Could Lewin Diaz’s opportunity for regular playing time with Marlins be on the horizon?

In his latest trip up to the big leagues, Lewin Diaz had to bide his time — no different than what has been the case the past two years. His few spurts with the Miami Marlins have generally come following injuries to either Jesus Aguilar or Garrett Cooper, the two first basemen ahead of him on the depth chart and blocking his path to everyday work in the big leagues.

This time, he joined the team on Sunday in Pittsburgh as a member of the taxi squad, brought in as a contingency in case Cooper’s right wrist injury sustained a day earlier was severe enough to warrant a stint on the injured list. Diaz was finally added to the active roster Tuesday when Cooper went on the IL.

And this time, he might finally get that extended chance to show whether he can be the Marlins’ long-term first baseman. His defensive skills are well regarded and potentially Gold Glove caliber, and he has offensive potential as a power-hitting lefty.

“He can play,” Aguilar said. “He’s a great guy. He’s a great kid. He’s got to learn a couple things, but he’s ready to play at this level. He just needs the opportunity to be here. For me, he can be an everyday player.”

That opportunity will come one of two ways. Either Cooper’s injury sidelines him long-term or one of Aguilar or Cooper is dealt by MLB’s trade deadline at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Cooper, an All-Star for the first time in his big-league career, has reportedly been connected to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Aguilar is a steady veteran hitter who has led the Marlins in RBI (170) since being acquired ahead of the 2020 season even if he has had an up-and-down 2022 (.251 average, .695 OPS, 12 home runs, 43 RBI in 90 games). Aguilar has a $10 million mutual option for 2023 with a $200,000 buyout. Cooper is under team control through the 2023 season.

And the early returns of Diaz’s current stint have been positive. His defense continues to be quality, and he has produced at the plate. After going 0 for 4 with a strikeout Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, Diaz reached base in six of his eight plate appearances Wednesday and Thursday to wrap up the series, logging three hits and drawing three walks while scoring two runs in that span.

“Probably better than I’ve seen him,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “His at-bats have been better. He’s shrunk the zone a little bit. He’s not chasing nearly as much. He’s not trying to swing and hit everything. It felt like he’s more under control this time than I’ve ever seen him. And then his defense is just spectacular over at first. He makes a difference over there.”

It’s a continuation of what Diaz was doing in Triple A Jacksonville, where he hit .252 with 19 home runs, 19 doubles, 64 RBI and 55 runs scored over 82 games. He has also drawn 32 walks, one shy of his single-season high of 33 set in 2019.

“It’s been a pretty good season for me since the beginning of the season,” Diaz said Tuesday. “I’ve been working mostly this year on my discipline, trying to swing at pitches in the strike zone. I think last year I didn’t get many walks. This year, I feel like I’m getting a few more walks than the previous years.”

Sanchez’s strides

To say Jesus Sanchez has struggled at the plate the past two and a half months might be an understatement. From May 1 to the All-Star Break, the outfielder hit just .173 with a .570 on-base-plus slugging mark and a 26.7-percent strikeout rate (57 for 213).

But could this past road trip be a turning point?

During his seven games against the Pirates and Reds, Sanchez went 5 for 16 at the plate with three doubles, one home run (a game-tying shot in the ninth inning as a pinch-hitter on Thursday), three walks and four runs scored.

“I just need to be on time. That’s the most important thing,” Sanchez said. “If I’m on time, I can be successful. That’s the key of what I’m looking for right now.”

This and that

▪ Catching up on two key Marlins rehab assignments: Left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo (left forearm strain) allowed two earned runs on three hits and four walks while striking out six over 4 2/3 innings on Wednesday with the Triple A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp while throwing 75 pitches (45 strikes). One day later, right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera (right elbow tendonitis) threw five shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out seven on 61 pitches (44 strikes).

▪ Catcher Jacob Stallings is on a five-game hitting streak.

▪ The Marlins have signed 17 of their 20 picks from the 2022 MLB Draft, including everyone from the first 10 rounds. The only three who remain unsigned: FSU shortstop Brett Robers (16th round), Tampa Wharton High right-handed pitcher Evan Chrest (17th round) and Georgia right-handed pitcher Jack Gowen (20th round).