Marlins Pitcher Jarlin Garcia Likely Headed To DL
Miami Marlins pitcher Jarlin Garcia is likely headed to the disabled list after being hit in the right shin.
Miami Marlins pitcher Jarlin Garcia started the season as the team’s best pitcher. Now, the reliever could be injured pitcher who was hit in the shin by a pitch Thursday night against the Atlanta Braves.
Miami lost 5-0 in the first game of the series with Atlanta.
Per MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro, Nick Markakis smoked a hot shot up the middle that deflected off Garcia and went for an infield single. Statcast™ tracked the line drive at 105.8 mph.
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With the Marlins set to expand their roster in a week, the injury could not have come at a worse time for Garcia, who has spent time between the Major League roster and Triple-A New Orleans. X-rays taken were negative, but it still left Garcia in a good amount of pain.
“It hurt a good amount,” Garcia said through an interpreter. “I found my leg was tough to move. I didn’t want to take the risk of going back out there.”
Garcia led the Marlins in relief appearances last season but was part of the rotation to start the season. He was a starter at Double-A Jacksonville before he was called up to The Show in April last year.
As the team decides if Garcia will spend time on the shelf, the team announced reliever and former closer Kyle Barraclough is scheduled to come off the 10-day disabled list. Barraclough was taken out of the closer’s role and sent to the shelf with back stiffness.
The Marlins would still prefer to have both pitchers as part of the bullpen headed to the last few weeks of the season.
“Jarlin got hit pretty good,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “Talking with Dusty [Luepker, the team’s head trainer]after the game, obviously, nothing is official at this point, but that looks like it’s going to be a little bit.”
Garcia proved to be a potential starter down the line for the Marlins. Through 12 appearances, of which six were starts, he was 1-1 with a 4.41 ERA before being sent down to New Orleans. He, Adam Conley and Dillon Peters could all be part of the bullpen next season as solid left-handed options for Mattingly.
“I think Claw is ready,” Mattingly said. “He came out of that good. I’m feeling pretty good that we’ll probably activate him tomorrow [Saturday].”
For now, the Marlins are using a closer by committee approach and continue that plan until the end of the season.