Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez has season-ending surgery

Henderson Alvarez won’t pitch again this season.

Alvarez, the Marlins’ Opening Day starter, underwent surgery Tuesday in Pensacola to repair a tear in his right shoulder, effectively ending the former All-Star's season. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola.

The 25-year old Alvarez, who pitched a no-hitter in 2013, was placed on the disabled list on May 22 — the last time he pitched — with right shoulder inflammation. Alvarez also missed a month earlier this season on the disabled list from April 13-May 16.

“It’s a tear in the shoulder,” Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. “He’s a definite out for the season candidate now.”

Alvarez went 0-4 with a 6.45 ERA this season and was shut down during a recent rehab start at Single A Jupiter after again feeling discomfort in the shoulder. Alvarez had pitched two rehab starts before the shoulder acted up again.

It’s the same shoulder that landed Alvarez on the disabled list in 2014 and 2013.

Jennings said it was undetermined whether Alvarez would be ready to return by spring training.

“I think depending on the severity of the tear and we’ll know more of a timetable once the surgery is complete,” Jennings said.

Alvarez has made 51 starts since joining the Marlins in 2013. He is 17-17 with a 3.23 ERA in 312 innings pitched.

Dee returns

The Marlins lost one of their top pitchers, but welcomed back their All-Star second baseman Tuesday.

Dee Gordon was reinstated from the DL and leadoff spot in the lineup.

“He’s been our catalyst all year,” Jennings said. “He brings us energy and he’s healthy. We’re blessed that he spent the minimum time on the DL. He has that spark about him and he lifts everybody.”

Gordon dislocated his left thumb just before the All-Star break, forcing him to miss the All-Star game and landing him on the disabled list. Gordon made a rehab start Monday and looked good swinging the bat, according to Jennings.

Gordon was hitting .338 with one home run and 22 RBI before the injury on July 11. Entering Tuesday’s game, Gordon’s batting average ranked second in the National League behind Paul Goldschmidt (.346). Gordon still led the NL in hits (122) and ranked second in stolen bases with 33.

With Gordon back, the Marlins placed infielder Donovan Solano on the paternity list.

This and that

▪ Jennings said Giancarlo Stanton is progressing toward a return in the near future, but didn’t indicate it would be before the end of the Marlins’ current nine-game homestand.

“[Stanton] has to feel comfortable because there’s a little scar tissue there,” Jennings said. “He wants to be in this lineup. He’s had a great year and he wants to have a continuation of that.”

Despite his absence since being placed on the DL on June 27 with a broken bone in his left wrist, Stanton’s 27 home runs are tied for the National League lead with Todd Frazier and Bryce Harper entering Tuesday.

▪ Jennings said infielder Miguel Rojas, who left Sunday’s game early with a right shoulder strain, was available Tuesday.

Coming up

▪ Wednesday: Marlins RHP Tom Koehler (8-6, 3.16) vs. Washington Nationals RHP Doug Fister (3-6, 4.50), 7:10 p.m., Marlins Park.

▪ Thursday: Marlins RHP Dan Haren (7-6, 3.51) vs. Nationals RHP Max Scherzer (10-8, 2.33), 12:10 p.m., Marlins Park.

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 9:51 PM with the headline "Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez has season-ending surgery."