Miami Marlins Finally Starting to Get Good Injury News

While the Miami Marlins anxiously wait for news on Eury Pérez, there's getting some other positive injury updates

The Miami Marlins have been besieged by injuries to their rotation this spring. 

Braxton Garrett and Edward Cabrera have both been slowed by elbow injuries, while Eury Pérez has had sudden elbow soreness complicate his return from a broken fingernail, making not only Opening Day not a possibility anymore, but potentially leaving his entire season in doubt. 

But there's finally some good news, as some of the non-season-threatening injury issues seem to be resolving for Miami. Let's look at what's new as of Sunday: 

Edward Cabrera (shoulder)

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Cabrera, who left the field prior to his March 10th start with shoulder soreness that was later diagnosed as a right shoulder impingement, is playing catch today. 

It'll be his third straight day playing catch, which bodes well for his ability to throw a bullpen. He's definitely not going to be ready for Opening Day, but it bodes well for his ability to return sooner rather than later. 

ETA: Late April 

Braxton Garrett (shoulder)

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Garrett, who suffered his shoulder tightness early in camp, hasn't yet appeared in a spring training game but is throwing live batting practice today. 

Live BP is traditionally assumed to be the final step needed before a pitcher can appear in a game, so there's still a runway for Garrett to get Grapefruit League action before the team breaks camp. 

Ideally, if he can get through live BP today and again early this week - maybe Wednesday? - Garrett can appear for a single inning this weekend. The team has two final home matchups in spring, with the Cardinals (Friday) and Mets (Sunday) coming to Jupiter sandwiching a road matchup versus Washington on Saturday. 

Garrett's definitely going to start the season on the injured list, where he can get time in Jupiter against minor leaguers before being activated, but he's that much closer to returning. 

ETA: Mid-to-late April

Calvin Faucher (shoulder)

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Faucher, an offseason trade acquisition from Tampa Bay (along with Vidal Bruján), has been slowed by a sore shoulder this spring. 

But he's on track to throw live batting practice on Monday, another welcome development for a Marlins bullpen that is facing the loss of several of its top arms (A.J. Pu, Ryan Weathers) to the rotation early this year. 

As a reliever, Faucher can return sooner than a starter, as it's a matter of checking conditioning and stuff versus the need to stretch him out for multiple innings o work. 

ETA: Mid-April

Xavier Edwards (foot)

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The middle infielder has been in a walking boot because of some sort of foot injury - it wasn't really known when or how it occurred, per initial reports, but Edwards later clarified it was some sort of infection. 

Edwards is slated to perform a full workout today, which bodes well for his ability to return to action by the very end of Grapefruit League action. He's still likely to start the season in AAA Jacksonville, but very well could be one of the first injury call-ups in 2024. 

ETA: AAA Opening Day (March 31st)

Josh Simpson (arm/elbow)

Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union

Simpson, who has been slowed by discomfort in his left arm stemming from some sort of nerve issue, reportedly played catch yesterday without issue and plans to do so again today. 

Similar to Cabrera, playing catch for a few sequential days lends to the ability to hop into a bullpen session in the coming days. 

ETA: Late April