Marlins' Milbrandt Reveals Biggest Triple-A Adjustment

After making history for the Miami Marlins in the minor league, Karson Milbrandt made a quick impression at the MLB All-Star Futures Game. 

The right-hander got two quick outs in the sixth inning in a seven-inning game won by the American League by a score of 6-1 on Sunday in Philadelphia.

While Milbrandt has dominated hitters for much of the 2026 season, the Marlins' top pitching prospect says his promotion to Triple-A has brought a different kind of challenge. He told Fish on First before the game that learning how to adjust against more advanced hitters has been his biggest takeaway since arriving at Triple-A Jacksonville.

"Obviously not pitched as well as I want to, but lots of learning," Milbrandt said. "I feel like I'm going to look back on this in a couple of years, maybe a couple of months, and be like I'm happy I failed because I know how to adjust and I know how to attack these hitters."

Milbrandt earned the Futures Game selection after emerging as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. He’s ranked No. 98 overall by MLB Pipeline and No. 4 in the Marlins' farm system. 

The 22-year-old has posted a 1.63 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across Double-A and Triple-A this season. He began the year with Double-A Pensacola, where he went 4-1 with a 1.34 ERA in nine starts while striking out 70 batters in 47 innings. His 27-inning scoreless streak became the longest by a starting pitcher in Blue Wahoos history, and he earned back-to-back Southern League Pitcher of the Week honors during May.

Since his promotion to Jacksonville, Milbrandt has continued to miss bats but has also experienced growing pains with his command. He owns a 2.33 ERA through four Triple-A starts, though he has walked at least three batters in each outing.

Milbrandt acknowledged cutting down on walks is now one of his biggest priorities.

"Obviously trying to cut down the walks, attack the hitters and continue to throw the ball well," he said.

Despite the adjustment period, Milbrandt said he was “excited to represent the Marlins” and being their lone representative for the Futures Game was a special honor. He also said he hopes to learn from many of the game's top prospects while spending time around them during All-Star weekend.

"I'm just kind of picking people's brains," he said. "Learning from some hitters, learning from some pitchers. Lots of prospects, lots of cool guys."

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