Marlins notes: Righties Mat Latos, Jarred Cosart take positive steps
MIAMI -- Ace Jose Fernandez wasn't the only Miami Marlins player showing progress Monday.
Righty Mat Latos, on the 15-day disabled list since May 23 with left knee inflammation, threw a successful bullpen session. The Marlins wanted him to build strength back in the knee he drained in spring training and underwent surgery on in February 2014. Acquired over winter meetings from the Cincinnati Reds, Latos has a 1-4 record and a 6.12 ERA in nine starts.
Latos will make a rehab start by the end of the week and another before possibly being reinstated.
"It was good to see Latos back on the mound, see him throwing again," manager Dan Jennings said. "We have a plan we'll put in place. We'll discuss it to finalize it. It's good to see him out throwing. Looks like his knee's definitely feeling stronger. It was good to see him get his work, start progressions toward getting back to the big leagues."
Right-hander Jarred Cosart, who is on the DL with vertigo, threw five scoreless innings in the extended spring training game Fernandez appeared in Monday morning in Jupiter, Florida. Cosart holds a 1-3 record and 4.08 ERA in seven starts.
Miami currently has four starters on the DL. Three of them -- Cosart, Latos and All-Star Henderson Alvarez -- were in the rotation to begin the season.
"Again, you got to get them back, get them in the rotation and then they have to go out and perform," Jennings said. "It's a large part of our rotation, guys we were counting on when we put this team together in the winter. You're going to need these guys to do what we have to do, and that's give us quality starts, get us deep into games and let the rest of the pieces play and continue to progress the right way."
HECHAVARRIA UPDATE
Adeiny Hechavarria sat out his third straight game with a sore left shoulder but should return to the lineup Tuesday.
Hechavarria injured it while colliding with Christian Yelich chasing down a shallow fly to left in the ninth inning of Friday's victory over the New York Mets.
Before Monday's batting practice, Hechavarria said he felt "much better" and would both hit and field to test it.
"He can actually play tonight, but he went through all of the pregame prep there," Jennings said. "We're going to give him one more day just precautionary. Let (Donovan) Solano stay at shortstop and Hech should be good and ready to go for sure tomorrow."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
