Marlins send prospect Jose Urena to Triple-A, make other roster moves
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Miami Marlins made additional roster moves on Sunday morning, including optioning one of their top prospects -- right-hander Jose Urena -- to Triple-A New Orleans.
Urena pitched two scoreless innings in his lone Grapefruit League appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing three hits, striking out three batters and walking one. The 23-year-old righty also tossed a couple frames in a "B" game against the Cardinals earlier this week. In 2014, he went 13-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) with the Suns.
"It's really close," manager Mike Redmond said of Urena's ability to pitch in the majors. "I think we all saw that with his fastball, pitchability. As with any young guy, you always work on consistency, especially the offspeed pitches, but he's got a big-league fastball and I think you saw that in the way he pitched. And he's a great competitor, which is something we really look at but it's hard for other people to measure. But this guy's a big-time competitor."
Miami also optioned righty Kendry Flores to Double-A Jacksonville, while reassigning right-handers Nick Wittgren and Trevor Williams, infielder Avery Romero as well as outfielders Austin Wates and Kenny Wilson to minor-league camp.
Flores, acquired in the Casey McGehee trade with the San Francisco Giants, did not pitch in a spring training game. In 2014 with Single-A San Jose, the 23-year-old righty posted a 4-6 record and 4.09 ERA in 20 starts.
Romero hit .286 (2-for-7) with four RBI in parts of five spring games. His three-run homer against the New York Mets on Monday was a towering shot. The 21-year-old infielder has played second, short and third in the minors. In 2014 between stints with Greensboro and Jupiter, he hit .320 with 31 doubles, one triple, five homers and 56 RBI in 118 games.
"We brought him over last year for a few games and this guy's got some power and is able to play good defense," Redmond said. "Tried to get him in there as much as we could in spring. He's another guy who just needs to play, get the experience. The at-bats are starting to dry up there. We like him. He's got a chance, too. He just needs to play."
Both Wates, 26, and Wilson, 25, batted .250 in limited spring action. They provide outfield depth to the minors. Wittgren, 23, and Williams, 22, did not make Grapefruit League outings. Wittgren went 5-5 with a 3.55 ERA and 20 saves as Suns closer in 2014. Williams combined to go 8-7 with a 3.12 ERA in 26 starts between Jupiter and Jacksonville.
There are now 53 players in major-league camp, 13 fewer than when it began in late February.
"I think that's part of what we've talked about as an organization why we've brought in the depth," Redmond said. "We don't want to rush these guys. We want to make sure we give them the time to really get the experience they need in the minor leagues so when they come to the big leagues they're prepared and ready to stay. I think that's what's important. I think we're fortunate in the fact we can do that with our young guys. Make sure when we do bring them they're ready to go."
Worth noting -- Potential Opening Day starter Henderson Alvarez will throw in a simulation game with minor leaguers during Monday's off day to get his work in.
-- Right-handers Tom Koehler and Bryan Morris pitched in a sim game on Saturday to get their pitches in.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
