Marlins Curtis Granderson dealing with a calf injury

The Miami Marlins may have more than one outfielder on the mend as the team has announced outfielder Curtis Granderson is dealing with soreness in his calf.

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly announced that veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson is dealing with some calf soreness. The news of the injury comes after it was announced that Victor Victor Mesa, the team’s No. 2 minor league prospect, has been sent to a rehab assignment in the Minors for a hamstring injury he suffered over the weekend.

Granderson, who signed a minor league deal with the Marlins earlier this month, is being counted on to make the 25-man roster and compete for a starting spot in the outfield. The soon-to-be 38-year-old is not considered an everyday starter anymore, but his experience should prove to be helpful with the young team the organization has put together.

Per CBS Sports, “The injury is viewed as a minor one for the veteran, who was able to run the bases Tuesday in a simulated game.“Assuming Granderson reports no setbacks with the calf coming out of the activity, he should be cleared to make his Grapefruit League debut later this week.”

All three of the Marlins starting outfield spots are open for competition as Mattingly outlined his desire to find the best fits for the ballclub while he spoke to the media at Marlins Fan Fest prior to the opening of camp at the team’s Spring Training facility in Jupiter, Florida.

Granderson, who played with both Toronto and Milwaukee last season, is in the mix with several other outfielders looking to make an impact over the next four weeks. He is in camp as a non-roster invitee. He could see significant time as a corner outfielder for Miami.

“The one thing about this game, you’re always trying to improve and get better and get yourself ready for Opening Day,” Granderson said in a story written by MLB.com’s Jake Elman.“Even if you come in as a contract guy in the middle of a long deal, you’ve been there for a little bit, you’re still trying to get yourself ready and that’s competing with yourself, it’s competing with other guys. Nothing changes.”

As a part-time outfielder with both the Blue Jays and Brewers last season, Granderson showed he still had some pop in his bat with a slash line of .247/.355/.444 against righties with 13 home runs in 375 plate appearances.

He wasn’t as successful against left-handed pitchers, posting a .174/.296/.261 slash line with 13 strikeouts in 28 plate appearances.