The Miami Marlins announced that Giancarlo Stanton will not return this season after undergoing surgery to repair multiple facial and dental injuries last week.
Stanton, who is hitting .288 this season with 37 homeruns and 105 RBIs, was hit in the face by a pitch from Milwaukee Brewers hurler Mike Fiers.
Test results revealed multiple facial fractures, dental damages and cuts that required several stiches. Marlins president of baseball operations Mike Hill also revealed that their superstar slugger showed signs of concussions, which made them conclude that Stanton is done for the season.
"As much as we all would have loved to have him back, we knew that it just ran out of schedule," Hill said via ESPN. "He told me he can open his mouth 60 percent now. The slices in the food that he has to cut, they're in halves now. They were in quarters a few days ago."
"It's the whole healing process, the healing of the bones and the swelling," Marlins manager Mike Redmond added. "There's just not enough time for it to properly heal, and for him to get medically cleared to be able to play."
Stanton wanted to return to play again this season, but will not have enough time to recover from the surgery as he is still scheduled to undergo dental procedures in the next several days.
Meanwhile, the league suspended Joe West for one game without pay for grabbing Jonathan Papelbon's jersey during their heated argument on Sunday when the veteran umpire ejected the pitcher for making obscene gesture towards the fans.
"Joe West handled himself appropriately in ejecting Papelbon after the player's lewd gesture to the fans," MLB executive vice president Joe Torre said. "I fully understand that Joe was reacting to a player who was acting aggressively, and can understand his frustration with the situation. However, Joe knows that an umpire cannot initiate physical contact with a player just as a player cannot initiate physical contact with an umpire."
Papelbon, who was seen grabbing his crotch after fans booed him, was also suspended for seven games for the obscene gesture and for charging at West.
