The Marlins called it a release. But to former USC pitcher David Marchbanks, it was a relief.

Uninspired by the thought of another year of drudgery in the Gulf Coast League and eager for a change of scenery, Marchbanks got just that when Florida cut ties with him about three weeks ago.

His new home: Columbia, Mo., home of the Mid-Missouri Mavericks, with whom he signed on Tuesday. Mid-Missouri is in the independent Frontier League, which offers many of the things Marchbanks liked about baseball when he was won 31 games for the Gamecocks from 2001-03.

“It’s a nice town, a college town, a lot like I remember at USC,” he said. “The Gulf Coast League is almost like playing exhibition games. There’s nobody there. It’s not very exciting. Playing here is much more fun, a lot like summer ball when I was in college.”

Marchbanks’ first start with the Mavericks was a rough one — he gave up seven runs in two innings in a 16-2 loss to Kalamazoo — but it was his first time under the lights before a sizable crowd since his days at USC. He will have a chance to improve on that today when he starts against Windy City.

And he remains confident he will return to a major-league affiliate. The Rangers, he said, have shown interest.

Meanwhile, he is enjoying his new location and finding pleasant ties to his home state. Greg Buscher, the Mavs’ third baseman, is the brother of former Gamecock Brian Buscher, who is with the Giants’ Class AA affiliate in Norwich. And pitcher Steve Soja played at Coastal Carolina.

“It’s been a journey,” Marchbanks said. “But things are looking up.”

Transactions. Newberry native Reggie Taylor, designated for assignment June 23 by the Devil Rays, cleared waivers and returned to Class AAA Durham on Tuesday. That move meant outfielder Mike Curry, a USC alum, lost his place in Durham, and he was sent down to Class AA Montgomery. ... Former Clemson pitcher Collin Mahoney, who struggled as a closer in the Class A Midwest League, has been positioned as a setup man since the Tigers reassigned him to Oneonta in the short-season New York-Penn League two weeks ago.

Injury updates. Former USC pitcher Matt Campbell, a starter for Class A Burlington, surrendered two unearned runs in three innings of relief Monday after missing three weeks with a sore left (pitching) shoulder. ... Clemson alum Jeff Baker returned to third base for Class AAA Colorado Springs on June 25. He had been sidelined a little more than a month with an injured thumb on his right (throwing) hand. ... Lexington native and former USC pitcher Brett Jodie did not pitch last season while recovering from shoulder surgery. This year he has 10 starts for Somerset in the independent Atlantic League, but he was placed on the team’s inactive list last on June 26 so that he could return to South Carolina to intensify his rehabilitation.

Highlights. Former Clemson pitcher David Shepard was named the independent Northern League’s pitcher of the week for June 20-26. He won both of his starts and gave up one earned run in 14ð innings. ... Former USC pitcher Chris Hernandez pitched a scoreless seventh inning, striking out two, in the Carolina League’s 8-0 win against the California League in Tuesday’s all-star game matching high-Class A leagues.