Marlins right-hander Nick Neidert recently underwent surgery to address a right knee injury, tweets Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. The 25-year-old has been on the minor league injured list since August 9. Further details about the procedure aren’t clear, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if that brings his 2022 season to an end.
It has been a frustrating year for Neidert, a former second-round pick of the Mariners. Traded to Miami in the Dee Strange-Gordon swap, Neidert was at one point viewed as a potential back-of-the-rotation stalwart. He’s generally performed well in the minor leagues but hasn’t managed to translate that into MLB success. Neidert carried a 4.70 ERA through 44 MLB innings heading into this season, and the Marlins outrighted him off their 40-man roster just before Opening Day.
He’s subsequently had a solid run with Triple-A Jacksonville, pitching to a 1.96 ERA through 46 innings. The Georgia native fanned an above-average 26.1% of batters faced while only walking 4.9% of opponents, and he reclaimed a spot on the 40-man roster in July. Neidert came up for a spot start, tossed five innings of two-run ball, and was optioned back to Jacksonville. After one additional Triple-A start, he landed on the shelf.
Neidert continues to count against Miami’s 40-man roster while he’s on the minor league injured list. The Marlins could recall him and place him on the MLB 60-day IL if he’s indeed out for the season, although doing so would require paying him at the prorated $700K minimum rate.
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