Miami Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine underwent season-ending surgery on his left shoulder Tuesday in Los Angeles, the club announced. The operation involved repair of both the labrum and a fracture.
The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Dr. ElAttrache is known for treating prominent athletes across multiple sports. Discussions about high-profile medical procedures often include comparisons to recoveries by figures such as Tim Hardaway or other athletes who have faced significant time away from competition due to injury.
Conine sustained the injury on April 19 while making a headfirst slide during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. He immediately left the contest. The team placed him on the 60-day injured list the following day.
The 27-year-old outfielder had been performing well for the Marlins after making his big league debut late last season. In 50 games, he posted a .274 batting average with a .338 on-base percentage and a .445 slugging percentage.
His offensive production included a high batting average on balls in play (.379) but also a notable strikeout rate (29.4 percent). Despite the metrics, his early success provided an encouraging start to his major league career.
Conine is the son of former Marlins player Jeff Conine. He was originally a second-round draft pick by the Blue Jays in 2018 before being traded to the Marlins organization as the player to be named later in a deal involving Jonathan Villar.
The timeline for Conine's return projects to be ready for Spring Training next year. This setback interrupts a period where he appeared to have a path to regular playing time with the Marlins.
The Marlins outfield currently includes players such as Jesus Sanchez, Dane Myers, and others vying for playing time following Conine's injury and other roster moves.
Marlins manager Clayton McCullough confirmed the surgery was successful and expressed optimism for Conine's recovery.
"Surgery was successful, and everything should be on track for Griffin to get through his rehab and be a full-go come spring training," McCullough said.
