Video above: Marlins debut upgraded spring training facilitiesA former professional baseball player with the Miami Marlins is suing a local university’s medical school over the treatment of an injury.According to court documents in Miami-Dade County, Avisaíl Garcia and his wife Anakarina Jaspe filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.According to the 14-page complaint that was filed June 17, 2026, Garcia alleges that during the early portion of the 2023 MLB season, physicians with the Miller School of Medicine mishandled a back injury Garcia sustained.Garcia, an outfielder from Venezuela, said at the time he experienced pain in his left lumbar and tightening to his lower back and left glute.During the 2022 season, Garcia’s season was limited to 98 of a possible 162 games after dealing with a lingering hamstring injury.As for the 2023 injury, the lawsuit alleges that a doctor with UM’s Miller School of Medicine and the Marlins team physician examined him April 16, 2023. The doctor with the school of medicine planned for Garcia to initiate anti-inflammatories as needed to continue treatments.On April 28, 2023, Garcia was reevaluated and complained of lower left back and superior glute pain. Garcia told the doctor that the pain occurred “after hitting a double during a game, upon his return to the dugout, he had difficulty standing up from the pain.”Garcia had an MRI performed, which revealed a diffuse disc bulge, central to left subarticular disc protrusion with annular fissure and mild spinal canal stenosis.The lawsuit claims a second doctor with the school failed to report bilateral spondylolysis without listhesis as well as associated edema that was on the MRI.A third doctor administered Garcia two epidural injections during a 14-day time span. At the time, the Marlins placed Garcia on the 10-day injured list. While not playing, Garcia went through physical therapy under the supervision of the school of medicine’s doctors and trainers.On May 27, 2023, Garcia participated in a rehab assignment, playing in games for the Marlins’ minor league team, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.After a postgame lift on June 2, 2023, Garcia noted feeling additional tightness in his lower back and had limited forward flexion.Garcia had a second MRI performed June 4, 2023, by a fourth school of medicine doctor, which revealed a bilateral L5 pars interarticularis defect and a new L2-L3 central/subarticular disc herniation compressing the descending left L3 nerve root.The fourth doctor recommended a CT scan for the lumbar spine to “better evaluate” his pars defect.On June 5, 2023, Garcia said the initial doctor failed to address or acknowledge the pars defect, which the lawsuit claims caused Garcia’s symptoms and limitations. The lawsuit claims that the initial doctor failed to communicate this to Garcia or request the recommended CT scan of the lumbar spine.Garcia said he received additional injections and continued physical therapy under the instruction of Miller School of Medicine doctors and trainers while not being provided with proper bracing, rest and therapeutic modalities.Garcia was instructed to return to full play July 30, 2023, after missing 12 weeks due to the injury.The lawsuit alleged Garcia struggled through the end of the 2023 season. During the offseason, Garcia said he did not receive instructions on specific treatment or options to seek other medical opinions on the injury.During spring training, beginning in February through the first few weeks of the 2024 MLB season, the lawsuit claimed Garcia battled through pain. On April 27, 2024, Garcia was placed on the injured list by the Marlins as the lawsuit claims he suffered further instability and significant worsening of his symptoms.On June 4, 2024, Garcia was designated for assignment by the Marlins and was released June 5, 2024.According to MLB.com, being designated for assignment removes a player from the team’s 40-man roster. The player is eligible to be traded to another team or is released from the team.The player may elect to accept the team placing them with a minor league affiliate. A player with five years’ time in Major League Baseball can reject the placement with a minor league affiliate and become a free agent.Prior to the 2022 Major League Baseball season, the Marlins and Garcia reportedly agreed to a four-year contract worth $53 million, with a team option for a fifth year. The lawsuit claims the contract was the single highest-grossing free-agent contract given by the current ownership group of the Marlins.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsAfter his release, Garcia sought a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon at the Henry Ford Center in Detroit, Michigan, who requested an MRI.The lawsuit claims that on Sept. 11, 2024, an MRI revealed Garcia had a bilateral pars interarticularis defect at L5, without evidence of spondylolisthesis.The lawsuit claims that the Miller School of Medicine mistreated his injury, which was initially discovered during a June 4, 2023, MRI by a school of medicine doctor. The MRI taken in September 2024 after his release from the Marlins matched the June 2023 MRI.Garcia underwent surgery in October 2024 to address the issue that included the placement of screws. The lawsuit claims the failure by the school of medicine to properly treat his injury initially led to his professional baseball career ending prematurely at the age of 32.Garcia and his wife are requesting a jury trial and damages payment of more than $100,000.