Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara will not pitch for the rest of the season due to a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Alcantara experienced forearm tightness during a Triple-A rehab start earlier this week.
Alcantara expressed his frustration with the situation and mentioned his desire to compete and be out on the field this year. He hopes to be ready for next season.
Initially, the Marlins placed Alcantara on the injured list on September 6 with a right forearm flexor strain. He pitched four shutout innings during his Triple-A start but did not feel right afterward and returned to Miami for evaluation.
The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is commonly associated with elbow trouble, including Tommy John surgery. The Marlins and Alcantara are discussing the next steps, but his season is officially over. If surgery is required, it would also impact his 2024 season.
Alcantara expressed uncertainty about the future steps and the decisions that need to be made. The Marlins are currently in the thick of the wild-card race and losing Alcantara for any length of time is a significant blow.
Alcantara, known for his durability, had an impressive 2022 season where he led baseball in innings and batters faced. Although he has not replicated that level of success this year, he still provided the team with valuable innings and a solid ERA before his injury.
Since Alcantara’s injury, the Marlins have used a combination of openers and bullpen games to fill the void.
