Marlins’ Stanton likely out for the season with groin injury

Published 6:15 pm Sunday, August 14, 2016

By Craig Davis

Sun Sentinel

MIAMI — The Miami Marlins achieved a dramatic victory on the field Sunday, but it was overshadowed by a bigger loss.

Before their 5-4 victory against the White Sox, star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton underwent an MRI that revealed he has a Grade 3 strain of his left groin.

The injury will keep Stanton out at least six weeks, making it unlikely he will play again this season, Michael Hill, Marlins president of baseball operations said.

“The best-case scenario is a six-week return. Obviously, there is still opportunity for G to be back before the season’s end, but obviously it was a significant injury and we’ll see how rehab goes,” Hill said.

Hill said Marlins officials are beginning the process of examining options from outside the organization to add a player and said former Yankee Alex Rodriguez will receive consideration.

“We’re putting our list together of options and he’s an available player, so he’ll be on that list and we’ll see where it goes,” said Hill of Rodriguez, who was released by New York on Friday and is expected to clear waivers Monday.

“I think we’re going to look at everything. There’s been information out there about his situation. I have no idea what his interest level is to continue to playing.

Stanton suffered the injury on the final play of Saturday’s loss to the Chicago White Sox when he made an unwise attempt to stretch a single and was thrown out at second.

“When I saw it, it looked like he got shot,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “It’s what you see with guys with hamstrings and stuff like that — they’re running and all of a sudden you just see the leg just give out.

“Obviously, not a very good sign when you see that.”

Stanton’s injury came in a game in which he had three hits and drove in three runs, including his 25th home run.

Ichiro Suzuki took Stanton’s place in right field Sunday.

“It means we’ve got to find another way to win. Simple as that. We did it earlier in the year,” Mattingly said, referring to Stanton missing eight games with side soreness in late May as well as during a prolonged slump.

“Giancarlo earlier in the year was really not contributing. When he wasn’t swinging well we were able to sustain. I think that’s really what we have to do. … It really puts (Ichiro) in the lineup more is what it does.”