Edward Cabrera of the Miami Marlins was taken out of the game before the spring opener due to a shoulder injury.
According to the Marlins, he was taken out of the game as a precaution. Before the Marlins’ delegation of manager Skip Schumaker, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr., athletic trainer Rick Lembo, and every member of the infield went to the mound to check on Cabrera, Cabrera warmed up with catcher Christian Bethancourt. Following a quick conversation, Cabrera walked off the pitch accompanied by Lembo.
According to Bethancourt, “his body language showed that he was feeling something.” “That’s not the wise thing to do right now, but it’s evident that he was trying to see if he could make it through the outing.” “The risk just isn’t worth it,” was the group’s message to Cabrera.
Skip Schumaker, manager of the Marlins, stated, “It’s early March.” “I refuse to put him in danger by leaving the house. Although he was making an effort to continue, I didn’t see why he would force himself to pitch through a few innings during spring training.
About two hours after being taken out of the game, Cabrera told reporters that he had “done a lot of stretching” in the Marlins’ training room and that he was “already starting to feel better.” Cabrera stated, “Hopefully, I’ll be out there as soon as possible.”
Entering his third MLB season, Cabrera already has a history of injuries. His right shoulder impingement caused him to miss around a month of the 2023 season, and his right elbow tendinitis caused him to lose time in 2022.According to Cabrera, his ailment from the previous season has nothing to do with his present shoulder discomfort.
The Marlins’ rotation may see yet another change at the beginning of the season, contingent on the injury’s severity, which is unknown at this time. Pitcher Braxton Garrett, a lefty, will also open the season on the injured list due to shoulder pain that hindered his ability to throw. Ace Sandy Alcantara is also sidelined for the whole season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
As of right now, only two players seem to have certain spots in the starting rotation: right-hander Eury Perez and left-hander Jesus Luzardo, who is already scheduled to start Opening Day on March 28 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The next guy in line, ostensibly, is left-handed pitcher A.J. Puk, who is making the switch from a high-leverage relief job to a starting one. Through three starts and eight and a third inning, Puk has not given up a run.
The other two front-runners for rotation spots are fellow lefties Trevor Rogers and Ryan Weathers. Weathers struck out seven batters in five scoreless innings of work on Sunday in West Palm Beach against the Houston Astros, giving up only three hits and no walks.
In his first spring start on Tuesday, Rogers, who only tossed 18 innings the previous season due to injury (a right lat strain, then a left biceps tear), threw two scoreless innings.
In addition, the Marlins are preparing George Soriano and Bryan Hoeing, two of their relievers, to pitch several innings. If the scenario warrants it, these guys might be added to the rotation. Regarding the Marlins’ starting pitching depth, Schumaker stated, “it’s being tested.” “We’ll observe the situation.”