Tag Archive for: Miami Marlins

Marlins Move on from Braxton Garrett for Two Prospects

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The Miami Marlins have made another move ahead of the MLB trade deadline, acquiring first baseman Jonathon Long (Cubs #10 prospect) and right-handed pitcher Jace Beck (28th ranked Cubs prospect) from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett, per Jeff Passan.

Garrett, 28, was once considered a key part of Miami’s rotation after being selected seventh overall in the 2016 MLB Draft. Injuries have slowed his development in recent seasons, including missing the entire 2025 campaign while recovering from elbow surgery. Despite that setback, Garrett has shown encouraging signs in Triple-A this season. In 16 games (15 starts) with Jacksonville, he has posted a 2.90 ERA with 83 strikeouts and 29 walks over 77 2/3 innings.

Although he has spent most of 2026 in the minors, Garrett has already proven he can succeed at the major league level. Across 67 career appearances (65 starts), he owns a 4.16 ERA in 330 2/3 innings. His best season came in 2023, when he established himself as a reliable member of Miami’s rotation by recording a 3.66 ERA over a full season as a starter.

The Cubs have been searching for controllable starting pitching, and Garrett fits that profile. He remains under team control through the 2029 season, giving Chicago multiple years to help the left-hander rediscover the form that made him one of the Marlins’ most dependable starters.

In return, Miami adds two prospects to its farm system. Long (.861 career OPS), a first baseman, has emerged as one of the Cubs’ more intriguing young hitters and gives the Marlins another controllable bat to develop. Beck, a right-handed pitching prospect, provides additional organizational depth and another arm with long-term upside.

For the Marlins, the trade represents another step in building for the future, while the Cubs are betting that Garrett can become a valuable piece of their rotation for years to come.

Miami Marlins Trade Liam Hicks to Tampa for Three Prospects

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With the emergence of young catcher Joe Mack, the Miami Marlins are moving on from Liam Hicks, according to MLB insider Jeff Passan.

The Marlins are trading RBI leader Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays, though the full details of the deal have not yet been reported.

Season Stats:

.282/.363/.432, 119 wRC+

On the surface, trading a player with four remaining seasons of team control is a surprising decision. Hicks wasn’t eligible for arbitration until after next season, making him one of the more affordable productive catchers in baseball. That type of value is typically something rebuilding clubs look to keep rather than move.

However, the Marlins appear confident in their future behind the plate. Joe Mack’s development has accelerated, giving Miami another young catcher they believe can become an everyday contributor. With Mack ready for a larger role and the organization already featuring several left-handed bats throughout the lineup and farm system, Peter Bendix seemingly viewed Hicks as a valuable trade chip.

This also continues a recent trend for Miami’s front office. After dealing Nick Fortes to the Tampa Bay Rays last year, Bendix has now traded a catcher to the Rays in back-to-back seasons. The move further signals that the Marlins remain committed to reshaping the roster around younger talent that better fits their long-term vision.

Whether this trade ultimately proves worthwhile will depend heavily on the return, which has yet to be announced. If Miami can add impact pitching or position-player talent that aligns with its rebuilding timeline, the decision will be easier to justify. Until then, it’s difficult not to question moving on from a productive, controllable catcher who had already shown he could succeed at the major league level.

Return Updates

Brayden Taylor- Rays 16th ranked prospect .284/.384/.513 in AA this year. LHH SS. Tampa’s 19th overall pick in 2023.

Jacob Kisting – Rays’ 26th-ranked prospect. 6’5 RHP in high A. 1.67 ERA, 96 strikeouts and a .180 batting average against in 86IP

Adrian Santana – Rays’ 27th-ranked prospect. Switch-hitting shortstop. Career .260 hitter, contact and defensive specialist.

Marlins Engaging in Trade Conversations for Liam Hicks

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The Miami Marlins sit in the thick of the National League Wild Card race at just a game and a half back, a position they once held before their tough losing streak.

While being in the center of many trade discussions, the Marlins will look to improve their team, but for the future, not necessarily for this season as they don’t plan on labeling themselves as “buyers” or “sellers.”

The first rumor, came from Jon Morosi of MLB Network who reported that the Marlins are engaging in trade talks centered around Liam Hicks.

