Nardi does something he hasn't done in a year

JUPITER, Fla. -- If symbolism counts for anything, the player to officially open the first Marlins pitchers and catchers workout could represent a sign of things to come.

Left-handed reliever Andrew Nardi, who hasn't pitched in a game since August 2024, threw a 30-pitch up-down bullpen on Wednesday morning on a backfield at the Marlins Jupiter Academy.

"First 15 felt really good," Nardi said on Thursday. "I was sitting 91 [mph], which is great for me, I feel like, especially in a bullpen. And then I sat down for five minutes and came back out. I was a little stiff, but kind of what everybody was expecting. Haven't done that in over a year now, but overall, felt good. The last 15 I was still 89-90 [mph], but I think everybody's happy where I'm at right now, and we'll start live ABs next session.

With recovering pitchers, how they feel the day after is just as important. Nardi acknowledged being sore, but not enough to affect his day-to-day activities. This is an encouraging step.

Miami heavily relied on Nardi from 2023-24, when he compiled a 3.79 ERA in 107 innings spanning 122 appearances. The workload began to catch up to him in 2024, when he landed on the injured list for left triceps inflammation, and later for a left elbow muscle injury.

The 27-year-old missed the entirety of the 2025 season with recurring back trouble, with treatment that included undergoing an epidural. It wasn't until two months ago that Nardi's back started feeling good again. Two weeks ago, he threw a 30-pitch bullpen without downtime in between. With the physical hurdle behind Nardi, now comes the mental aspect.

"It was super exciting," Nardi said. "Everybody was out there to watch. I was just super excited to be on the mound again in cleats and the warmth again. So it was just amazing."

The Marlins could use Nardi's services in the bullpen. While Miami reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with John King on Wednesday, the only other 40-man southpaw relief options are second-year pitchers Cade Gibson and Josh Simpson. Gibson (2.63 ERA in 44 games) fared much better than Simpson (7.34 ERA in 31 outings).

"It was just great to see Nard out there, and again, we talked a lot last year about what he went through, and it was a lot physically and mentally," manager Clayton McCullough said. "So for him to go get off the mound this offseason with regularity, yesterday was a big step to have two sets and add in the downtime in between to just see how and for him to feel what that's like to have to crank it up again.

"Stuff was great, and he had a big smile on his face, as he should. We'll take yesterday as a really, really positive day, and with him, just keep going day to day, and hope we can stack good ones together and let how he responds, recovers, continue to guide us with how we continue to build him up."