Marlins 3B Prado (knee) to open season on DL

Miami Marlins third baseman Martin Prado suffered a setback with his surgically repaired right knee and will begin the 2018 season on the disabled list, the team announced Wednesday.

Prado felt discomfort in the back of the knee during a team workout on Tuesday, according to Marlins manager Don Mattingly.

"We were trying to be slow with him and slow with the process so as he got into a little more volume, he felt it and stopped," Mattingly told reporters.

The club was hoping Prado would be ready to play before mid-April. There isn't an immediate updated timetable for his return.

Prado played in only 37 games due to hamstring and knee issues last season. He missed the final 2 1/2 months after being shut down and undergoing knee surgery.

Prado is entering the second season of a three-year, $40 million deal. The 34-year-old is a .291 career hitter with 97 homers and 576 RBIs in 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves (2006-12), Arizona Diamondbacks (2013-14), New York Yankees (2014) and Marlins.

Prospect Brian Anderson is now in line to be the Marlins' Opening Day third baseman when they host the Chicago Cubs on March 29.

Anderson, 24, batted .262 with eight RBIs in 25 games for Miami last season.

"Brian has been kind of knocking on the door anyway," Mattingly said. "This puts more playing time on him. I've been comfortable with him. We think a lot of things that happened for him last year will be good for him this year. Being able to get up and have some success, some probably not as much as he'd like, but I think enough to get comfortable and know what this is all about."

--Field Level Media