Marlins' 1st-rounder Morlando to miss remainder of '24 season

MIAMI -- Marlins first-rounder PJ Morlando will miss the remainder of Single-A Jupiter's season with a lumbar stress reaction, according to the club. The Hammerheads play their final game on Sept. 8.

Morlando, who was selected 16th overall in last month's MLB Draft, started in center field and hit leadoff in his professional debut last Friday. He grounded out to short to end a six-pitch at-bat, then waited out a two-hour, two-minute rain delay and remained in the game until being pinch-hit for by Micah McDowell in the third inning. Morlando hasn't appeared in a game since then.

"The season's so short, and so there's not really any time to 100% be back," Morlando told MLB.com over the phone. "That's the only problem. So I'll just be back next season 150%."

The 19-year-old Morlando doesn't know how he sustained the injury, which will require rest and rehab, but he expects to have a normal offseason. For now, Morlando will watch from the dugout and study the game.

"Being on the field, cheering on my teammates -- that's what keeps me happy," Morlando said. "It keeps me excited. I love baseball, so any chance I can watch baseball -- there's a lesson every single day as I try to figure out the insights of pro ball, especially coming from high school straight to pro ball. The game's a lot faster. It's good to learn it, good to get into the schedule, the groove, the wakeups, the food, try to get into a schedule."

Morlando’s diagnosis is the same as Marlins left-hander Jesús Luzardo, who hasn't pitched since June 16. Earlier this week, the club announced Luzardo will complete six more weeks of rest with no throwing. He has been doing bike workouts as well as forearm and shoulder strengthening. Manager Skip Schumaker said Luzardo will do everything he can to be back by the end of the season, but that could be difficult with the final game set for Sept. 29 in Toronto.