“Liam Hicks is a name to watch in the next 24 hours. The Marlins are engaged in trade conversations on him. Hicks has an .800 OPS, but multiple contenders need catching and the Marlins are very high on a younger LHH catcher on their roster (Joe Mack).”

Hicks has put together quite the season coming off a strong World Baseball Classic but has been platooning behind the dish with Joe Mack, and has appeared as both a catcher and first baseman. HIs defense behind the dish is just average, and he has bene such a good hitter due to his plate discipline and contact abilities.

Many teams could use a catcher including the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, so the Marlins could face an offer that would be tough to pass up, especially as hitting catchers are a dime a dozen.

With that said, Hicks is controllable for four more seasons after this one. He isn’t slated to qualify for arbitration until after next season.

Hicks has only improved since being called up to the show and he has made a huge leap as a power hitter.

The Marlins are smart to listen to offers for Hicks, but listening is all they should be doing unless someone offers something they can’t pass up. The team control, production, and versatility, make him a piece that can help the Marlins both now, and in the future.

Marlins Close Homestand With Series Win Over Washington

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MIAMI — The Miami Marlins closed out their 10-game homestand on a high note, defeating the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Sunday to win the weekend series at loanDepot park. The Marlins end their 10-game homestand with a 4-6 record. 

Christopher Morel drove in his first run of the season for the Marlins in the eighth inning, scoring Esteury Ruiz on a single to put the Fightin’ Fish ahead 3-2. 

Ruiz came in as a pinch runner and stole third base before scoring on Morel’s base hit. Miami got the next two runs on a single by Heriberto Hernandez, who led the Marlins at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance. 

Sandy Alcantara returned to his formidable self. The Marlins ace lasted six innings allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. 

James Wood led off the game with a double to left field. He was later tagged out in a rundown between third base and home plate. Alcantara escaped the first inning with a ground out and a strikeout. 

The Marlins scored two runs in the third inning to establish an early lead. Joe Mack led off the rally with a walk and eventually scored on back-to-back singles by Xavier Edwards and Liam Hicks. Edwards then scored on a fielder’s choice to make it 2-0. 

The Nationals struck back in the fourth inning and cut the Marlins’ lead in half. Luis Garcia Jr. led off the inning with a triple and scored on a ground ball by Brady House to make it a 2-1 game. The Nationals tied the game 2-2 in the fifth inning. Jorbit Vivas led off with a base hit and later scored on an RBI double by Garcia Jr. Both Garcia Jr, and Lile led the Nationals with two hits a piece.

Alcantara had one strikeout in the first inning and didn’t punch out another batter until he got two swinging in the sixth inning. Calvin Faucher earned the win with two hitless innings of relief. Josh Ekness, who made his MLB debut at the beginning of the homestand, earned his first career save after getting the final out.

Game 2: Marlins 8, Nationals 7

The Marlins hit three home runs to power past the Nationals 8-7 on Saturday at loanDepot Park.

Stowers went 3-for-4 with a home run and a double to lead the Marlins at the plate. He is batting .304 (7-for-23) in his last seven games.

James Wood opened the game with a lead-off home run to give the Nationals an early lead. Luis Garcia singled and Brady House doubled to set up a two-run single by CJ Abrams, putting Washington up 3-0 in the first inning. Abrams struck again with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly to extend Washington’s lead to 4-0. Abrams went 2-for-5 to raise his batting average to .295 on the season.

The Marlins bats came alive in the fourth inning. Otto Lopez led off the rally with a single, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. He scored on a Stowers’ first home run of the season to cut the Nationals’ lead in half, 4-2.

Connor Norby reached base on a throwing error by Abrams in the sixth inning. He stole second base and later swiped third after Jakob Marsee drew a walk. Norby scored on a sacrifice fly ball by Owen Caissie to make it a 4-3 game.

Edwards’ fourth home run of the season tied the game in the seventh inning. The Marlins’ second baseman has homered in two consecutive games, both off left-handed pitching.

The Marlins took the lead in the eighth inning after a big four-run rally. Stowers led off the inning with a single and Norby drew a walk to set up a three-run home run by Jakob Marsee. Esteury Ruiz came into the game as a pinch-hitter and produced a double. He stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Leo Jiménez to put Miami up 8-4.

