Marlins Injuries revisited

by craig on Mar 4, 2008 8:23 AM EST in News and Rumors

Time for some injury updates.

Either Wednesday or Thursday, Sergio Mitre will resume throwing.

Last Friday at Fort Lauderdale against the Orioles, Mitre made his first Grapefruit League start. It lasted 15 pitches before he was removed with tightness in his right elbow.

Mitre will throw off flat ground, starting off at 60 feet.

It could be a while before Mitre is ready to go. Then again, everything could go perfectly and he will be on the mound in about a week. Don't count on the latter happening.

Second up, Cameron Maybin.

Center fielder Cameron Maybin hopes to return in a couple of days. Maybin stretched his hamstring Friday and ran for the first time Monday. He has been treating the hamstring by stretching and applying ice and heat.

Hamstrings are funny things in that they tend to tighten up even after one thinks they're fine. Ask anyone who has pulled one. If I had to guess, I would say the first part of next week will be the earliest we will see him back in action.

Third in the order is Hanley Ramirez.

Hanley Ramirez is limping around on a sore left ankle, the result of a sliding collision at home plate Sunday. The Marlins put the brakes on his spring training activities, if perhaps for only for one day.

''I think he'll be ready to go [Tuesday],'' Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Ramirez, who had X-rays taken Monday that were negative.

Ramirez did not practice Monday and, in a change of plans, did not play against the Red Sox, his former team.

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Gonzalez said he did not think the injury was serious.

We all know what Hanley can do, so there should be no reason to rush him. And anyway, it gives everyone a good look at Andino, and that ain't all bad.

And finally in the cleanup position, Josh Johnson.

RHP Josh Johnson has started throwing off a mound, a significant step in his return from the reconstructive elbow surgery he had in August. Johnson is targeting a July return to the Marlins, but September might be more likely.

Johnson has been throwing four days apart, limiting his sessions to fastballs thrown at 50 percent of normal velocity.

Johnson may pitch this season for the Marlins, but I doubt it. Though throwing off the mound is a good sign, however, assuming the club is going to be careful with him, he will likely rehab all year.

Hopefully, the rash of injuries in the first week of spring training games isn't foreboding for the rest of the season. We saw enough of that last year.

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