MIAMI -- Ryan Tucker now has the distinction of being the first player from the Marlins' Class of '05 to reach the big leagues.

One of five first-round picks of the Marlins in 2005, Tucker made his Major League debut on Sunday. The 21-year-old right-hander from Burbank, Calif., worked five innings vs. the Reds, allowing one run, and collecting his first career win.

Because of sandwich and compensatory picks, Tucker was one of five pitchers taken in the first round. He actually was the Draft slot allotted because reliever Armando Benitez signed as a free agent after the 2004 season.

The Marlins in '05 took these pitchers in the first, in order: Chris Volstad, Aaron Thompson, Jacob Marceaux, Tucker and Sean West.

Before Tucker was brought up, he was at Double-A Carolina with Volstad, Thompson and Marceaux.

"I never really looked at it as a competition," said Tucker, who struck out six in his win over the Reds. "We all have great ability. It's kind of like how it worked out."

Volstad, the Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., native, has been widely regarded as the top pitching prospect. But the 6-foot-7 right-hander is on the Minor League DL with a right triceps injury. However, he is expected to rejoin the Carolina rotation this week.

Thompson, a left-hander, is on the DL with a shoulder problem. He is throwing, but is a little ways away from returning.

Marceaux is pitching in relief.

West, an imposing 6-foot-8 lefty, missed all of 2007 because of shoulder surgery. He is at Class A Jupiter, where he missed some time in April with a blister. Last Friday, West worked six scoreless innings in a victory, striking out eight while walking one.

On Sunday, Tucker flashed a fastball that was regularly clocked between 92-95 mph. He had an impressive changeup, in the 81 mph range, and he struck out Jay Bruce with an 84 mph slider.

As of now, his fastball and changeup are his two most effective pitches. He is polishing up his slider.

"That's the pitch I'm going to have to refine the most, and throw it at any time in the count, like my changeup and my fastball," Tucker said. "For now, I'm always going to work off my fastball."

Tucker will next start on Friday at Tampa Bay.

The right-hander has taken the rotation spot of Burke Badenhop, the rookie who is now pitching long relief.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez says Badenhop will pick up some of the middle innings that Doug Waechter has been logging. Waechter now promises to factor more into the back end.

The Marlins certainly want the 25-year-old Badenhop to pitch. So if he is going extended periods without seeing game action, the team will then decide if it is in his best interest to pitch sparingly at the big league level or give him work in the Minor Leagues.

A sinker-ball pitcher, Badenhop understands the business of the sport.

"Coming here is a little more bottom line, as far as winning, I guess," he said.

As for his sinker, which has been on and off, he added: "I'm not locating like I want. It's not as free and easy as I'd like. It's a little more of a struggle."