Game 1: Nationals 3, Marlins 2

Jacob Young hit a two-run home run in the first inning to lead the Nationals to a 3-2 win over the Marlins on Friday at loanDepot park.

The Marlins (17-22) have dropped to 2-6 during their current 10-game homestand. Miami has started all three series with a loss, four straight series going back to the Marlins’ last series win at Los Angeles at the end of April.

Marlins pitching prospect Robby Snelling lasted five innings in his Major League debut. All three of his earned runs allowed, and both of his strikeouts, came in the first inning.

The Nationals provided some quick adversity for the 22-year-old with two outs. CJ Abrams hit an RBI single to score Curtis Mead, who reached on a double. Abrams scored on Young’s homer to give Washington an early 3-0 lead.

The Marlins struck back in the bottom of the first with a leadoff home run by Xavier Edwards, his third of the season. Otto Lopez extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a double. He scored on a throwing error to put the Marlins within a run at 3-2.

Three of the Marlins’ five hits came from Lopez, who went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Marlins OF Kyle Stowers Debuts at First Base

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Miami Marlins star outfielder Kyle Stowers played his first game as a big leaguer at first base on Sunday. 

Stowers went 0-for-4 and the Marlins lost 6-3 against the San Francisco Giants, dropping their fourth straight road series to start the season. 

Stowers is normally an outfielder and Gold Glove finalist at left field last year. The last time Stowers played first base was as a collegiate player at Stanford, which isn’t far from San Francisco. 

“To go out there in a Major League game, I thought he moved around well,” Clayton McCullough said during his postgame press conference. “We’ll see how he felt out there, but the first one, he stood up well. He handled himself well and he’s looked solid when he’s done his ground-ball work.”

The idea behind Stowers adding first base to his range of positions came up after the 2025 season, where he broke out with 25 home runs and 73 RBIs in 117 games. In six games back from injury this year, Stowers has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with three doubles.  

Both his previous season ended with injury and this season started with injury. During his minor league rehab assignment, Stowers played his first professional game at first base in Triple-A Jacksonville. 

McCullough previously stated the Marlins value versatility and sees first base as an option for Stowers to remain in the lineup during times of needing to reduce physical stress on the field. 

“We’ll see how much more we utilize him there,” McCullough said. “It’s certainly nice to have that option to start or maneuver in during a game.”

The Marlins head south to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers on Monday. Chris Paddack (0-4, 6.38 ERA) takes the mound for Miami against Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-2, 2.48 ERA). 

Jakob Marsee Homers But Marlins Lose to Cardinals

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MIAMI — Jakob Marsee went 3-for-4 with a home run, but it wasn’t enough as the Miami Marlins fell to the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 on Tuesday.

In a very odd plate appearance, Marlins centerfielder Jakob Marsee lost grip of his bat and watched it fly above the St. Louis dugout. As a young Cardinals fan pried the bat from the netting like King Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, Marsee picked up another bat and hit a solo home run to tie the game 1-1 after the first inning.

The Cardinals struck first with a leadoff double by JJ Wetherholt, who scored on Alec Burleson’s single.

Wetherholt drew a walk in the third inning and advanced to third base on a single by Ivan Herrera. Burleson struck again, scoring Wetherholt on a fielder’s choice after the throw from Marlins first baseman Connor Norby went past catcher Liam Hicks.

The Cardinals added to their lead in the fourth inning. Masyn Winn led off with a single and scored on a two-run home run by Nathan Church, putting St. Louis up 4-1.

Burleson doubled to center field and scored on a single by Nolan Gorman in the fifth inning. Burleson went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Church, Herrera, and Winn each collected two hits for the Cardinals, who amassed 10 hits against Miami’s pitching.

Marlins right-handed pitcher Chris Paddack gave up five runs on eight hits with one walk and a season-high seven strikeouts. The Marlins bullpen combo of John King and Tyler Phillips combined to go 4.1 innings with only two hits allowed with five strikeouts.

Former Marlins reliever Ryne Stanek was tagged for two runs on one hit with three walks and two strikeouts. A series of walks loaded the bases for Heriberto Hernández to hit a two-run single to pull the Marlins within two runs in the eighth inning.

