Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Prado expected to go on DL.
NEW YORK — Even in a Miami Marlins win, they lost.
Alongside a 7-0 win over the New York Mets on Sunday, a much-needed clean and efficient victory, came injuries to third baseman Martin Prado (right hamstring strain) and infielder Miguel Rojas (right thumb soreness).
Manager Don Mattingly expects Prado to land on the disabled list, but wasn’t sure about Rojas, who is considered day-to-day. Upon returning to Miami, Prado (MRI) and Rojas (X-ray) said they expect to undergo tests to determine the extent of their injuries.
The team will likely call up J.T. Riddle, who spent part of April with the big league team, from Triple A. He was a late scratch from New Orleans’ lineup Sunday. Riddle is a shortstop, but has also played second and third.
“It's always hard,” said Rojas, who leads the Marlins in average (.338) and OBP (.389). “You don't want to leave the game like that early. I didn't have any intentions of putting the team in a bad position. … Unfortunately, Martin got hurt, and I feel pretty bad.”
Rojas got hurt first, on a check swing in the first inning that aggravated the same thumb he jammed a couple of days ago. He played third base in the bottom half, but didn’t return for the second. His right thumb, which was in a soft cast after the game, swelled up, keeping Rojas from being able to grip a ball.
“At that moment, I felt like if I keep playing, I might throw the ball away and put the team at risk to lose the game,” Rojas said.
Prado replaced him defensively and in the No. 5 spot in the lineup, singling in the seventh. As he rounded second on Derek Dietrich’s double to left, Prado pulled up lame, pulling a different part of the same hamstring he strained while playing in the WBC in March.
The Marlins called it right hamstring “discomfort.”
“We have to get an MRI to see how bad it is,” Prado said.
When he suffered a Grade 1 strain two months ago, Prado said, he could at least walk. This time, that’s more difficult.
“Just frustration. I don't think there is another word,” Prado said. “Your preparation, and everything you do, and then you get hurt again. Things are not going the right way.”
Derek Dietrich stands to assume the role of starting third baseman, while Adeiny Hechavarria — whose grip on the starting job at short had started to loosen with Rojas’ hot stretch — is re-entrenched at shortstop.
Ellington returns
The Marlins recalled righty reliever Brian Ellington from Triple-A New Orleans on Sunday, optioning right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne, Saturday’s starter, back to NOLA.
Ellington, whose fastballs sits in the high 90s, was off to a good start in the minors, striking out 14 batters and walking only one in eight innings. He had a 3.38 ERA and 0.75 WHIP.
The past two seasons with the Marlins, Ellington had a strong ERA (2.64) and WHIP (1.26), but struggled with command, walking 4.5 batters per nine innings. If he has that under control, it would be a very positive development for pitcher and team.
Ellington said he has been working on throwing more offspeed pitches, including a hard slider, than he has in the past.
“I’ve just been attacking hitters and realizing you don’t have to be perfect,” Ellington said. “A lot of times, hitters get themselves out. Attack hitters, fill up the zone and more times than not you’ll come out on top.”
Aviles added
The Marlins signed utilityman Mike Aviles to a minor league contract over the weekend, a source familiar with the situation said. Aviles, a 36-year-old veteran of nine major league seasons, is a career .262/.295/.378 hitter who has played shortstop, second, third and all three outfield spots. He most recently played for Puerto Rico in the WBC.