Jose Fernendez, one of the best young pitchers in the game, is likely to undergo Tommy John surgery after tearing a ligament in his right arm, and the Marlins have called up a Howell native and Colts Neck High School alumn to take his place in the starting rotation.

Anthony DeSclafani graduated Colts Neck High School in 2008. That same year, he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 22nd round of the amateur draft. He eventually elected to pitch for the University of Florida before getting drafted in the 6th round in the 2011 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. Before the 2013 season, he was part of a blockbuster deal with the Marlins that included former New York Met Jose Reyes being sent north of the border.

Since the trade, DeSclafani has become one of Miami's top pitching prospects, including winning the honor of Marlins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2013, posting a 9-6 record with a 2.65 ERA between Single-A and Double-A ball.

Mike Redmond, the current manager for the Miami Marlins, told the Miami Herald,

“I know in Toronto, he was definitely a guy they didn’t want to lose,” Redmond said. “He was kind of that guy they thought was under the radar, but obviously he wasn’t. I thought it was a great addition to that trade, picking him up.”

DeSclafani will face off against the Dodgers tonight in LA at 10:10 PM ET.

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