NewsMarlins' Maybin to have shoulder surgery
Club expects center fielder to be ready for Spring Training
By Jason Beck / MLB.com
11/06/09 7:07 PM EST
Florida Marlins center fielder Cameron Maybin will undergo surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, the team confirmed Friday.The surgery will repair an injury that bothered Maybin down the stretch this season, though it didn't knock him out of the lineup. Barring setbacks, the projected timetable should have Maybin ready for the start of Spring Training in February.
Maybin opened and closed the season in the Marlins lineup, with a summer at Triple-A New Orleans in between the big league stints. His finish once rosters expanded in September helped put him in position to take over the regular job in center field next year. He batted .293 (27-for-92) in September with eight doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
As it turned out, Maybin had shoulder discomfort for that stretch run, but not enough to truly hamper him. The 22-year-old finished with a .250 average for the season with 12 doubles, two triples, four homers and 13 RBIs in 199 plate appearances.
If Maybin has a setback and isn't ready for the start of next season. the Marlins could turn to Cody Ross, who played a good amount in center this year and is expected to return.
Maybin was the key position player in the prospect package the Marlins received from Detroit in the trade for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis after the 2007 season. His athleticism made him one of baseball's top position prospects after the Tigers selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
