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Marlins Injury Updates: Drew Steckenrider avoids elbow surgery

Dr. James Andrews tells Steck to rest, plus why Miguel Rojas hobbled off the field on Wednesday.

By Ely Sussman
Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images

Throughout the 2019 season, Fish Stripes will pass along updates on injured Marlins players and top prospects as they attempt to get back on the field. Here is what we’ve learned in recent days...

MLB

  • RHP Drew Steckenrider (right flexor strain) is feeling a little relieved. Although recently transferred to the 60-day injured list and facing a long road back to the majors, a second opinion from world-renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews determined that Steck would not require season-ending surgery. He will rest for the foreseeable future and doesn’t yet have a timetable to return. The 28-year-old got off to a rocky start to the season prior to landing on the IL (6.28 ERA, 7.85 FIP in 14.1 IP).
  • SS Miguel Rojas was being treated for back spasms on Tuesday, according to manager Don Mattingly, but started the following day anyway. However, Rojas needed to be removed midway through Wednesday’s game when he aggravated the issue on the basepaths. No word yet on whether or not it’s an IL situation. The veteran leader has been one of the many slumping bats in Miami’s lineup, contributing zero extra-base hits over his past 20 games.
  • RHP Riley Ferrell (biceps tendinitis) is on the verge of beginning a minor league rehab assignment. The Rule 5 Draft pick worked 1 2⁄3 innings in extended spring training on Monday. It figures to a lengthy assignment considering that he has no prior MLB experience (and struggled in his brief taste of Triple-A last season). Currently on the 60-day IL, the Marlins will need to clear a 40-man and active roster spot for him.
  • RHP Julian Fernández (Tommy John surgery) is further away than Ferrell, continuing his throwing progression at extended spring. The 23-year-old would also be viewed strictly as a bullpen piece at the major league level.

MiLB

  • RHP Matt Givin (Tommy John surgery) has progressed to throwing live batting practice, reports Wells Dusenbury of the Sun Sentinel. Givin is almost 13 months removed from the procedure. My feature about the former 20th-round draft pick includes more details about his repertoire and long-term potential.

Other notable prospect injuries: RHP Nick Neidert (right knee tendinitis), SS Osiris Johnson (tibial stress fracture—likely out for the season)

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