A Jazz Chisholm Jr. injury update after spring training game scare. And Luzardo impresses
Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s right hand injury doesn’t appear to be as bad as it initially looked Tuesday.
Chisholm Jr. left the Miami Marlins’ 4-3 spring training loss the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning after a hard-hit ground ball took a bad hop and hit him in the right hand, between his ring and pinky fingers.
Chisholm, who was in the shift when Paul DeJong’s groundball struck him, immediately started heading toward the dugout and left the game. The ball had an exit velocity of 107.3 mph off the bat.
About 45 minutes later, Chisholm said he was feeling better but will most likely miss the next few exhibition games as a precaution and to make sure he regains the strength in his pinky finger.
“When it first hit, I just didn’t know what was going on,” Chisholm said. “It was just extreme pain at the time, but thank goodness we came in, we got it done. Only a right pinky contusion. So, it’s not bad.”
Chisholm, 24, is expected to be the Marlins’ regular second baseman for a second consecutive season.
While the injury scare appears to be minimized, the moment does provide the opportunity to raise a point: This is the exact reason the Marlins are building their position player depth on the MLB roster.
Should Chisholm have had to miss extended time, for example, Joey Wendle could slide over to play second base, and Brian Anderson would retake his spot as the team’s everyday third baseman. They would still have Jon Berti on the bench as a utility player/defensive replacement/pinch runner.
More observations from camp
▪ Jesus Luzardo threw three perfect innings in his 2022 Grapefruit League debut, striking out two. His fastball averaged 98 mph and touched 99.1 mph while also landing for strikes. The Marlins are optimistic about Luzardo, who they acquired from the Oakland Athletics at the trade deadline last season in the Starling Marte trade.
▪ With Isan Diaz designated for assignment to make room for Jorge Soler on the 40-man roster, none of the four players the Marlins acquired in the Christian Yelich trade are on the 40-man roster. Jordan Yamamoto is now with the Mets. Lewis Brinson is on a minor-league deal with the Astros. Monte Harrison was DFA’d on Friday.
▪ Edward Cabrera threw two innings of live batting practice on the back fields Tuesday. Mattingly said Cabrera is “a touch behind” the other starters and will continue doing work on the back fields for the time being.
▪ Jesus Sanchez has played center field in three of the Marlins’ first four spring training games.
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