The Miami Marlins optioned infielder Graham Pauley to Triple-A Jacksonville and recalled outfielder Heriberto Hernández, the report says. Left-hander Dax Fulton was also sent to Triple-A while right-hander Stephen Jones was recalled as part of the roster moves.
Pauley, who was a solid contributor for the Marlins last season, has struggled offensively in 2026. The report says he is batting .173 with 19 strikeouts and has been hitless in his last 17 at-bats. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Pauley has not met offensive expectations this year and that the club believed a stint in Jacksonville would be the best way for him to try to regain his form.
Hernández returned after a brief Triple-A assignment; he had been optioned to Jacksonville on April 27, per the report. Last year he hit .266 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs, but this season he had a slow start, batting .159 with no homers in 63 at-bats before the recall.
The demotion of Pauley is the second this week for a contributor from last season, following catcher Agustín Ramírez being sent to the minors on Monday, the report says. With Pauley gone, Connor Norby and Javier Sanoja are expected to see more time at third base, and McCullough said other players would receive added opportunities. That group includes infielder Leo Jimenez, who was acquired from Toronto in March and has recorded 21 plate appearances with Miami.
Miami began the season 13-13 and climbed to second place in the NL East before a recent slide, the report says. The club has lost eight of its past 11 games, including a four-game losing streak, and the roster changes are part of the team’s effort to address offensive struggles.
