Rafael Furcal placed on disabled list with hamstring strain
By Hayden Kane
The Miami Marlins will once again be without veteran infielder Rafael Furcal. Like the beginning of this 2014 season, it sounds like they will be without him for an extended period of time.
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Furcal strained his left hamstring this week, that after playing only nine games upon returning from a lengthy stint on the DL with a groin injury. Manager Mark Redmond painted a fairly bleak picture when he was asked about a timetable for Furcal’s return (quotes from the Miami Herald):
"“It’s going to be a while for [Furcal],” Redmond said. “It looks like it could be an extensive thing so we’re not putting a timetable on it right now.”"
This seems like an especially cruel turn of events because Furcal was actually able to join a contending team when he returned earlier this month. Through those nine games Furcal had batted just .171/.216/.229 with two RBI and seven strikeouts. He still might be able to make subtle contributions to the cause for the Marlins, but for the foreseeable future those will come off the field.
Derek Dietrich was recalled from the minor leagues to take Furcal’s place.
At age 36, Furcal has seen the twilight years of his career interrupted by injuries. He lost the entire 2013 season to Tommy John surgery, and he now faces the possibility of losing the majority of the 2014 campaign to a series of leg injuries. Hopefully these recent injuries do not become lingering problems and Furcal can still make meaningful contributions on the big league level before calling it a career.