The 2023 MLB season was not what Sandy Alcantara had in mind when he was gearing up to defend his 2022 NL Cy Young Award. Alcantara struggled from the get-go, taking a 4.72 ERA into the All-Star break. It was clear all year that the flamethrower wasn’t right, and his season was cut short in September with a forearm strain and an elbow injury.
Alcantara could only watch from the dugout as the Miami Marlins got swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in the playoffs. While the forearm strain was the initial injury that landed him on the Injured List, the elbow is the one that will now knock him out for the foreseeable future.
Sandy Alcantara has Tommy John Surgery
On Friday, Alcantara posted on social media that he underwent Tommy John Surgery to repair a torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his right elbow, his throwing arm.
While fans were praying he might be able to return later in the 2024 season, Alcantara and his agent confirmed that will not be a possibility. They are setting their eyes on a return for Opening Day in 2025.
It’s a massive blow for the Marlins, who made the playoffs for the first time in a 162-game season since 2003. Starting pitching has been the main strength of the team for the past few seasons, with Alcantara at the helm of that.
Verstappen and Perez throw out first pitch at Marlins game
Now, they will rely on left-handers Jesus Luzardo, Braxton Garrett and Trevor Rogers, as well as righties Eury Perez and Edward Cabrera. Top prospect Max Meyer should be back from injury, but his role on the team is up in the air at this point.
If the Marlins choose to reinforce their rotation through free agency, Blake Snell, Aaron Nola and Sonny Gray would likely be the top options at the position.
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