CHICAGO -- The Marlins welcomed back a center fielder, but lost another to injury ahead of Monday night’s series opener against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Miami placed Dane Myers on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Sunday) with a right oblique strain and activated Derek Hill from the 10-day IL.
According to Myers, the strain is moderate and should keep him out for a few weeks.
Myers sustained the injury while sliding awkwardly into second base during an eighth-inning steal on Saturday. Though he remained in the game to score on Eric Wagaman’s go-ahead triple, he was replaced in the bottom of the frame.
It comes at an inopportune time for Myers, who had started eight straight games in center field until sitting out Sunday with what was originally called back discomfort. Myers underwent further imaging, which revealed the strain.
"I've never had that injury before, so just a different feeling," Myers said. "Just went to the staff and originally didn't think it was going to be that bad, but after the imaging, it turned out to be what it was."
Since April 18, when Hill landed on the IL with a left wrist sprain, Myers was slashing .367/.415/.571 with three homers, a double, 10 runs, 12 RBIs and six steals in 16 games.
"I think the unfortunate part [is that] Dane was playing so well, he really was, [on] both sides of the ball," manager Clayton McCullough said. "Offensively, versus right, versus left. He was putting together really high quality at-bats, coming up with big hits, really executing on a plan, and his approach [was] at a high level for a good stretch of time. So unfortunate for Dane, with just how well he's playing for this to come up, and for us as well."
Hill, who was the club’s Opening Day center fielder, was due to return from a four-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville for this Cubs series regardless.
The 29-year-old had been sidelined since April 17, though he initially hurt his wrist on a diving catch on April 8 at Citi Field and played through it. It clearly affected him, as Hill was slashing .167/.239/.286 with one homer, two doubles, seven runs, three RBIs and three steals in 11 games at the time of the IL placement. While he wasn’t getting it done at the plate, Hill had recorded two Outs Above Average defensively and he ranks in the 97th percentile for sprint speed -- 29.5 ft./sec.
"Definitely wasn't great, but no excuses," Hill said of playing through the injury. "I suited up, and if you suit up, you've got to go out there and perform. It got to a point where I couldn't go out there and do what I wanted to do. So just had to get it right. And we're there, so it's time to go out there and have some fun."
According to McCullough, Hill is cleared to play on a regular basis and will be in the lineup with "regularity." Like every other player on the roster, however, the club will see to what extent on a day-to-day and series-to-series basis.
Outside of Myers, Kyle Stowers and Jesús Sánchez got starts in center field in Hill's absence.
"Derek was doing so many positive things for us," McCullough said. "One, the defense, how well he was playing in manning center field, and then offensively, he was putting together good at-bats. So it was unfortunate when "D" went down. We're glad to have him back in there [Monday]. He's a great teammate, so he brings a lot of things within the clubhouse as well -- with his energy and positivity as well as what he's able to do on the field."