Jose Fernandez has been hanging around the Miami Marlins dugout. He's been making rehab starts in the minors. He is on his way back after being out more than 12 months recovering from Tommy John surgery.
And finally, he will return to a Marlins uniform in live action.
Fernandez is slated to start on July 2, as the Fish take on the San Francisco Giants at Marlins Park.
Fernandez discussed his return on live broadcast in a visit to the booth with Rich Waltz and Tommy Hutton during last night's 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees. Fernandez will first throw his last rehab start tomorrow in Triple-A, following in the footsteps of fellow rehabber Jarred Cosart, who is still on the mend from acute labyrinthitis and subsequent vertigo. Cosart starts tonight for the New Orleans Zephyrs and Fernandez will go tomorrow, both against Round Rock.
Oddly enough, that was a Thursday day game to wrap up a set against the defending World Series champions, but it was not slated to be televised by Fox Sports Florida. This is fairly common for a weekday day game to miss television broadcast on the few games FS-Florida misses (FS-Florida broadcasts about 150 games a year for the Marlins). However, with the likely high turnout and relatively better ratings that Fernandez's debut will bring, FS-Florida picked up the game and will begin airing with a preview at 11:30 AM.
Fernandez appears excited to come back to the Marlins, and certainly the Fish should be excited to have him. Miami's pitching staff has thrown better as of late, but is still among the worst starting pitcher staffs in baseballl with a 4.18 ERA and 4.08 FIP. The club needs an infusion of talent so it can avoid the Brad Hand-types of the world pitching for them as they claw their way slowly back towards .500. Adding Fernandez as part of the injured crew returning to the rotation is a crucial part of the current Marlins predicament and the rest of the team's season.
Tune in on July 2 starting at 11:30 AM EST for the Marlins versus the Giants, featuring the grand return of Jose Fernandez!