Rookie revolving door continues for Miami Marlins

Another day. Another pair of rookies join the Marlins.

In a continuation of a recent trend of rookie call-ups, the Marlins promoted two more young pitchers on Friday after placing two of their hurlers — Jose Urena and Andre Rienzo — on the disabled list.

The latest to have their names added to the constantly changing roster: right-handers Kyle Barraclough and Kendry Flores.

Barraclough was the player the Marlins acquired from the Cardinals in their trade with St. Louis for Steve Cishek two weeks ago.

The reliever has never pitched above the Double A level.

Flores was up briefly with the Marlins in June, making two appearances out of the bullpen.

“We’ve had quite a bit of turnover in the last week in the bullpen and our starting pitching has not carried the load and got us deep into ballgames, and that has created some of the issues,” manager Dan Jennings said.

Urena was placed on the 15-day disabled list after being struck by a line drive on his left knee in Thursday night’s game.

Rienzo also landed on the 15-day DL because of a large cut on his left knee, which he sustained in a home-plate collision with the Mets’ Yoenis Cespedes earlier in the week.

Jennings said rookie Adam Conley would likely take Urena’s next turn in the rotation.

Now counting Conley, who has been pitching in relief, the Marlins’ bullpen contains three rookies. Another, Chris Reed, was optioned to the minors a few days ago.

Barraclough throws hard but struggles with his strike-zone command.

But in his four appearances with Double A Jacksonville since the trade, Barraclough struck out nine against one walk in four innings.

“I only threw four innings, so it was a very small sample size,” Barraclough said.

Barraclough has focused this season on his control problems, which he said has “kind of been my Achilles’ heel.”

Said Jennings: “I’ve never seen Barraclough. Our reports read great on him. He’s got big, power stuff. It’s an exciting time for him, his first taste of the major leagues.”

the waiting game

Catcher J.T. Realmuto wasn’t in the lineup for the third game in a row on Friday because of a bruised left hand. But Jennings said he could have used Realmuto behind the plate but refrained because Jose Fernandez was pitching.

“The thing we’re trying to stay away from is [for him] to be partially healthy and catch Jose and get beat up,” Jennings said. “He’s ready to play, pinch-hit if we need. Or we could insert him in the game. Just trying to give him another day right now with the severity he had.”

COMING UP

▪ Saturday: Marlins RHP Tom Koehler (8-8, 3.71 ERA) at Atlanta Braves RHP Mike Foltynewicz (3-3, 5.40), 7:10 p.m., Turner Field.

▪ Sunday: Marlins LHP Brad Hand (1-2, 4.71) at Braves RHP Shelby Miller (5-8, 2.44), 5:05 p.m., Turner Field.

This story was originally published August 7, 2015 at 9:03 PM with the headline "Rookie revolving door continues for Miami Marlins."