Alfaro shut down with right knee inflammation
JUPITER, Fla. – Marlins catcher Jorge Alfaro has been diagnosed with right knee inflammation, and until it dissipates, he is being shut down from baseball-related activities. The injury news comes 20 days before the Marlins open their season against the Rockies on March 28, but the organization remains hopeful Alfaro still has time to be ready.
“Obviously, we don’t necessarily like that we have inflammation coming back, but I’m not concerned about Opening Day,” manager Don Mattingly said Friday morning. “I feel pretty confident about that and him getting the at-bats.”
Alfaro aggravated his bruised right knee while sliding into second base on Tuesday against the Mets. The 25-year-old previously bruised the knee crashing into a dugout railing on Feb. 23 in Miami’s first Grapefruit League game.
Alfaro was examined Thursday by a team physician, and tests revealed the inflammation. The injury isn’t considered serious, but it will still cause him to miss some time.
“It sounds like they want to shut him down until they get the inflammation out of there,” Mattingly said.
The Marlins acquired Alfaro from the Phillies as part of the J.T. Realmuto trade in early February. He played in 108 games with the Phillies in 2018, his first full season in the big leagues, and he hit .262/.324/.407 with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs. In Spring Training, he's hit two singles in five at-bats.
The knee injury has affected Alfaro the past two weeks.
“Obviously, it’s been a little bit of a broken camp for him – on some, off some and back off,” Mattingly said. “Just the rhythm of it, I’m sure he doesn’t like. But as far as long term, it’s not really something I’m worried about.”
Alfaro is a big part of Miami’s young core, and lost time in Spring Training not only affects his preparation for the season, but also impacts his process of building relationships with the pitchers. He is still taking part in meetings with pitchers, but he's missing out on innings behind the plate working with a new staff.
The Marlins are a bit thin at catcher, with Chad Wallach dealing with a right quadriceps injury. Wallach and Bryan Holaday are competing for the backup spot behind Alfaro, but if Alfaro isn’t ready for Opening Day, both could be on the club. Wallach is on the 40-man roster, while Holaday is not.
Wallach got some at-bats on Friday in a simulated game at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex. He could be back as early as Sunday.
“There will be plenty of at-bats for Chad as he gets back into it, during that period,” Mattingly said. “I’m not really concerned about the depth part of it, because it’s not like six months. It’s a few days.”