MIAMI — Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez said his long layoff was a valuable life lesson, even if it was lousy for his career.

Now he’s back, a more patient person for having made the taxing, tedious recovery from Tommy John surgery. He’ll pitch for the first time since May 2014 when he faces the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.

“I’ve been waiting 13 months,” said the 22-year-old Fernandez. “If I’ve learned something, it’s how to be patient at my age.”

Fernandez has always been in a hurry. He pitched only 27 games in the minor leagues, joined the Marlins at age 20 and became NL Rookie of the Year at 21 in 2013.

He was the Marlins’ opening- day starter last year but his ascent was interrupted by an elbow ligament injury that required reconstructive surgery.

ANGELS: GM Jerry Dipoto resigned, abruptly ending his 3 1/2-year tenure with the club amid apparent tensions with Manager Mike Scioscia.

Former general manager Bill Stoneman will take over as the interim GM for the rest of the season, the Angels announced.

The Angels have been vague about the reasons for Dipoto’s departure, but his moderately successful tenure apparently destructed shortly after a contentious team meeting last weekend.

Scioscia and Dipoto previously have clashed over philosophical differences during the GM’s tenure, and the latest dispute reportedly concerned Dipoto’s desire for the Angels to play with more attention to statistical analysis and scouting reports.

Scioscia still claims he is working well as a team with Dipoto, and he insists they have no philosophical differences.

But Dipoto is still leaving the big-budget Angels.

Scioscia is the longest-tenured manager in baseball, running the Angels’ dugout since 2000. He is signed through 2018 but can opt out of the deal this winter.

Orioles: Outfielder Delmon Young was designated for assignment so Baltimore could expand a thin bullpen in dire need of another arm.

ATHLETICS: Pitcher Sonny Gray was diagnosed with a stomach ailment that sent him to a hospital.

Gray remained in the hospital overnight with severe gastritis and was expected to be released some time Wednesday.

The condition involves inflammation in the lining of the stomach.

CARDINALS: Jaime Garcia was pushed back again and won’t start Thursday because of what he calls a mild left groin strain.

GIANTS: Catcher Buster Posey left Wednesday’s game against the Marlins as a precaution after taking a foul ball off his mask, and said he avoided serious injury.