MIAMI -- The Marlins recalled right-handed reliever Brian Ellington from Triple-A New Orleans and optioned right-hander Cody Hall to the club's top affiliate on Sunday.
Ellington, the 25th-ranked prospect in the organization by MLBPipeline.com, is one of the harder throwers in the system, sporting a mid- to upper-90s fastball that occasionally touches 100. He posted a 3.80 ERA and struck out 31 batters over 23 2/3 innings in 21 appearances for New Orleans in 2016. The 25-year-old was a late callup to the big leagues last year, compiling a 2.88 ERA in 23 appearances.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly sees Ellington as an option to throw multiple innings, but that isn't necessarily what his long-term role may end up being. The team also has Nick Wittgren and Dustin McGowan as multiple-inning options.
"We want to be able to use [Ellington] in different ways," Mattingly said. "But the fact that he's built up to go multiple is always good for us. We've got a number of guys we think can throw multiple innings. Wittgren is a guy. McGowan is a guy. The rest of the guys are a little bit more we want to stay away from the multiple innings."
Ellington hadn't allowed a run in his past nine innings at New Orleans, striking out 14 while walking just two during that span. Control was an issue for Ellington in Spring Training this year, when he issued seven free passes in five innings.
"His last few have been good," Mattingly said. "He started off a little bit rough. He had a rough Spring Training from the standpoint of wildness. It seemed like not making the club set him back just a little bit. But his last four or five have been good. He's gone multiple innings a couple of times. He seems to be more sure of himself. We were trying to wait a little bit longer, but with Cody last night, it ended up having to need an arm today. It pushed it right there."
Hall struggled in two appearances for the Marlins. The 28-year-old surrendered four runs on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts over three combined innings in back-to-back outings against the Mets on Friday and Saturday.