The rest of the St. Louis bullpen held the Marlins to one hit in three scoreless innings. Riley O’Brien secured his seventh save of the season and has maintained his 0.00 ERA.

Marlins right-handed pitcher Janson Junk (0-2, 4.50 ERA) will finish the six-game homestand he started on Wednesday at noon, while the Cardinals will send Kyle Leary (2-2, 5.21 ERA) with the series on the line.

Miami Marlins Reinstate Kyle Stowers Ahead of Brewers Finale

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MIAMI – After four straight losses and one win in the last seven games, the return of their star outfielder couldn’t come fast enough.

The Miami Marlins are set to reinstate All-Star Kyle Stowers from the 10-day injured list and drape him in teal for his season debut on Sunday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers at loanDepot park.

“Everything from the rehab checked out,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He continued to check the necessary boxes.”

Stowers spent five games at Triple-A Jacksonville for a minor league rehab assignment starting April 10. He played three games at left field, once at designated hitter and played his first game as a professional at first base on Friday. He was placed on the 10-day IL for a Grade 1 right hamstring strain in spring training.

“Certainly, there was a physical component with how he felt, how the hamstring was,” McCullough said. “I think he came out of that feeling like he’s in a really good spot physically, and also, I think mentally, now he feels like, ‘OK, I’m over this.’”

Stowers emerged as one of the best hitters in the National League. In 117 games, he hit 25 homers with 73 RBIs before a left oblique strain last August ended his season early. The Marlins managed a 8-5 record to start the season without him but with the Fightin’ Fish sputtering, it’s time for him to create a spark.

“He’s certainly a huge part offensively,” McCullough said. “It helps really lengthen out the lineup. The type of season that he had last year, the power, the on-base that he displayed. So getting Kyle back in the lineup will really be a nice boost, help lengthen some things out. And then also, Kyle’s a really steady teammate. A lot of guys lean on him. He’s not usually too up and down.”

Marlins fall to Brewers in extra innings

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The Miami Marlins forced extra innings but fell in the 10th inning to the Milwaukee Brewers in a 7-5 contest on Friday in Miami.

Otto Lopez led the Marlins at the plate with a 3-for-5 night in which he was a double shy of the cycle, The 27-year-old Lopez is having the best start of his career, slashing .347/.400/.583 in 19 games.

The Brewers (11-8) jumped on Marlins reliever Calvin Faucher in the 10th inning. Gary Sanchez drew a walk and Jake Bauers singled to load the bases with no outs. Luis Rengifo grounded on a fielder’s choice but the throw to the catcher didn’t connect, resulting in a run. Garrett Mitchell later opened the game up with a two-run double.

The Marlins (9-11) tied the game 4-4 in the eighth inning after Agustín Ramírez doubled to left field, scoring Edwards, who reached on a walk. Edwards also reached on a double in the sixth inning and scored on a two-run homer by Lopez.

The Marlins got their first run of the game in the fourth, when a sacrifice fly by Owen Caissie scored Lopez, who had reached on a triple.

Jones attempted to steal second base and Ramírez threw towards second base with nobody there to receive, resulting in a throwing error and the Brewers’ third run of the inning.

The Brewers added another run in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Rengifo, who went 2-for-4 on the night. Bauers led the Brewers at the plate with a 3-for-4 night and three runs scored.

Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, two walks, and three strikeouts in 5.1 innings. John King struck out two batters in 1.1 hitless innings and Tyler Phillips punched out three batters in 1.1 scoreless innings. Pete Fairbanks redeemed himself from two rough outings with a perfect ninth inning.

Brewers starting pitcher Coleman Crow allowed two runs on four hits and four strikeouts in 5.1 innings during his MLB debut. Abner Uribe earned the win after a hitless ninth inning after allowing two walks and a strikeout. Trevor Megill earned his fourth save of the season after giving up an unearned run and a hit with two strikeouts.

Marlins’ Andrew Nardi solid in return from injury

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For Miami Marlins reliever Andrew Nardi, the early portion of the 2026 season is an adjustment period.

In his return from missing an entire season due to injury, Nardi has made the physical adjustments leading up to his return to his mental adjustments playing in front of a crowd and in serious situations.

Nardi said in an interview with Five Reasons contributor Tyler Boronski that “it is a feeling that you have to get used to.”