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.In a July 9, 2026, 13-page court filing, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine denied the allegations in Garcia’s lawsuit and claimed that Garcia “was fully informed of the risks of the treatment provided to him and, with appreciation of those risks, voluntarily participated in conduct that exposed him to the dangers not complained of; consequently, Plaintiffs’ claims are barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrine of express assumption of risk.”The school of medicine added that Garcia’s injuries were caused by a “pre-existing and/or congenial/hereditary medical condition was not itself a result of any negligence on the part of the Defendants or its employees or agents.”The school of medicine requests that Garcia’s request for recovery be denied.The school of medicine claimed that because Garcia was guilty of negligence and carelessness, which led to the alleged injuries, that bars Garcia from recovering damages from the school of medicine.The school of medicine also requested a jury trial. The Miami Marlins are not a defendant in the lawsuit.Garcia announced his retirement from professional baseball in February.During Garcia’s 13-year MLB career, he played for the Detroit Tigers, the Chicago White Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Miami Marlins.
MIAMI —
Video above: Marlins debut upgraded spring training facilities
A former professional baseball player with the Miami Marlins is suing a local university’s medical school over the treatment of an injury.
According to court documents in Miami-Dade County, Avisaíl Garcia and his wife Anakarina Jaspe filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
According to the 14-page complaint that was filed June 17, 2026, Garcia alleges that during the early portion of the 2023 MLB season, physicians with the Miller School of Medicine mishandled a back injury Garcia sustained.
Garcia, an outfielder from Venezuela, said at the time he experienced pain in his left lumbar and tightening to his lower back and left glute.
During the 2022 season, Garcia’s season was limited to 98 of a possible 162 games after dealing with a lingering hamstring injury.
Getty ImagesJim McIsaac
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 08: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Avisail Garcia #24 of the Miami Marlins in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 08, 2024 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Marlins 7-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
As for the 2023 injury, the lawsuit alleges that a doctor with UM’s Miller School of Medicine and the Marlins team physician examined him April 16, 2023.
The doctor with the school of medicine planned for Garcia to initiate anti-inflammatories as needed to continue treatments.
On April 28, 2023, Garcia was reevaluated and complained of lower left back and superior glute pain.
Getty ImagesMegan Briggs
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 16: Avisail Garcia #24 of the Miami Marlins reacts after suffering an injury during the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at loanDepot park on April 16, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Garcia told the doctor that the pain occurred “after hitting a double during a game, upon his return to the dugout, he had difficulty standing up from the pain.”
Getty ImagesMegan Briggs
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 16: Avisail Garcia #24 of the Miami Marlins walks off the field with an injury during the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at loanDepot park on April 16, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Garcia had an MRI performed, which revealed a diffuse disc bulge, central to left subarticular disc protrusion with annular fissure and mild spinal canal stenosis.
The lawsuit claims a second doctor with the school failed to report bilateral spondylolysis without listhesis as well as associated edema that was on the MRI.
A third doctor administered Garcia two epidural injections during a 14-day time span.
At the time, the Marlins placed Garcia on the 10-day injured list.
While not playing, Garcia went through physical therapy under the supervision of the school of medicine’s doctors and trainers.
On May 27, 2023, Garcia participated in a rehab assignment, playing in games for the Marlins’ minor league team, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Getty ImagesIcon Sportswire
MIAMI, FL – APRIL 14: Miami Marlins right fielder Avisail Garcia (24) scores a run during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Miami Marlins on Friday, April 14, 2023 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Fla (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
After a postgame lift on June 2, 2023, Garcia noted feeling additional tightness in his lower back and had limited forward flexion.
