Miami Marlins’ ace Sandy Alcantara will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Friday. Alcantara announced the news on his social media channels, expressing his disappointment to Marlins fans who were supportive throughout the season.
With a heavy heart, Alcantara said, “I give this game my all, I give this city my all. And so I promise I will not take a day off as I push to be back better than ever. I will miss pitching, but I plan to be around the team as much as possible. I’m confident that guys like Jesús, Eury, Edward, Garrett, and Trevor will hold down the fort while I am there giving my support. Nothing can take away from my love for Miami and the Marlins’ fans.”
The decision for Alcantara to undergo surgery came after a diagnosis of a right UCL sprain. He had been shut down since September 23 and was unable to pitch during the postseason push or the National League Wild Card Series against the Phillies.
Alcantara had thrown on flat ground in Milwaukee and had two pain-free bullpen sessions before beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville. However, he experienced forearm tightness during his rehab assignment, prompting the decision to undergo surgery.
The recovery timeline for Tommy John surgery typically ranges from 12-14 months, which means Alcantara will miss the entirety of the 2024 season. The Marlins will have to make decisions about their starting pitching options during the offseason. If no moves are made, they will enter 2024 with left-handers Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, Ryan Weathers, and Trevor Rogers, as well as right-handers Edward Cabrera, Eury Pérez, and prospect Max Meyer, who is currently rehabbing from the same procedure.
Despite not being as sharp in 2023, Alcantara still recorded the 15th-highest FanGraphs WAR among NL pitchers. He led all qualified pitchers with 858 1/3 innings pitched since 2019, including back-to-back 200-plus-frame seasons in 2021 and 2022. Alcantara’s durability and performance will be greatly missed by the Marlins.
Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. expressed his admiration for Alcantara, saying, “I think right up until the end, Sandy never gave in to the fact that there was an issue, and it shows me a lot about his courage, his toughness, the type of teammate that he is. We know that when Sandy takes the ball, you’re going to get seven innings.”