De Aza Out 4-6 Weeks

[JJ]

Alejandro De Aza is out, Robert Andino is in, and Alfredo Amezaga is moving to center field.

Those were the final moves the Marlins made 24 hours before Opening Day, as the team adjusted to De Aza's untimely injury, which came in the ninth inning of Saturday's final spring training game on a bizarre play.

De Aza, who was set to start the season platooning with Cody Ross in center field, injured his left ankle when he collided with John Raynor on a drive to left-center.

''He's out four to six weeks,'' Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said just before the Marlins' final workout. ``It's a high ankle sprain.''

The domino effect of putting De Aza on the 15-day disabled list landed in Andino's lap, because the Marlins recalled the Miami native and Southridge High graduate, who will be making his first Opening Day lineup.

''It's a dream come true,'' Andino said. ``I don't even have words for it.''

How many tickets will Andino need?

''I can't even think about that now,'' he said.

Andino, a talented shortstop, has had the bad luck of being behind Hanley Ramirez.

''When the De Aza thing happened, we went right to Andino,'' Gonzalez said.

``I've told him the last two years that he's the next guy. We think that highly of him. It's just unfortunate he's behind Hanley.''

Andino will be the backup infielder at shortstop or second base. Amezaga usually handles that duty, but with De Aza out, Gonzalez is moving Amezaga to center field, where he will share time with Ross. Amezaga did not play a single inning in the outfield this spring, but he has played 169 games in his career in the outfield.

The Marlins assigned outfielder Alexis Gomez, who was not on the 40-man roster, to the minor leagues to finalize their 25-man roster.

Andino is on the 40-man roster, so it made sense to bring up Andino instead of having to make a move on the 40-man roster as well.

Miami Herald

[Juanky]

I really want to get De Aza some ABs. However.....I'm pumped for Cody Ross to get legit playing time.

[Spork5812]

well at least they brought up carroll instead of keeping gomez.