For 3 1/3 innings Saturday, Colin Rea was offering a glimpse of what the Marlins were seeking when they traded for him the previous day.
Even Rea has no idea when he will be able to continue on the track. The right-hander acquired from the Padres in a seven-player trade was placed on the disabled list Sunday with an elbow sprain.
Rea said it was too soon to tell if the injury is a short-term setback or a serious issue that will require a lengthy recovery or surgery.
"I'm not sure. I'm hoping it's nothing serious," he said Sunday morning. "Just got to take it as it is; just trying to stay positive. I've never had elbow soreness or anything before that was to this extent, so I really don't know what to expect."
Rea was shut down last September due to minor discomfort in the elbow, but said that was different than he experienced Saturday.
"There was only a couple weeks left in the season at that time," Rea said. "We weren't really in the playoff [hunt]. It was all precautionary. It was just a minor thing. It was kind of a smart thing to do at the time."
After leaving Saturday's game against the Cardinals, Rea said, "Just kind of felt something in my elbow and it gradually got worse throughout the game."
"I don't know if I could have thrown another pitch."
He allowed only one hit and no runs before departing.
The last pitch Rea threw was a 3-2 splitter to strike out Jedd Gyorko. He then gave a subtle wave with his glove toward the Marlins dugout to indicate something was wrong.
Whether coincidence or an omen, Gyorko was the last batter Jose Fernandez faced before he had Tommy John surgery in 2014. Gyorko, then with the Padres, hit a grand slam as a signal that something was very wrong with Fernandez.
Rea said that after being shut down last season he received ultrasound, and other treatment. But entering the offseason he had the luxury of giving his arm adequate rest.
"Started my normal offseason throwing program like every other year," he said. "When I started throwing in early December, I felt fine."
The situation is different with the Marlins amping up a bid for the postseason. They began Sunday tied with the Cardinals for the second wild-card spot in the National League.
It is uncertain who will fill the open spot in the rotation, and trading for another pitcher remains a possibility. The non-waiver trade deadline is 4 p.m. Monday.
