pro about it."