JUPITER, Fla. — Jose Fernandez left the field after seven innings, then said two very important words before he entered the Jupiter Hammerheads' clubhouse to prepare for the quick drive back to Miami.
"No pain," he said.
For the Miami Marlins, there could be no better report.
Their ace right-hander threw 90 pitches over seven innings in a rehab start Monday night, giving up four hits and one run while striking out nine in a Class A game against the St. Lucie Mets. If all goes according to plan, Fernandez will start for Double-A Jacksonville on Saturday and return to the Miami rotation against San Francisco on July 2.