Per a team release, the Marlins have selected IF/OF Jon Berti to the 40-man roster and optioned OF Austin Dean to AAA-New Orleans. Righty Riley Ferrell was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room for Berti.
Berti, 29, signed a minor-league deal with Miami in the offseason after eight seasons spent on the Toronto farm. After an excellent showing with AA-New Hampshire last season, where he slashed .314/.399/.498 as a way-old-for-the-level 28-year-old, Berti was gifted with a late-season, 15-plate appearance cameo for the Jays.
Berti’s lit the southern division of the Pacific Coast League ablaze thus far, slashing a ridiculous .286/.490/.486 over his first 49 plate appearances, and the Marlins will hope the utilityman can at least approximate his otherworldly plate-discipline figures in his second MLB stint.
Dean again struggled in his second MLB Marlins stint this season, slashing just .227/.217/.455 with a 39.1% K rate over the season’s first 23 plate appearances. The 25-year-old does have a strong upper-minors track record, though further seasoning seems in order.
Maybe this guy can hit?
*ahem*Harold Ramirez*ahem*
That OBP is ridiculous!
Jon Berti is just the 18th alumni of BGSU to get to the majors. First since Nolan Riemold. Super excited for him to get another chance.
Heard Hanley Ramirez got DFA. At this point, i’d bring him in and stick him at 1B and shift Walker to RF.