Avisaíl García sues Miami doctors over career-ending injury

Retired Major League Baseball player Avisaíl García has filed a lawsuit against doctors at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. García alleges that medical professionals who treated him for over a year failed to detect the seriousness of a back injury that ultimately ended his career.

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Without anyone knowing what was really happening.

García, who officially retired in February after not playing since 2024, stated that his career troubles began with back pain during a game in early 2023. He felt something was wrong while running the bases after hitting a single.

According to García and his lawyer, Jorge Silva, the university's medical team did not perform a recommended CT scan. An MRI had reportedly shown a stress fracture in his lower back. Silva stated that the radiological report, containing the correct diagnosis and recommended treatment, was overlooked. Instead, he claims, the recommended treatment was for muscular or disc pain, involving "rigorous physiotherapy and training," which worsened his symptoms.

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It all started with back pain.

García expressed sadness and frustration, saying, "Nobody told me what was happening to my back, period." He received what he considers appropriate treatment, including complex surgery with plates and screws, after the Miami Marlins released him. Silva believes this surgery could have been entirely avoided with a timely and accurate diagnosis. Both assert that the delays in diagnosis and treatment prematurely ended the career of the outfielder, who was an All-Star.

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I got to second base and felt something in my back.

"My career is over. What can I say about it?" García commented. "It's not fair, you know? It's not fair."

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The radiological report, which included the correct diagnosis and the appropriate recommendation, went unnoticed.