JUPITER, Fla. -- Marlins right-hander Janson Junk was diagnosed with a Grade 1 right ankle sprain, calling it "probably the best-case scenario." He underwent X-rays and movement evaluation but did not require an MRI.
Junk, who rolled his ankle during dynamic warmups on Tuesday, when his foot got caught, wore a boot later in the day. At the time, Junk said the ankle hadn't swelled up and looked similar to his left one. After visiting a doctor on Wednesday in Miami, he was back in the clubhouse at the Jupiter Academy on Thursday.
"Just take it day by day, and I feel like every day is getting a little bit better," Junk told MLB.com on Thursday. "So today get out there and some sort of throwing, probably not on the foot. They'll probably be a little bit cautious on that end of not pushing it. I feel like I could wrap it up and get back out there, but probably right now just play it safe and just keep crushing treatment. I'm doing everything I can outside of the field."
The 30-year-old Junk last threw a pitch design session on Saturday and had been scheduled for another on Wednesday. This sets him back from the other pitchers in camp, who are prepping for Grapefruit League games beginning on Saturday.
"I'm not concerned that this is going to be a multi-week thing," Junk said. "I would like to be out of the boot in the next few days, hopefully. I was going to ask today and see where we are."
Junk, who is vying for a spot on the Opening Day roster either in the rotation or out of the bullpen, had a career year in 2025. In 21 games (16 starts), he posted a 4.17 ERA and a 3.14 FIP. Other 40-man pitchers in the mix for the rotation include righties Sandy Alcantara (Opening Day starter), Eury Pérez, Chris Paddack, Max Meyer, Adam Mazur, Bradley Blalock and Ryan Gusto as well as southpaw Braxton Garrett. One odd man out in this competition could be used in a swingman/long-relief role.
"We're still going to build Janson up as a starter, and just see how this setback and how long that it potentially just affects what he can end up getting to by the end of camp," manager Clayton McCullough said.