The Miami Marlins designated infielder Christopher Morel for assignment ahead of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, ending the player’s brief and challenging tenure with the team. Morel, who was expected to add power to the Marlins’ lineup after signing a $2 million, one-year contract in the offseason, struggled with injuries and underperformance during his time in Miami.

Morel appeared in 22 games with the Marlins but managed a batting average of just .162 and did not record a home run. Despite remaining on the active roster, he had not played since June 10. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough acknowledged Morel’s professionalism amid the difficulties, stating, “Chris is a real pro. He handled himself well through the difficult tenure here and wish him the best.”

The 26-year-old infielder’s season was hampered from the start by an oblique injury sustained during batting practice prior to the March 27 season opener. He spent the early portion of the campaign on the injured list and was not activated until April 27. After returning, Morel struggled to secure regular playing time, and his performance at the plate did not improve sufficiently for the coaching staff to maintain him in the lineup.

Morel’s professional trajectory before joining Miami included a promising start with the Chicago Cubs, hitting 16 home runs during his rookie season in 2022 and increasing that total to 26 in 2023. Midway through the 2024 season, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays, where he stayed until becoming a free agent at the end of 2025.

McCullough reflected on the expectations the Marlins had for Morel heading into the season, saying, “We had high hopes that Christopher could turn around the talent ability that he has and kind of refine the ’22, ’23 version, and it just didn’t happen.” He added that Morel’s injury right before the season start set him back and that limited opportunities in recent weeks contributed to the decision to move on.

In a related roster move, the Marlins activated outfielder Griffin Conine from the injured list, adding depth to their lineup as they adjust for the remainder of the season.