Miami Marlins' Jose Fernandez Starting Throwing Program October 1st

There is a famous saying that is commonly used: when one door closes, another door opens. Well, with outfielder Giancarlo Stanton's season over after being hit by a pitch in the face, there is good news to be announced. According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, starting right-handed pitcher Jose Fernandez saw Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday to see if he is able to start a throwing program on October 1st.

Frisaro writes for MLB.com:

Miami manager Mike Redmond said he didn't have an exact timeline of the hard-throwing right-hander's return, but those around the team expect it to be around the 2015 All-Star Game.

"Jose is out seeing Dr. ElAttrache to see if he will be cleared to start his throwing program on Oct. 1," Redmond said Thursday afternoon. "That's exciting news. We'll see what the outcome of that is."

Dr. ElAttrache, who Fernandez saw, was also the one who had performed the Tommy John surgery, has determined that Fernandez is ready to resume activities again after the May surgery. The throwing schedule after Tommy John surgery usually resumes after four-to-six months.

Fernandez, 22, had the surgery done on May 16th, so that places his start time on throwing activities around five months since the surgery, which will be in October. This is a good sign, as it means that his healing process after the surgery went well.

Fernandez plans on throwing somewhere between 30-to-45 feet for about three-to-four minutes during the October 1st throwing session, but he does not anticipate speeding up the process for a return.

Marlins' fans should not get their hopes up, yet, as he is still not anywhere near ready to throw to batters live. In reality, Fernandez would be ready to start throwing competitively around Spring Training in March, and, if all goes well, he could be ready to pitch for Miami by the All-Star Break in 2015.

In Fernandez's major league career, he has lodged a 12-6 record to go along with a 2.19 ERA in 28 career starts. He has also accumulated 187 strikeouts over 172 and 2/3 innings pitched.