Marlins prospect reportedly suffered season-ending injury in embarrassing way

Apr 11, 2019; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of a New Era Miami Marlins hat in the dugout during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins’ first-round MLB Draft selection saw his season end prematurely in a way that is pretty embarrassing for the organization.

Outfielder PJ Morlando, the 16th overall pick in the June draft, has been out since August 9 due to a lumbar stress reaction, and will not play again this season. New information emerged Thursday, however, indicating that Morlando suffered the injury in a way that will be very embarrassing for the organization.

According to Isaac Azout of the Miami Herald, Morlando suffered the injury during a weight-lifting competition organized by the Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads on Aug. 2, which was his first professional game since being drafted. The event was put together during a rain delay, but team officials seemingly sanctioned Morlando’s participation.

Per multiple sources, Marlins first-round pick PJ Morlando suffered his season-ending injury in a weight-lifting competition.

Team officials organized the competition during a rain delay on August 2, Morlando’s first professional game.

— Isaac Azout (@IsaacAzout) September 19, 2024

Presumably, officials at the top of the Marlins organization will not be happy with how that played out, and might have to have a gentle word with those down on the farm about approving these sorts of things. The situation sounds like it was entirely avoidable.

The Marlins have had an exceptionally tumultuous season that saw them gut what was a playoff team in 2023. They may lose 100 games this year, and stories like this will not instill a lot of faith in the organization’s ability to turn things around.