Fresh off a dominant stretch in Triple-A, southpaw prospect Robby Snelling makes his highly anticipated major league debut as Miami’s newest rotation weapon against a divisional rival.
MIAMI — You only get one chance to make a first impression, especially as a prized prospect.
Left-handed pitching prospect Robby Snelling will get that chance to make a much-needed grand first impression on Friday when the Miami Marlins take on the Washington Nationals.
Snelling will make his major league debut after posting a 1.86 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 13.66 K/9, and 4.66 BB/9 through six starts this season with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough has confirmed the news during his pregame press conference before Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, saying Snelling has “been on a roll” since last year’s Triple-A pennant chase.
“We saw the stuff was there, and he threw the ball well in spring, and he's done nothing but enhance that with how he's gone out and thrown the ball and performed to this point in Jacksonville,” McCullough said.
Scheduling was also on his side when the Marlins first realized a decision had to be made after designating Chris Paddack (7.63 ERA) for assignment on Monday. Snelling was already slated to pitch for Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday against Charlotte. Braxton Garrett, another logical and possibly more deserving option, pitched on Tuesday.
“It's lined up well, and it's more than it lining up on the calendar,” McCullough said. “Robby has earned this chance now that it's open to come up and take that spot.”
Snelling, 22, was one of four players acquired from the San Diego Padres in the trade for relievers Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing in 2024. The Marlins were in the process of shedding a 2023 postseason team for another rebuild under a new front office and Snelling was counted on to be a key part of the rotation.
“Coming into it, we were certainly very high on Robby,” McCullough said. “He commands well. He's been a strike thrower. Left side, the type of velocity and the quality of his fastball, he's got a very good curveball. We think he's got other weapons, too. They're going to be very important for him to be able to navigate and get through lineups two or three times up here with other breaking balls and the changeup.”
Snelling was taken by the Padres with the 39th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of high school in Nevada. From three different levels in the minor leagues, he posted an 11-3 record and a 1.82 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 103.2 innings through 22 starts in his first professional season.
The Marlins took a chance on Snelling in a trade for their closer despite having a 6.01 ERA in 16 Double-A starts in 2024. He finished the year having struck out 48 batters in 42 innings during his first eight starts in the Marlins system. A 2.51 ERA and 166 strikeouts last season vaulted him to the top of the Marlins’ prospect ladder.
“It's exciting, because Robbie's a great competitor,” McCullough said. “I think he's worked really hard, and he's performed in a manner that he's very deserving of this opportunity.”
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