Injuries Continue to Plague Miami Marlins Roster

Apr 16, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (3) connects for a three run home run in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Starting in the spring, and continuing through today, the Marlins have lost some key pieces of what was already being called one of the least competitive tams in the 2013 MLB field. Long lines at the team sick bay are merely rubbing salt in the fan’s wounds.

Today, the Marlins announced that starting shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, one of only a couple of Marlins to have hit a home run this year, would be making a trip to the 15-day DL to nurse an elbow contusion back to health. The trip is dated April 17^th, for those fans looking for when we can expect the elite defensive skills of Hech back to the lineup. Outfielder  Nick Green’s contract was selected to replace him on the 40-man for the time being.  Nick was one of the last guys booted out of camp, and he had a terrific spring.  Now is his chance to prove himself to Red.

The other player at the medic’s office is Nathan Eovaldi, whose shoulder inflammation seems to be persistent enough that his 15-day DL trip has expired, so he’s been moved to the 60-day.  Right now, he’s tentatively projected to return sometime in June.  Given three rough starts by LeBlanc and a doozy by Sanabia, the former Dodger can’t get healthy soon enough.

There is a silver lining to the cloudy news of the day.  SuperSlugger Giancarlo Stanton took a few hacks in BP yesterday, with no discomfort in the shoulder he bruised during a diving, rolling, highlight reel catch.  The bruise had him scratched for a few days, as he had difficulty raising his arm far enough to even pull on a shirt.

The successful BP means that he is on track to return to the lineup for tonight’s tilt against the Reds in Cincinnati. Let’s hope that the shoulder roll knocked the yips out of his bat at the same time.

Injuries have reached down to the minor leagues this year, and reports are filtering in that top prospect Marcell Ozuna is back in business, and that Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick are not far behind.  The sooner they get healthy, the sooner they complete their apprenticeships.  Their skills, like those of tonight’s starter Jose Fernandez, are needed.