On August 2, Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez injured his left shoulder while diving for a ball in New York. The team called him “day-to-day” for eight days before finally placing him on the disabled list.

Ramirez had been on rehab assignment with Jupiter of the High-A Florida State League, hitting .476 (10-for-21) in six games, but that assignment ended ominously on Tuesday, according to the Miami Herald:

Ramirez took himself out of a minor-league rehab game Tuesday with Single A Jupiter when he felt a “pop” in his shoulder while taking swings in the on-deck circle and returned to Miami for a medical evaluation.

The Herald article goes on to say that a team doctor has recommended surgery on the shoulder:

A baseball source said it has not yet been decided whether Ramirez will undergo arthroscopic or open surgery, as further testing still needs to be performed. But the source said Ramirez will likely heed whatever the doctors advise.

Ramirez will miss the rest of the 2011 season but the report indicated he should be ready for spring training. Missing the rest of this season may not be the worst thing for Ramirez; he is having the worst year of his career, hitting just .243/.333/.379 in 92 games.