Green happy to be back; Hechavarria moves into leadoff spot for a night

SAN DIEGO -- Nick Green knows life as a utility infielder can be wacky, filled with trips up and down from the minors and to the free agency wire.

So what he endured this past week -- getting designated for assignment last Thursday because shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria was returning from the disabled list, clearing waivers, and then returning to the Marlins Tuesday because second baseman Donovan Solano was heading to the DL -- wasn't anything he hasn't seen before.

"I had something similar happen to me when I was in New York [back in 2006]," Green recalled Tuesday in the Marlins clubhouse. "First [Derek] Jeter was hurt and I was up for a week. A few days later [Miguel] Cairo got hurt. When he came back -- literally the same day -- [Robinson] Cano got hurt. So I ended up staying up. It wasn't that the whole team was going down, but my position was. So it helped me stay up with the team. That's as much as I've seen as far as that."

What has caught Green by surprise is how many players the Marlins have sent to the 60-day disabled list. Tuesday it was right-hander Henderson Alvarez who was shipped there to make room on the 40-man roster after he recently took a step back with his rehab from shoulder tightness. Manager Mike Redmond said it's unlikely Henderson would have been ready anyway by the All-Star Break.

"It's really crazy to see how many guys are on the DL," Green said. "What we have [five] guys on the 60-day [and another five on the 15]? When all those guys come back it's going to be interesting [to see what happens]."

Green said what was unusual about being sent designated this time was that he actually was hitting pretty well (.321, 1 HR, 3 RBI in 8 games).

"Most of the times I've been sent down before I haven't done real well so you always understand that," he said. "I guess it was more of a numbers game than anything else [this time]. I can't complain about it. You can be disappointed, but I'm not going to bitch to anybody it."

HECHAVARRIA TO HIT LEADOFF

Hechavarria, whose diving grab Monday ranked sixth in the ESPN Top 10 SportsCenter plays of the day, will be batting leadoff Tuesday night for the first time in his big league career as Redmond gives Juan Pierre a night off against Padres left-hander Eric Stults.

Hechavarria, who is hitting .235 with a double, two triples and a home run since his return from the DL, said he hit lead-off plenty of times in his minor league career and back home in Cuba. So it isn't a big deal to him.

"He's been swinging the bat well. I've liked his at-bats," Redmond said. "We talked in spring training about him being a top of the order guy. It's a great situation. JP has the night off. Let's get [Hechavarria] out there at the top of the order. One thing hitting him eight -- we don't really get to see his speed. And he can really run. Hopefully he'll get on base tonight, run around and have some fun."

> Redmond said his plan is to give catcher Rob Brantly a couple days off to rest his sliced right index finger, which hasn't been healing right. Brantly likely won't start again until Friday, but will be available for pinch-hitting Redmond said.

"It's still been pretty tender," Redmond said."I can tell on his throws. I want to get that thing healed up."

> Expect third baseman Placido Polanco to get the day off Wednesday. Playing short-handed of late Redmond said he's been meaning to get Polanco a day off but just hasn't been able to.

TUESDAY'S LINEUP

> Marlins (10-23): 1. Adeiny Hechavarria SS, 2. Matt Diaz LF, 3. Placido Polanco 3B, 4. Justin Ruggiano CF, 5. Marcell Ozuna RF, 6. Greg Dobbs 1B, 7. Miguel Olivo C, 8. Chris Valaika 2B, 9. Alex Sanabia RHP.

> Padres (14-18): 1. Everth Cabrera SS, 2. Chris Denorfia LF, 3. Chase Headley 3B, 4. Yonder Alonso 1B, 5. Jedd Gyorko 2B, 6. Will Venable RF, 7. Nick Hundley C, 8. Alexi Amarista CF, 9. Eric Stults LHP.