MIAMI -- Marlins left-hander Robby Snelling is usually his own toughest critic, but even he could make an exception considering the unique nature of Friday night’s start.
The Marlins’ No. 2 prospect (No. 31 overall per MLB Pipeline) tossed five innings in a 3-2 defeat to the Nationals at loanDepot park in his Major League debut. Snelling took the loss, allowing three runs -- all in the first inning -- on five hits and four walks, striking out two in an 86-pitch, 54-strike outing.
Snelling became the fifth prep pitcher from the 2022 MLB Draft to debut, and the fifth Miami farmhand to do so this week. His was arguably the most highly anticipated, the opportunity for his debut arising when the Marlins designated veteran Chris Paddack, in whose starts club had gone 0-6, for assignment on Tuesday.
“In my book of starts, this wasn't a great start,” Snelling said. “... If this is an example of a bad start, that's pretty good. So [I’ll] be able to go back to the drawing board, throw a good bullpen this week, work on the things I need to work on, location of different pitches and tunneling different pitches. Hopefully next week's a different outcome.”
The 22-year-old's Major League career began in impressive fashion, as he struck out 2025 All-Star James Wood on three straight curveballs. Snelling explained the rationale: He knew Nats batters would be geared up for the heat, anticipating added fuel from his adrenaline, so he went with breaking pitches to throw them off-balance.
But Washington, which entered the series opener with the fourth-most runs scored in the Majors, racked up three runs with two outs.
Curtis Mead followed Wood with a double on a center-cut curveball before Snelling fanned Brady House on a 97.2 mph four-seamer. CJ Abrams then ambushed Snelling’s first-pitch curveball for an RBI single before Jacob Young turned around a 95.9 mph four-seamer up and in for a two-run homer to left.
Known for being mature beyond his years, Snelling showcased his composure by keeping the Nationals off the scoreboard over the next four frames despite heavy traffic.
In a scoreless second, Snelling worked around a leadoff walk and a bunt hit by inducing a 6-4-3 double play, then an unassisted groundout to first. In the third, Snelling issued a pair of two-out walks but avoided damage.
The first perfect inning of Snelling’s career came in the fourth on just five pitches. To cap his outing in the fifth, Snelling once again pulled an escape act. He walked a batter and permitted a single to put runners on the corners. With the infield in, Snelling got Abrams to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
“For him to really navigate himself through five -- not maybe the cleanest innings, but he really grinded well -- showed a lot of moxie today,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said.
Added Nationals skipper Blake Butera: "Easily could have turned into a short outing for him, but just the ability to turn the page and go back out there and mow. He was so good. The fastball velocity, the ability to have secondary pitches that are really good and land them consistently. He's going to be a good pitcher for a while."
Guiding Snelling, the organization’s 2025 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, through his first taste of the Majors were two familiar faces: assistant pitching coach Rob Marcello and catcher Joe Mack (Marlins No. 4 prospect, No. 52 prospect). Marcello, the Padres’ director of pitching while Snelling was in San Diego's system prior to his acquisition by Miami in 2024, called pitches on Friday -- as he did last season as Triple-A Jacksonville’s pitching coach. Mack, who debuted on Monday, was often Snelling’s batterymate at Double-A Pensacola and in Jacksonville.
After being picked up in the July 2024 blockbuster trade with the Padres, Snelling quickly regained his status as one of the sport’s most promising arms with Mack in his corner. In 18 career starts for Triple-A Jacksonville over parts of three seasons, Snelling posted a 1.46 ERA and ran a 26 percent K/BB percentage -- tops among all pitchers with at least 90 innings since ’24. His 210 strikeouts since the start of 2025 ranked second in the Minor Leagues over that span.
“He's made really tremendous strides since we've acquired him,” president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said pregame. “It's a testament to Robby, how hard he works, the kind of competitor that he is. [It’s] a testament to our pitching group, top to bottom. … The great thing about Robby is he's really good right now. We're really excited about tonight, and he still has a lot of improvement that he can make. He has true top-of-the-rotation upside.”
And this is just the start.
“It was pretty on par,” Snelling said of expectations vs. reality. “It probably blew it out of the water a little bit. I don't think there's any way that you can really prepare yourself for something that you haven't even experienced, or been in the shoes of that situation. So, like, I said, a lot of adrenaline, a lot of emotions out on the mound, and did my best to not let that show externally. So special, special day.”