MINNEAPOLIS – The Marlins expected to make a roster move ahead of Wednesday's 9-5 win over Minnesota thanks to closer Pete Fairbanks’ return to the active roster. But the corresponding move was one that nobody wanted to see.
Robby Snelling, the franchise’s No. 2 prospect, was placed on the 15-day IL after experiencing soreness in his elbow during a bullpen session on Tuesday.
An MRI revealed that Snelling has a sprained UCL in his left elbow, an injury that can be the precursor to Tommy John surgery, though the organization would obviously prefer the 23-year-old lefty avoid that fate.
“There'll be some further evaluations and things to occur,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “We don't have anything more than that now, about the time frame, what this is right now.”
Snelling made his Major League debut on May 8, when he gave up three runs in five innings pitched against Washington. Snelling displayed “moxie” that impressed his manager, who later reflected on the irony of having such a major setback happen so early in one’s career.
“Robbie was certainly disappointed,” McCullough said of the injury news. “You work your entire life for the opportunity to become a Major League player. You come up, and make your Major League debut, and then for something to pop up like this very shortly after, it's disappointing. But Robbie is a very hard and tough young man, and whichever way this goes, he'll come back for it.”
Garrett returning to rotation
A familiar face is likely to take Snelling’s spot in the rotation in time to pitch in Thursday’s series finale against the Twins. However, because the roster move won’t officially take place until after Wednesday’s game, the Marlins can’t yet confirm the worst-kept secret in town – that Braxton Garrett will be returning to the rotation to make his first Major League start since June 17, 2024.
Garrett, whose recovery from Tommy John surgery culminated in six starts at Triple-A Jacksonville this year, arrived in Minneapolis on Wednesday and spoke with reporters.
“Very excited,” Garrett characterized his emotions. “First of all, I was happy to see all the guys. I hadn't seen them in a while. I've known a lot of these guys for several years. That was the main thing. I couldn't wait to get here, see them, and chop it up.”
Garrett has a lifetime Major League record of 16-19 in parts of five seasons, and he’s been with the Marlins' organization since it used the seventh overall pick of the 2016 Draft to select the lefty from Florence (AL) HS. In 2024, he went 2-2 with a 5.35 ERA in seven Major League starts before being shut down.
He entered this year’s Spring Training with hopes of making the team, though it was a bit of an uphill climb given the team’s depth.
“He came into camp, certainly in a place where he was competing for one of our rotation spots, threw the ball well in spring, and it just came down to that point, like, we had a number of other guys who were also throwing the ball well,” McCullough said. “Brax went down to Jacksonville, total pro, just kept his head down, and continued to throw and get built up after a lengthy absence of his own.”
In six starts with Jacksonville this year, Garrett posted a 2.30 ERA and allowed just 10 hits in 31 1/3 innings pitched. That total included an eight-inning no-hitter on April 21 at Triple-A Gwinnett.
“I'm just stronger. I feel more durable,” Garrett said. “I feel like there's still some time to tell the pitcher I'm gonna be, but I feel comfortable right now, strong and healthy.”
Fairbanks back to strengthen bullpen
Fairbanks, who signed a one-year, $13 million contract to help anchor the Marlins’ bullpen this year, converted five of his first six save opportunities before being forced out of a game against the Dodgers with nerve irritation in his right hand.
"We came into this year counting on Pete a lot, to take down some very important outs for us,” McCullough said. “He’s felt great during this time down. We feel very good about where he's at physically right now, and to be able to slot him back into the back part of the game for us will be huge.”