Marlins lose Snelling to elbow injury. Braxton Garrett struggles in MLB return
The Marlins have lost one of their top pitching prospects just one start into his big-league career.
Left-hander Robby Snelling, who allowed three runs in five innings of his big-league debut against Washington last Friday, is out indefinitely after sustaining a UCL sprain in his left elbow. He is expected to be out for an extended period.
Taking his place in the rotation: Left-hander Braxton Garrett, who underwent UCL surgery on his left elbow three months after the 2024 season. He hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since June 2024.
And Garrett struggled in his return to the majors on Thursday, giving up five earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings on four hits and five walks — tied for the second-most he has ever issued in 66 big-league outings. The Marlins dropped the finale to the Twins 9-1 and two of three in the series overall to fall to 20-24 on the season.
Snelling went on the injured list on Wednesday, with closer Peter Fairbanks filling his roster spot. Fairbanks had missed 14 games because of nerve irritation in his right hand and thumb.
To recall Garrett, the Marlins on Thursday optioned rookie relief pitcher Josh Ekness to Triple A Jacksonville.
Ekness, the No. 30 prospect in the Marlins’ organization according to MLB Pipeline who made his MLB debut on May 3, has thrown scoreless outings in five of his first six big-league appearances. This includes recording his first save on Sunday. However, he threw 49 total pitches in back-to-back appearances on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sending him down gave the Marlins the most rested bullpen possible for Thursday’s series finale against the Twins.
As of Wednesday, it was undetermined if Snelling would need surgery.
“Robby reported some discomfort [Tuesday] following his bullpen session,” manager Clayton McCullough told reporters in Minneapolis on Wednesday before Miami’s eventual 9-5 win in Game 2 of the series against the Twins. The Marlins dropped the series opener 3-0. “There will be some further evaluations and things to occur. We don’t have anything more on the time frame.”
MLB.com ranks Snelling the 33rd-best prospect in baseball, and the fifth-best left-handed pitching prospect, behind only the Marlins’ Thomas White (13th), Boston’s Payton Tolle (14th), Seattle’s Kade Anderson (16) and St. Louis’ Liam Doyle (28).
Acquired in the 2024 Tanner Scott trade with the Padres, Snelling was superb in Triple A this season, posting a 1.86 ERA in six starts, with 44 strikeouts in 29 innings. He allowed 11 hits and 15 walks in 29 innings, and batters hit .116 against him. He had a 2.51 ERA in 26 starts at Double A and Triple A last season.
Garrett, who missed all of last season recovering from elbow surgery, was sent to Jacksonville after spring training and dominated there, posting a 2.30 ERA in six starts, with just 10 hits (but 15 walks) allowed in 31 1/3 innings. He struck out 32.
With a 4.03 ERA in 65 big-league games (63 starts), the 28-year-old left-hander has proven he can be a capable back-end starter.
“He threw the ball well in spring,” McCullough said. “We had a number of other guys who had also thrown the ball well. Went to Jacksonville, total pro, kept his head down, got built up after a lengthy absence of his own. Was throwing the ball well at Jacksonville.”
Garrett was 2-2 with a 5.35 ERA in seven starts in 2024 and missed the final 3 1/2 months with a left forearm flexor strain. His best season was 2023, when he posted a 9-7 record and a 3.66 ERA in 30 starts, with 156 strikeouts in 159 2/3 innings.
“Disappointed for Robby, but Braxton has pitched well here in the past and has earned the chance to come up and be part of our rotation,” McCullough said. “He knows how to pitch, knows how to change speeds, move the ball around.”
Garrett joins Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, Janson Junk and Max Meyer in the Marlins’ rotation.
Chris Paddack, who was designated for assignment by the Marlins on May 5, signed with the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Paddack, who was 0-5 with a 7.63 ERA for the Marlins, will start for the Reds on Saturday. The Marlins are paying him $4 million this season.
This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 6:51 PM.
