Marlins Lopez Sidelined for Season with Shoulder Injury

The Miami Marlins have shut down starting pitcher Pablo Lopez due to a shoulder injury. The rookie starter’s season has officially ended.

The Miami Marlins have announced that a shoulder injury to starting rookie pitcher Pablo Lopez will force the 22-year-old to miss the remainder of the 2018 season.

"“Pablo Lopez has been put on the 60-day DL with a right shoulder strain and his season is done,” writes Greg Sattell of MLB.com. “In a corresponding move, the Marlins called up right-handed pitcher Jeff Brigham, who will get his first start on Sunday.”"

The move to bring up Lopez wasn’t just directed at the move the Marlins made to shelve Lopez as it was part of the roster expansion the franchise and the other 29 MLB teams were part of over the weekend.

The injury to Lopez is a blow to the Marlins rotation as he worked through rough patches this season and is considered part of the team’s starting five next year. The Marlins also brought pitcher Sandy Alcantara up from Triple-A New Orleans on Saturday.

Lewis Brinson and Martin Prado were both reinstated from the disabled list as well and figure to see plenty of playing time on the diamond. Prado has been dealing with a quad injury.

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Brinson, who was the Marlins starting center fielder on Opening Day, returns from a hip injury that has sidelined him since July 4.

The moves over the weekend figure to be the start of several changes in Miami’s lineup and rotation. Manager Don Mattingly said on several occasions in the past week he wants to get the young outfielder as many trips to the plate as possible in the next month.

Prado figures to become a utility player in September as Brian Anderson will remain at third base, the position he played to start the 2018 season.

Anderson had been playing in right field with Prado at the hot corner before the veteran suffered yet another leg injury.

Lopez told Sattell he felt something on Friday during his warmups and it was revealed there was a strain in his throwing shoulder.

"“It should be fine,” said Lopez. “I’m looking forward to next season. It’s not the way anyone wants to end their season, but at the same time, the news was better than it could have been. So I’ll get rest and try to come back ready for next season.”"

Both Lopez and Alcantara joined the Marlins prior to the All-Star break and each won their first games as a member of the parent club.