Marlins fans got some tough news about their outfielder today, as MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola is one of those who will pass on that star. Kyle Stowers will open the season on the injured list. Stowers was diagnosed with a grade 1 hamstring strain, an injury that comes with a timeline of between three and four weeks. Meanwhile, SportsGrid’s Craig Mish reports that striker Esteury Ruiz is also on the injured list. Mish notes that Ruiz suffers from an oblique strain and figures to be on the shelf longer than Stowers.
It’s a brutal blow to Miami’s outfield depth, at least early in the season. Stowers’ diagnosis leaves open the possibility that he could be back on the field with the Marlins as soon as mid-April, but it could be longer than that if his recovery takes longer than that 3-4 week timeline and he ends up needing a rehab assignment. Ruiz doesn’t have an exact timeline, but according to Mish’s description of the situation it appears he won’t be available to play in Miami before May at the earliest.
Although Stowers will be back soon, losing him is undoubtedly a huge blow to the Marlins. The shortstop was the breakout star of the Marlins’ 2025 campaign as he hit .288/.368/.544 with a 149 wRC+ in 117 games. While the 27.4% strikeout rate is cause for concern, Stowers’ big-time power and 10.5% walk rate were more than enough to make him a middle-of-the-order threat for Miami last year. The club will need similar performances from him this season if they have any hope of making the postseason in the crowded NL East division, and this latest injury news will put more pressure on him to perform when he returns to action.
As for Ruiz, the 27-year-old was acquired from the Dodgers in an offseason trade and is a career .241/.296/.343 hitter in the majors, as a center fielder and outfielder, Ruiz’s most notable tool is his speed. He was on pace to steal 67 for the A’s in 2023, but any hopes of getting a big steal with the Marlins this year are now on hold. He looked like he could be a part of Miami’s Opening Day roster in a bench/platoon capacity, providing a right-handed complement to the team’s heavy-hitting lineup.
With both Stowers and Ruiz out of action, the Marlins’ Opening Day lineup will look very different in the outfield. The little ones Jacob Marsee again Owen Caissie were already primed to start in center and right field on Opening Day, respectively. The two will now be merged The Griffin Conine on the field as Conine returns for the 2025 season after losing a lot to injury. The now 28-year-old outfielder has an above-average slash line of .261/.320/.435 for his career in the majors, though that equates to 54 games due to various injuries. The three non-guaranteed outfielders will be supported by a reliever Javier Sanojaoutfielder Heribeto Hernandez, and possibly first baseman Christopher Morelwho spent time in center field with the Cubs and left field with the Rays in the past despite poor defensive numbers.
