Marlins Spring Training: Victor Victor Mesa sent to Minors for rehab

The Miami Marlins have announced that Victor Victor Mesa has been sent to Minors rehab for a hamstring injury he suffered on Sunday against Pittsburgh.

The news out of the Miami Marlins Spring Training facility in Jupiter, Florida isn’t the best when it comes to the team’s outfield prospect Victor Victor Mesa.

But the news could also be a lot worse. Mesa, who suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, has been sent to Minors rehab. As Joe Frisaro reported on MLB.com, On Tuesday, the Marlins announced an MRI revealed a Grade 1 hamstring strain, which is considered mild. But as a precaution, the club also assigned Mesa to Minor League rehab.

The team’s top position player in the minor league system suffered the injury in the sixth inning of the 10-6 loss to the Pirates.

"“A little disappointing, because we’re not going to have a chance to see him through the course of camp,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said Tuesday morning. “I think on the cautious side of it, we’re going to want to make sure that he’s not trying to rush back. He hadn’t played in 15 months. Make sure that he gets healthy. Really, that’s the most important thing.”"

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Mesa was the only player listed in the Top 100 minor league prospects by MLB Pipeline. The international star signed a contract this offseason for $5.25 million with his brother Victor Mesa, Jr. for $1 million. The brothers will both be assigned to Marlins minor league affiliates. The elder Mesa could start at High-A Jupiter or play in Jacksonville, Miami’s Double-A team.

The Marlins have what appears to be a strong pipeline of outfield prospects with Monte Harrison, the team’s No. 3 prospect, part of the 40-man roster in Jupiter as well. After a year in Jacksonville in 2018, he will start 2019 in New Orleans at the Triple-A level and could be an in-season callup.

"As Frisaro explained, “Victor Victor hadn’t played in organized games in more than a year, and the Marlins were planning to give him as many at-bats as possible. On Sunday, he started off as the DH, and he remained in the game as a defensive replacement in the outfield.”"

Because this is considered a “minor” injury, as Mattingly told the media, the move to send Mesa to a rehab assigment is for precaution. It is not known yet when he is expected to rejoin the team. The team’s main focus is to make sure he is 100-percent healthy for the start of the Minor League season.