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On Tuesday evening, it was reported that the Miami Marlins optioned catcher Kyle Skipworth back to Triple-A to make room for first baseman Joe Mahoney who was recovering from an oblique injury. Miami is in the middle of a very rough season and that agony can be seen in the first base position with both Logan Morrison and Casey Kotchman sitting on the DL. Due to their absences, longtime utility man Greg Dobbs has stepped in and has actually been solid during the first 13 games with a line of .262/.333/.381. With that said, Dobbs has played and started in every game so far this year, so the addition of Mahoney will definitely help as we go further in the season. Mahoney will most likely be either immediately inserted in to the starting role or the more likely approach of sharing games with the aforementioned Dobbs.
To really break down the impact that Joe Mahoney will have on Miami's offense, let's take a small glimpse at his career. Before being picked off of waivers this past offseason, Mahoney was a member of the Orioles farm system where he made the slow climb up the minor league system after being drafted back in 2007. The 25-year-old spent the entire 2012 season in Triple-A before being a September call-up. In his time with Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate Norfolk Tides, he was solid with 10 home runs with a line of .265/.319/.389 which is extremely similar to that of Greg Dobbs.
The main reason why most Marlins fans are eager about the impending debut of Mahoney was his powerful showcase in spring training. Now, Mahoney's numbers (.233/.258/.567) look a little medicore, but that .567 slugging percentage and his three home runs were on the minds of most people.
The power he showed in the spring was there in the lower levels of minors but it's still a question on how that will translate against some of the best arms in the NL East. This division with filled with quality arms like Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Kris Medlen, and others, so he'll be in for a challenge when he steps to the plate.
Mahoney should be only looked at as a stopgap option until either Casey Kotchman or Morrison make their returns but of course that could change if he has a stellar start.