MIAMI -- Marlins manager Clayton McCullough patiently waited for a member of the club’s PR staff to rattle off the laundry list of injury updates before fielding questions from local media. It would’ve been comical if it wasn’t so painful.
In Miami’s latest flurry of roster moves ahead of Friday night’s 9-3 loss to postseason-hopeful Philadelphia at loanDepot park, the Marlins announced third baseman Connor Norby (left quad strain) and outfielder Derek Hill (right hamstring strain) would return to the injured list.
There are now an MLB-high 16 Marlins on the IL.
The home clubhouse was packed -- reminiscent of the days when September callups weren’t limited to just two additions -- with healthy and injured players alike.
“It's a number of guys, kind of all things have happened one after another, but injuries are an unfortunate part of our sport,” said McCullough, whose club has dropped four in a row. “Everyone goes through them. So we're not immune to that. And we just have to -- we have talented Major League players that can go out and still put us in position to win games. And that's all you can focus on, is the ones that you have healthy and available that night. And we'll go out and we'll try to get off to a good start in this series vs. Philly this evening.”
Norby felt something in his quad while rounding first after hitting an eighth-inning double on Wednesday in Washington. At first, he thought it was a cramp, so he finished out the frame before telling the training staff and being replaced in the bottom half of the frame. Norby later saw doctors who diagnosed the low-grade strain.
This is Norby’s third IL stint this season; he previously missed time with a left oblique strain and hamate bone surgery.
“I've literally never been hurt in my life to where I've missed games,” Norby said. “It sucks I can't be out there with the team, for the fans, for the players and for Clayton. I hate it more than anybody, but I'm going to be back and I'm going to be better.”
Asked to clarify whether he meant a return in 2025 or ‘26, Norby replied: “I’ll be back this year, no question.”
In Norby’s absence, Marlins No. 25 prospect Maximo Acosta, who was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville as a corresponding move, and Javier Sanoja will split time at the hot corner. Acosta went 1-for-4 starting at second for slumping Xavier Edwards, who is getting a mental and physical break until Sunday. Sanoja finished 1-for-3 with an RBI double.
Meanwhile, the Marlins are in limbo when it comes to right-hander Edward Cabrera (right elbow sprain). He remains in no-throw status, according to McCullough, as the organization continues to gather more information. There was no “firm, definitive answer” on a timetable.
When asked if Tommy John surgery was an option, McCullough said, “That, I don't want to speak to. I don't know. It hasn't been confirmed either way.”
There are some positive developments on the horizon for a club patching together its roster, especially in the rotation.
Right-hander Janson Junk (right ulnar nerve irritation) will be reinstated to start Monday’s series opener against the Nationals. He looked sharp in his lone rehab start on Tuesday for Jacksonville, pitching five innings while allowing one earned run.
“We're just giving him an extra day,” McCullough said. “Anytime we have an opportunity to give our starters an extra day, and it works with things, we just feel like it's best for them, especially getting this late in the season.”
Left-hander Ryan Weathers (left lat strain) will rejoin the rotation sometime next week. Weathers didn’t allow a run over 4 2/3 innings on Wednesday for the Jumbo Shrimp. All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers should also be back early next week. He was hitless with a walk as Jacksonville’s designated hitter to begin a rehab assignment on Friday. Stowers is scheduled to play outfield on Saturday before returning to Miami on Sunday if all goes well.
In the meantime, righty Valente Bellozo made his first start on Friday since May 13, providing three solid innings of two-run ball.