The Marlins’ pitching pipeline was in need of some good news after the club lost No. 2 prospect Robby Snelling to left elbow surgery on Friday. Enter Karson Milbrandt, whose continued dominance for Double-A Pensacola has been a ray of light for the organization’s farm system in 2026.
Milbrandt (Miami’s No. 9 prospect) took the mound against Columbus at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Saturday -- one day after Snelling underwent left elbow UCL repair surgery with an internal brace -- and struck out a career-high 12 batters over six scoreless innings in a 4-0 win.
The 22-year-old right-hander has twirled six shutout frames in each of his past three starts, scattering eight hits and racking up 32 strikeouts in that span.
Milbrandt’s 1.06 ERA leads all Minor League Baseball qualifiers this season, and his 63 K’s are tied for the most of any MiLB pitcher. His scoreless streak is up to 23 consecutive innings going back to his start on May 2.
COMPLETE MARLINS PROSPECT COVERAGE
But perhaps the most encouraging thing for Milbrandt is the fact that he’s issued only six free passes over 30 innings (1.8 BB/9) in his past five starts.
The 2022 third-round Draft pick features a deep arsenal -- four of his pitches have a 55-grade on 20-80 scouting scale, per MLB Pipeline -- but has been held back by a lack of command. The Marlins have emphasized staying in the zone more, and he’s obliged lately.
To put his recent success in perspective, only six MLB pitchers in the Modern Era (since 1900) have put together a three-start stretch within a single season that included at least 18 scoreless innings and 32 or more strikeouts.
The most recent to do it was Chris Sale for the 2017 Red Sox. Clayton Kershaw (2014, '15), CC Sabathia ('11), Chan Ho Park ('00), Randy Johnson (1994, '97) and Ray Culp ('68) are the only other pitchers to have a stretch like that in the Modern Era.