Marlins starting catcher Jorge Alfaro put on IL, but team ‘can’t give any clarity’ why
The Miami Marlins’ starting lineup for their Opening Day contest against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday had one noticeable absence: Catcher Jorge Alfaro, who the team placed on the Injured List hours before the scheduled 7:05 p.m. first pitch.
Francisco Cervelli, a 12-year MLB veteran, is starting in Alfaro’s place and batting eighth. Chad Wallach will be the backup. The Marlins also added utility infielder Sean Rodriguez to the active roster to take Alfaro’s spot and signed outfielder Travis Snider to a minor-league free agent contract and added him to their 60-man player pool.
Neither manager Don Mattingly nor a team spokesperson could divulge why Alfaro was put on the IL other than Mattingly saying they “plan on having him back,” even though context clues make it easy to deduce that the move was likely COVID-related in some way.
“I can’t give any clarity to that other than we placed him on the IL,” Mattingly said.
Teams do not have to disclose if a player is placed on the COVID-19 related IL. Players on that list do not count against the 40-man roster or the 60-man player pool. They also can’t disclose if a player tested positive without the player giving them permission.
Now, a reminder: A player does not necessarily need to test positive for COVID-19 to be placed on the COVID-19 injured list.
“A player may be placed on the COVID-19 Related IL based on a positive test for COVID-19, confirmed exposure to COVID-19, or if a player exhibits symptoms requiring self isolation for further assessment,” reads a passage from the league’s 101-page operation manual for the season.
Alfaro did travel with the team to Philadelphia on Wednesday night after the team’s two exhibition games against the Atlanta Braves — who didn’t have catchers Travis d’Arnaud and Tyler Flowers travel for their series against the Mets after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms even though they didn’t test positive. Alfaro practiced with the team Thursday in Philadelphia, Mattingly said the team found out Friday morning that Alfaro would have to go on the IL.
Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said July 4 the team had three players test positive prior to the start of summer practices and a fourth test positive during the mandatory intake screening on July 1. Shortstop prospect Jazz Chisholm also said Monday he had previously tested positive but was asymptomatic. Hill said Thursday that two of those players “were considerations for the Opening Day roster.”
The Marlins have five players on the IL: Alfaro, outfielders Matt Joyce and Lewis Brinson, pitcher Drew Steckenrider and catcher prospect Will Banfield.
Steckenrider, on the 60-day IL, is dealing with right triceps tendonitis. Reasons have not been disclosed for Brinson (10-day IL), Joyce (60-day IL) or Banfield (10-day IL). Brinson missed the first two weeks of summer practices before reporting to Jupiter on Saturday. Joyce has not been at practice at all since team workouts resumed.
A team spokesperson confirmed no one else on the Marlins’ active roster is being held out of Friday’s season opener for precautionary reasons in relation to Alfaro’s IL placement.
“We look at it as you know that you’re going to have certain things that are going to happen to you in the course of the season, no matter what that would be,” Mattingly said when asked about dealing with the coronavirus and the uncertainty it can create during the season. “... We knew we were going to have to be ready for anything.”
The Marlins planned to have Alfaro start the majority of their 60 games this season and were hoping for a breakout season from the 27-year-old. Alfaro, who the team obtained from the Phillies in February 2019 as part of the J.T. Realmuto trade, had a .262 batting average with 18 home runs and 57 RBI but struck out in 33.1 percent of his plate appearances over 130 games last season.
“Anytime you lose a guy that caliber, it’s a loss,” Mattingly said. “But I don’t think it’s gonna affect us as far as the attitude toward the game today. If anything it solidifies us taking care of ourselves and being extremely careful with everything we do.”
The full starting lineup
Jonathan Villar, center field
Jesus Aguilar, first base
Corey Dickerson, left field
Harold Ramirez, right field
Brian Anderson, third base
Garrett Cooper, designated hitter
Isan Diaz, second base
Francisco Cervelli, catcher
Miguel Rojas, shortstop
This story was originally published July 24, 2020 at 4:12 PM.
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