“Definitely some new feelings I got to get used to again with the fans,” Nardi said. “I still hold the standard high. I obviously want to be doing well. I also have to give myself a little adjustment period to get back into the swing of things again, get used to the adrenaline rushes and stuff like that.”

While never an innings guy, Nardi has been Miami’s main weapon in high-leverage situations. He goes in, gets strikeouts, and calls it a day. In five appearances this year, the 27-year-old Arizona alum struck out six batters in four innings with only one earned run allowed.

“You just have to keep throwing strikes and your stuff will play,” Nardi said. “Just got to trust yourself.”

Nardi was nearly derailed by injuries since late 2024. He was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Aug. 24, 2024, due to an elbow injury and was transferred to the 60-day IL on Sept. 7 of that year. His 2025 was over before it started when he was placed back on the 60-day IL on March 15 due to severe lower-back inflammation that required extensive treatment, including an epidural.

“Last year was just a grind mentally and physically,” Nardi said.

Nardi described how he got through the mental hurdle post-rehab in spring training. He saw that the velocity of his pitches was lower than normal and made the conscious decision to trust that his body would not break under the force of his power.

He instantly saw the radar gun rise and hit 94 mph in his first spring training appearance.

“Just seeing my body be able to jump up and level each time just felt really good,” Nardi said. “As spring training kept going on, just sitting around 92-93 mph felt really good. I just felt like once I got to that point, I was able to compete.”

Nardi made his MLB debut on Aug. 16, 2022, and his first full season turned out to be his best season. He struck out 73 batters in 57.1 innings over 63 appearances with a 2.67 ERA, helping the Marlins reach the 2023 postseason. Before injuries cut his 2024 season short, Nardi struck out 70 batters in 49.2 innings over 59 games.

Marlins shut down by Reds in 2-0 defeat

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Tyler Stephenson hits a solo home run and Brandon Williams threw 6.2 shutout innings as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Miami Marlins 2-0 on Monday.

Williamson allowed three hits with four strikeouts and a walk. His gem lowered the Reds’ starting pitchers’ ERA to 3.00 on the season.

The Marlins (6-3) didn’t get their first hit of the game until Otto Lopez hit a single in the fourth inning. Lopez was the only Marlins hitter to get multiple base hits.

Agustin Ramirez hit a triple in the sixth inning, but was stranded after a strikeout by Reds reliever Brock Burke ended the inning. The Reds’ bullpen combined for one walk and two strikeouts in 2.1 hitless innings of work to end the game. Emilio Pagán earned his fourth save of the season with a perfect ninth.

Elly De La Cruz doubled and scored on a single from Sal Stewart in the fourth inning to score Cincinnati’s first run of the game. The star shortstop led the Reds at the plate along with Friedl with two hits each.

Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk tossed a career high 7.1 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in the loss. Junk has thrown seven innings only three times for the Marlins, all in 2025. Tyler Phillips came into the game in relief and finished it with 1.2 hitless innings and a strikeout.

The Marlins will send the ace back to the mound on Tuesday. Sandy Alcantara (0.00 ERA) threw a complete-game shutout with fewer than 100 pitches in his previous outing.

Kyle Stowers injury update

The Marlins started the season with their best hitter, left fielder Kyle Stowers, on the injured list (retroactive March 22) with a hamstring strain. The original projection was three to four weeks but was seen on Monday with the team during batting practice.

“Kyle is still here with us,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He was running today, and looks like he’s trending in a good spot, see how these next couple of days go, and then decide when and what a rehab assignment will look like.”

Braxton Garrett thriving in Jacksonville

Braxton Garrett shut down Sugar Land’s bats in 4.2 innings with eight strikeouts while allowing only two hits in Triple-A Jacksonville’s 2-0 win on Easter Sunday. He may be the clear choice for MVP of the defending national champions, as two of Jacksonville’s three wins this season were on days Garrett started. His 0.96 ERA is the third lowest in the International League.

Garrett missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John after other injuries derailed his 2024 season. When healthy, Garrett proved to be a solid pitcher for the Marlins. He made his MLB debut in the middle of a playoff race in 2020. His best season was in 2023, where he recorded a 3.66 ERA with an 8.79 K/9 in 31 outings, as well as starting in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series against Philadelphia.