Fish Bytes

Kearns, set to return from DL, gets plunked in elbow in Jupiter; plus encouraging signs from JJ

The Marlins 2-1 loss to the Braves wasn't the only bad news from Wednesday night.

Over in Jupiter, Marlins outfielder Austin Kearns sustained a setback in his return from the disabled list when he was plunked on the elbow during an at-bat according to manager Ozzie Guillen.

Kearns, who was set to come off the disabled list Thursday after a tight right hamstring shelved him back on May 23rd, was hit by Brevard County starter Andy Moye in the bottom of the third inning and left the game after just two plate appearances.

"Tomorrow he'll be here, but we've got to see how bad it is," Guillen said of Kearns' condition.

Kearns joined the Hammerheads on a rehab stint Monday. He went 1-for-3 for Jupiter on Monday, and was 0-for-2 with an RBI and a walk Tuesday night. Kearns was batting .375 with three homers in 22 games for the Marlins before being hurt.

JJ MAKING PROGRESS

As Guillen pointed out if there was a positive from Wednesday's loss it was what Josh Johnson did on the mound -- going the deepest he's gone in a game since August 2010.

Guillen said Johnson's velocity was "way better. His breaking ball was pretty good and his command was a lot, lot better. He got out of trouble right away."

Johnson, who threw a season-high 113 pitches and struckout nine, agreed it was his best start of the season.M.p>

"It's being able to repeat my delivery," Johnson said of what felt better. "[Before I] got there, threw hard and didn't know where it was going. Now, I'm getting to the point where I make that same delivery every time and I know where the ball is going."

Marlins wrap up draft by loading up on pitchers, take local closer Dane Stone out of St. Thomas University

The Major League Baseball Draft concluded Wednesday and the Marlins wrapped rounds 16 through 40 by loading up on pitchers. They took 14 in all including one from their own backyard in St. Thomas University closer Dane Stone.

The right-hander, who attended Miami Southridge High, earned NAIA First Team All-American honors after finishing this past season 5-2 with a 1.38 ERA and 16 saves. 

Stone was brought to the attention of Marlins brass by Kelvin Colon, who is the Warehouse Manager in the Retail Operations department for the Marlins and was a teammate of Stone’s in 2010 on the St. Thomas pitching staff.

HERE ARE ALL THE MARLINS PICKS FROM ROUNDS 16-40

- Brian Ellington, RHP, 6-4, 200, University of West Florida, 16th round, 497th overall
- Garrett Keene, OF, R/R, 6-4, 190, Brookhaven Academy, MS, 17th round, 527th overall
- Patrick Merkling, LHP, 6-1, 193, Lee University (Tenn.), 18th round, 557th overall
- Cody Gunter, 3B, L/R, 6-3, 195, Flower Mound High, Texas, 19th round, 587th overall
- Jordan Hillyer, RHP, 6-2, 195, Hebron Christian Academy, Ga., 20th round, 617th overall
- Hayden Fox, LHP, 6-4, 200, Oakland University (Mich.), 21st round, 647th overall
- Robert Ravago, RHP, 6-1, 200, Arizona State, 22nd round, 677th overall
- Cameron Flynn, OF, L/R, 6-0, 185, University of Kentucky, 23rd round, 707th overall
- Matt Juengel, 3B, R/R, 6-2, 185, Texas A&M, 24th round, 737th overall
- Dane Stone, RHP, 6-7, 225, St. Thomas University, 25th round, 767th overall
- Colton Grant, RHP, 6-4, 215, Appalachian State (N.C.), 26th round, 797th overall
- Justin Jackson, RHP, 6-4, 201, Sam Houston State, 27th round, 827th overall
- Casey McCarthy, RHP, 6-4, 215, Cal State San Bernadino (Calif), 28th round, 857th overall
- Blake Barnes, RHP, 6-1, 186, Oklahoma State, 29th round, 887th overall
- David Cruz, C, 6-0, 200, No School, 30th round, 917th overall
- Lucas Hunter, SS, R/R, 5-11, 160, Central Catholic High, Ore., 31st round, 947th overall
- Ty Williams, RHP, 6-2, 195, Sulphur High, Okla., 32nd round, 977th overall
- Steven Weber, RHP, 6-7, 210, Eastern Michigan, 33rd round, 1007th overall
- Patrick Claussen, 3B, L/R, 5-11, 190, Washington State, 34th round, 1037th overall
- Chad Christensen, CF, R/R, 6-3, 190, Nebraska, 35th round, 1067th overall
- Kendall Graveman, RHP, 6-2, 185, Mississippi State, 36th round, 1097th overall
- Edward Sappelt, OF, S/R, 5-11, 175, Southern Alamance High, N.C., 37th round, 1127th overall
- Michael Smith, LHP, 6-2, 195, Cumberland Univ. (Tenn.), 38th round, 1157th overall
- Marcus Greene, C, R/R, 5-11, 195, Vista Del Lago, Calif., 39th round, 1187th overall
- Alex Polston, SS, R/R, 5-11, 175, Cal Albert High, Okla., 40th round, 1217th overall

While most of the Marlins are rooting for the Heat, catcher Brett Hayes is focused on his L.A. Kings

Just because they've got their own season to worry about doesn't mean the Marlins haven't been keeping an eye on what's also been happening in the NBA and NHL playoffs.

