MIAMI — The Marlins placed rookie outfielder Owen Caissie on the injured list with a right calf strain and left-handed reliever John King with a left lateral ankle sprain before their 8-4 victory over the Mariners at loanDepot park, losing two key contributors just ahead of the All-Star break.
Caissie, who turned 24 Wednesday, was batting .239/.297/.459 with 12 doubles, 12 homers — tied for second most on the club — and 50 RBIs, second most on the roster, across 80 games as Miami’s primary right fielder. Since May 1, he had posted an .861 OPS. Manager Clayton McCullough said an MRI revealed a two-to-four-week return-to-play timeline. “Being this close to the All-Star break and all, we hope that that time also kind of helps,” McCullough said.
King’s absence strips the bullpen of its most reliable left-handed option. In 40 appearances, King carried a 2.48 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP with one save and four holds. McCullough said King rolled his ankle stepping awkwardly on a platform during pitching drills. His IL stint is retroactive to Wednesday. “It was going to be definitely a few days [that] he wasn’t going to be able to throw,” McCullough said. “And again, with the All-Star break coming, and the ability to build that in, hopefully it’s not too long. But I think over the next two, three, four days, we’ll have a better idea of what the timeline may end up being.”
Miami recalled outfielder Rece Hinds and right-hander Ryan Gusto from Triple-A Jacksonville as corresponding moves. The club also returned Janson Junk from rehab, reinstating him from the 15-day IL, and optioned righty Zach Brzykcy to Triple-A. Hinds, acquired from the Reds for reliever Zach McCambley on May 21, owns a .647 career OPS in 131 big league plate appearances from 2024-26 with Cincinnati and hit .231/.296/.404 with three doubles and five homers in 28 games at Jacksonville. “We had a big meeting with a lot of hitting guys and stuff,” Hinds said. “The big thing was swing decisions. Working on seeing pitches and swinging at my zone and doing damage with my zone.”
Griffin Conine, who replaced Caissie on Wednesday and fell a triple shy of the cycle Thursday, figures to share corner-outfield duties alongside Heriberto Hernández, Esteury Ruiz and Hinds. “I think just always be ready for anything,” Conine said. “Just coming into the game yesterday, you never expect to be there in the first when you’re not starting. Got in there and hit in the first at-bat, which was cool, just to be ready for stuff like that. You want to be ready all the time. It’s hard to do. Obviously, we’ve got to pick up the slack while he’s gone. He’s been a big piece for us the last month and even more than that. So, hopefully we get him back soon.”
With Cade Gibson now the lone southpaw in the bullpen, McCullough said righties Michael Petersen, Calvin Faucher, Lake Bachar and Tyler Zuber could be called upon to face left-handed bats. Gusto, who posted a 5.06 ERA in six starts since June 5 before being optioned to carry more relievers, is an option to open the first-half finale with Max Meyer’s Sunday start being skipped for extra rest.