Marlins place Jazz Chisholm Jr. on injured list. What that means for outfield plans
The Miami Marlins on Tuesday placed center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the 10-day injured list with turf toe in his right foot ahead of their series opener against the Washington Nationals.
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said the timetable for the injury is four to six weeks.
“Not what you want from your star center fielder,” Schumaker said pregame Tuesday. “We put a lot on his plate early in the year and in spring training and he’s done nothing but grow in that position. ... Definitely a tough loss. Looking forward to him getting healthy and back.”
Chisholm sustained the injury in the eighth inning of the Marlins’ 6-5 loss to the Reds on Saturday when he ran into the wall in left-center trying to track down a Henry Ramos line drive.
He did not play Sunday and on Tuesday saw foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, North Carolina. Anderson confirmed the turf toe injury.
“I just went all out after the ball,” Chisholm said postgame Saturday. “I wish I could have at least come up with the ball and be hurt instead of not making the play, but I just went through it, went after the ball. After I realized I didn’t catch the ball, I tried to brake down and by my first or second step, I was already into the gate, hit the gate, landed back and fell on my foot and my toes.”
Chisholm, who started 38 of Miami’s first 41 games, has been having a quietly strong start to the season defensively. His three outs above average according to Statcast are tied for fourth among all center fielders.
Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. more comfortable in center field. What the numbers are saying
His production at the plate has begun to pick up as well. Chisholm has hits in five of his past six games, including home runs in each of his past two on Friday and Saturday before the injury. His 14 stolen bases entering Monday are tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ji Hwan Bae for third in MLB, behind only the Oakland Athletics’ Estuary Ruiz (19) and the Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. (17).
With Miami already without fellow outfielders Avisail Garcia (back tightness) and Jesus Sanchez (right hamstring strain), Schumaker is going to be tested with how he assembles his outfield for the time being.
Peyton Burdick, Bryan De La Cruz and Garrett Hampson will likely get the bulk of the playing time in the outfield, with Burdick and Hampson the main candidates for reps in center field. Jorge Soler can also play either of the corner spots but has primarily been used as the team’s designated hitter this season.
Hampson is making his second consecutive start in center field in Chisholm’s absence.
The Marlins recalled prospect Xavier Edwards to fill Chisholm’s spot on the active roster. Edwards is primarily an infielder but has gotten reps in center field with Triple A Jacksonville.
“We’ll try to play the matchups as best we can,” Schumaker said. “Guys who have experience against [that day’s] starting pitcher. Maybe it depends on what hand they throw. A lot of different options, but we’ll try to mix and match as best as we can.”
JT Chargois returns
The Marlins on Tuesday activated right-handed relief pitcher JT Chargois from the 15-day injured list, giving their bullpen a needed reinforcement. Chargois had been sidelined since April 10 due to a right oblique strain. Prior to his injury, Chargois had pitched 4 1/3 perfect innings with four strikeouts over five relief appearances.
Chargois’ solid start to the season continued into his rehab assignment. He threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings across four outings, one with Single A Jupiter and then three with Triple A Jacksonville.
“Definitely ready to get back,” Chargois said. “It sucked to miss that time. I think the overall plan and fundamentals in the throws specifically that I was trying to check off were always there. They were always right. I think what I was able to do with my fastball command and then start to see the slider trend in a positive direction. It was the same fundamentals and boxes I was trying to check. ... It showed me that [my stuff] is still there.”
Chargois’ return comes two days after the team placed closer A.J. Puk on the injured list with left elbow nerve irritation.
With Puk sidelined, the Marlins have to recalibrate their approach with their high-leverage relievers. Dylan Floro, who logged 25 saves the past two seasons, will become Miami’s primary closer in Puk’s absence after mainly serving as the eighth-inning reliever to start the season. Chargois, Tanner Scott, Steven Okert and Matt Barnes will be the primary set-up options, with Huascar Brazoban, Andrew Nardi and Bryan Hoeing round out the bullpen.
Puk, meanwhile, resumed played catch out to 90 feet on Tuesday and said no testing was needed on his arm.
“Just one of those that with a little bit of rest, it’ll be good to go,” Puk said.