While a good chunk of the clubhouse has been following the Heat closely (a handful went to see them play against the Pacers on an off-night last week), catcher Brett Hayes has been focused on another team -- his hometown Los Angeles Kings.

With L.A. leading the Devils 3-0 and on the verge of winning their first Stanley Cup title heading into Game 4 Wednesday night, Hayes, not in the Marlins starting lineup, said he was going to rely on updates from the training staff throughout Wednesday's game against the Braves as he sits on the bench. 

"Hopefully we don't have to go into extra innings or anything," Hayes said. "We can win quickly, get back in here and I can catch the last period."

Hayes, born and raised in L.A., said his parents were season ticket holders for Kings games for four seasons. Hayes said he played club hockey for six years as a kid and "grew up wanting to be a King more than a Dodger."

"We actually played our games in the same training facility as the Kings," Hayes said. "I had Rob Blake's No. 4 jersey, still have it in fact. My wife just bought me a new Kings jersey the other day."

Hayes said he recently picked up the sport again this past off-season. He said he plays in a non-contact, pickup league. 

"I'm in gear from head to toe. I look like an idiot," Hayes said. "Everybody is in shin guard and hockey pants and I'm in full gear, facemask, shoulder pads. But it's fun. I pretty much picked up right where I left off."

> If Giancarlo Stanton does indeed receive an invite to represent the National League in the home run derby at the All-Star Game in Kansas City next month (it's considered a formality now after captain Matt Kemp said Tuesday he wants Stanton on the team), it won't be the first time the 22-year old Marlins slugger has participated in a home run derby.

In fact, Stanton said Wednesday he's 0-for-3 in his lifetime in long ball competitions, saying he lost to a teammate in high school and former Nationals prospect Michael Burgess in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game (High-A ball) in 2008.

"The reason I probably lost was because I tried too hard," Stanton said. "It's hard man. You have a packed stadium and people wanting to see you hit it as far as you can. Your hips start leaving earlier, you start hooking things. You just got to stay inside yourself and not try to do too much... it's easier said than done."

> After Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez put his pitcher to bat eighth Tuesday and had a little success with it (Tim Hudson went 1 for 4 with two RBI), Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen was asked Wednesday if he would ever consider doing the same thing. 

"I never did, I never tried," Guillen said. "I almost tried to call people and ask why they do it. I've got to get a good feeling about it. I'd have to have a great answer to do that."

> Former singer and American Idol judge Paula Abdul watched the Marlins take batting practice before Wednesday's game. Abdul took time to pose for photos with owner Jeffrey Loria and Mr. Marlin Jeff Conine.

JJ will try to put an end to Marlins' skid against ATL

If you are scoring at home you know the last two times the Marlins have faced the Braves things haven't gone well. 

In fact, it's been awful. Miami, shut out 11-0 Tuesday, was blanked 7-0 by the Braves the last time they played them in Atlanta.

Josh Johnson will try to put an end to that skid when he takes the mound tonight. Johnson is 5-3 with a 2.29 ERA (94.1/24) in 16 career games (15 starts) against the Braves. All of his decisions have come in the starts, with a 2.39 ERA (90.1/24).

In his four starts versus Atlanta since the beginning of the 2010 season, he is averaging 13.1 strikeouts-per-9.0 innings against the Braves. He has struck out at least eight batters in each of those starts.

Here's an interesting factoid about the Marlins starting rotation: The Fish are one of just four teams in the majors to use only their season opening rotation thus far. The other teams to not use a sixth starter this season are Cincinnati (Arroyo, Bailey, Cueto, Latos and Leake), St. Louis (Lohse, Garcia, Lynn, Wainwright and Westbrook) and Seattle (Vargas, Hernandez, Beavan, Millwood and Noesi).

WEDNESDAY'S LINEUP

> Marlins (31-24): 1. Jose Reyes SS, 2. Omar Infante 2B, 3. Hanley Ramirez 3B, 4. Giancarlo Stanton RF, 5. Logan Morrison 1B, 6. John Ruggiano LF, 7. Bryan Petersen CF, 8. John Buck C, 9. Josh Johnson P