Jose Fernandez Injury: Updates on Marlins Star's Elbow Injury and Return

Updates from Friday, Oct. 3 

Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald provides an update from Jose Fernandez, who spoke about his injury:

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Jose Fernandez was popping the catcher’s mitt at Marlins Park on Friday, and he wasn’t even letting it rip.

“The ball is coming out of my hand incredible,” Fernandez said after completing just his second throwing session in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. “I’m just excited to get a ball in my hand and let it go again.”

Fernandez threw a baseball Wednesday for the first time since undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery in May. On Friday, he ramped it up just a bit more in front of reporters.

“I have never felt this good ever,” he said. “The ball is coming out of my hand effortlessly.

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Original Text: 

Florida Marlins star Jose Fernandez is one of the most promising young pitchers in baseball, but he had his 2014 season cut short after requiring Tommy John Surgery in May. In a great sign for the young pitcher, though, he was back out for a throwing session in a limited capacity on Wednesday.   

Joe Frisaro of MLB.com has more:

Christina De Nicola of Fox Sports added:

Fernandez was excellent during his 2013 rookie season, finishing 12-6 with a 2.19 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 187 strikeouts in 172.2 innings pitched. He was having another fine campaign this year before he fell to the injury, going 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 70 strikeouts in 51.2 innings thrown.

Just 22 years old, Fernandez has established himself as one of the brightest young players in the game today and getting him back in action will be a huge key for the Marlins next season. But Fernandez has also been smart enough to know that he can't rush back from such a serious injury. 

"We are going really week by week," Fernandez told reporters in September. "That was the goal since surgery. ... If it's Opening Day, great. If it's September next year, great. It will depend on how I feel."

He added, "I've got to be really smart about how I'm going to approach this and be really careful because I don't want to come back for three months, I want to come back for 13, 14 more years that I want to play in the Big Leagues."

It's safe to say that the Marlins organization, their fans and pretty much anyone who enjoys the game of baseball feels the same way.

Denis Poroy/Getty Images

The Marlins certainly have reason for optimism heading into next season. The team finished 77-85 this past season, yes, but led by players like Giancarlo Stanton, Fernandez, Christian Yelich, Henderson Alvarez and a base of talented youngsters, there is optimism in Miami. 

Fernandez is at the center of that optimism. A healthy return to action in 2015 could make the Marlins a formidable, young team in the NL East.