Garcia had a second MRI performed June 4, 2023, by a fourth school of medicine doctor, which revealed a bilateral L5 pars interarticularis defect and a new L2-L3 central/subarticular disc herniation compressing the descending left L3 nerve root.
The fourth doctor recommended a CT scan for the lumbar spine to “better evaluate” his pars defect.
On June 5, 2023, Garcia said the initial doctor failed to address or acknowledge the pars defect, which the lawsuit claims caused Garcia’s symptoms and limitations.
The lawsuit claims that the initial doctor failed to communicate this to Garcia or request the recommended CT scan of the lumbar spine.
Garcia said he received additional injections and continued physical therapy under the instruction of Miller School of Medicine doctors and trainers while not being provided with proper bracing, rest and therapeutic modalities.
Garcia was instructed to return to full play July 30, 2023, after missing 12 weeks due to the injury.
Getty ImagesHarry How
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 19: Avisail Garcia #24 of the Miami Marlins warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on August 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The lawsuit alleged Garcia struggled through the end of the 2023 season.
During the offseason, Garcia said he did not receive instructions on specific treatment or options to seek other medical opinions on the injury.
During spring training, beginning in February through the first few weeks of the 2024 MLB season, the lawsuit claimed Garcia battled through pain.
On April 27, 2024, Garcia was placed on the injured list by the Marlins as the lawsuit claims he suffered further instability and significant worsening of his symptoms.
On June 4, 2024, Garcia was designated for assignment by the Marlins and was released June 5, 2024.
According to MLB.com, being designated for assignment removes a player from the team’s 40-man roster. The player is eligible to be traded to another team or is released from the team.
The player may elect to accept the team placing them with a minor league affiliate. A player with five years’ time in Major League Baseball can reject the placement with a minor league affiliate and become a free agent.
Prior to the 2022 Major League Baseball season, the Marlins and Garcia reportedly agreed to a four-year contract worth $53 million, with a team option for a fifth year.
The lawsuit claims the contract was the single highest-grossing free-agent contract given by the current ownership group of the Marlins.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
After his release, Garcia sought a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon at the Henry Ford Center in Detroit, Michigan, who requested an MRI.
The lawsuit claims that on Sept. 11, 2024, an MRI revealed Garcia had a bilateral pars interarticularis defect at L5, without evidence of spondylolisthesis.
The lawsuit claims that the Miller School of Medicine mistreated his injury, which was initially discovered during a June 4, 2023, MRI by a school of medicine doctor.
The MRI taken in September 2024 after his release from the Marlins matched the June 2023 MRI.
Garcia underwent surgery in October 2024 to address the issue that included the placement of screws.
The lawsuit claims the failure by the school of medicine to properly treat his injury initially led to his professional baseball career ending prematurely at the age of 32.
Garcia and his wife are requesting a jury trial and damages payment of more than $100,000.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
In a July 9, 2026, 13-page court filing, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine denied the allegations in Garcia’s lawsuit and claimed that Garcia “was fully informed of the risks of the treatment provided to him and, with appreciation of those risks, voluntarily participated in conduct that exposed him to the dangers not complained of; consequently, Plaintiffs’ claims are barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrine of express assumption of risk.”
The school of medicine added that Garcia’s injuries were caused by a “pre-existing and/or congenial/hereditary medical condition [which] was not itself a result of any negligence on the part of the Defendants or its employees or agents.”
The school of medicine requests that Garcia’s request for recovery be denied.
The school of medicine claimed that because Garcia was guilty of negligence and carelessness, which led to the alleged injuries, that bars Garcia from recovering damages from the school of medicine.
The school of medicine also requested a jury trial. The Miami Marlins are not a defendant in the lawsuit.
Garcia announced his retirement from professional baseball in February.
During Garcia’s 13-year MLB career, he played for the Detroit Tigers, the Chicago White Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Miami Marlins.