Two Marlins outfielders land on IL, but Mattingly hopeful they’ll ‘get back involved’
The Miami Marlins placed outfielders Lewis Brinson and Matt Joyce on the 10-day injured list. The team did not disclose the reasoning for the two going on the IL, although neither has been seen at practice since summer camp began July 3.
It’s uncertain whether the moves are related to COVID-19 in any way. Teams are not disclosing names of players who test positive unless the player gives clearance, and teams do not have to outright say if a player is put on the COVID-19-related IL.
Mattingly said both Brinson and Joyce are “optimistic” and “upbeat” even though they are behind practice-wise and hasn’t ruled out either of them playing at some point during the 60-game 2020 season.
“Obviously, the season’s shorter,” Mattingly said. “It depends on the injury if you’re going to be able to bounce right back and get going or does it extend. Sometimes, you see a guy go on the 10-day IL and he’s not back for three months. ... But I’m confident that both Brinson and Joyce are going to get back involved.”
Either way, the transactions — and the noted absence of the two players in the first place — adds another layer of contingencies the Marlins have to worry about as they prepare for their season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 24.
The 2020 season was supposed to be a make-or-break season for Brinson after posting a combined .189 batting average with more strikeouts (194) than hits (115) over his first two seasons with the Marlins. He was demoted to Triple A for three months last season after his struggles seeped past his first full MLB season.
Brinson was hitting .345 with three home runs and just three strikeouts in 31 plate appearances when spring training stopped.
Brinson is running out of time to prove he can mirror his spring training production once the regular season begins.
Thursday’s news is just the latest setback.
“It’s pretty well documented that this was a big year for Brins,” Mattingly said. “He looked really good in our spring training. Obviously, falling on the IL puts him behind a little bit, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to end up good. He’s worked hard. We’ll let the year play out.”
The Marlins signed Joyce, a 12-year MLB veteran and left-handed hitter, this offseason and anticipated him platooning in right field. Joyce is a career .243 hitter with 145 home runs and 482 RBI. He posted a .295 batting average in 200 at-bats for the Atlanta Braves, mostly as a pinch-hitter, last season.
Mattingly said during spring training that he anticipated Joyce playing “honestly more than basically he’s probably played the last couple years. ... I don’t see him playing six days a week, but it’s not going to be just one or two days a week either.”
That plan, at least in the immediate future, has changed now due to Joyce’s absence. Harold Ramirez looks like the main contender to get reps in right field. Corey Dickerson is slated as the Marlins’ everyday left fielder, with Jonathan Villar still viewed as the front-runner to get reps in center field.
Practice observations
▪ Jonathan Villar, the Marlins’ projected starting center fielder, sat out Thursday’s scrimmage as a precaution after experiencing minor back spasms during the day.
▪ Pablo Lopez and Jose Urena both impressed during the scrimmage. Lopez tossed six scoreless innings, giving up two hits and one walk while striking out six. Urena, facing eight of nine players who could potentially be in the Marlins’ Opening Day lineup, threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering five hits and walking two with three strikeouts. He got himself out of two separate jams with runners on second and third base with only one out.
▪ Corey Dickerson had the offensive highlights of the day with a pair of doubles against Urena. The first split the gap in left-center field. The second went into right field after a bad read from Jesus Sanchez.
▪ Relievers who came into Thursday’s scrimmage: Yimi Garcia, Jordan Holloway, Drew Steckenrider and Sterling Sharp.
This and that
▪ The Marlins, like the rest of MLB will be pumping fake crowd noise into the stands to bring some semblance of energy to the empty ballparks. The sound teams are given comes from audio recorded by MLB The Show developers at MLB regular-season games.
▪ Mattingly said the team will carry more than 30 players to its two exhibition games against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday and Wednesday before finalizing its Opening Day roster.
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 3:03 PM.
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