Jazz's MRI shows mild oblique strain; timetable unclear

MIAMI -- About a week after coming off a month-long IL stint for turf toe, Marlins star Jazz Chisholm Jr. found himself back on the injured list.

Miami placed Chisholm on the 10-day IL with a left oblique injury prior to Monday’s series opener vs. St. Louis at loanDepot park, and a subsequent MRI exam revealed a mild strain, although Chisholm's timetable for a return was not clear. In the short term, Chisholm will rehab the injury and continue to be monitored by the Marlins' medical staff.

In his six games since being activated from the turf toe injury on June 26, Chisholm hit .348 with two homers. But in his at-bat in the top of the sixth inning Sunday in Atlanta, Chisholm felt a pull -- akin to a cramp -- in his left oblique.

“It was like at the end of the swing,” Chisholm said. “Like after I swung and missed on the back end of it, I felt it, and it just felt like a super cramp. Like that's all it felt like, like just a cramp in there.

“I've actually not ever [had an] oblique [injury] so, to me, I didn't know what it is or how it feels. … I've talked to a lot of guys that [have rehabbed] the oblique and had oblique injuries, and it doesn't seem like it's the exact same injury.”

To fill the position, Miami selected the contract of outfielder Dane Myers from Triple-A Jacksonville, who has slashed .440/.494/.707 in 20 games since he was promoted from Double-A Pensacola on June 8. The club also designated right-hander Eli Villalobos for assignment, to make room for Myers.

Chisholm’s injury comes at an unfortunate time for the Marlins, who returned home Monday after being swept by the Braves to close out a six-game road trip. Regardless, Miami (48-37) entered Monday nine games behind Atlanta (56-27) in the NL East while securely in the top NL Wild Card spot.

By placing Chisholm on the IL, the Marlins hope to prevent even more serious injuries from developing so that their star will be ready for the second half, and possibly the postseason.

“I think it’s been tough for him to watch what we're [doing], what's going on and him not being really a part of it,” manager Skip Schumaker said Monday. “And then when he got to be part of it in Boston, you know what he did to our team and our lineup. I mean, you saw what happened. He's a special player, so it does suck that he is not here right now to finish out the first half. I hate to use that word, but it's just a reality. It's just not fun to see any player grab their side.”

“I mean, yeah, it’s frustrating,” Chisholm said. “But I trust my teammates, I trust the guys and I trust the staff that they made the right decision and who they're bringing up to come and replace me on the roster and help us keep winning.”