Undrafted pitcher Garrett Acton brings a mid-90s fastball and strikeout ability to Miami. Can he secure a spring-training roster spot with the Marlins?
The Miami Marlins have a proven closer in Pete Fairbanks, but other than that, there isn't a lot of polish in the bullpen.
Garrett Acton could help with that.
Acton, who will be 28 in June, doesn't have much of a big-league track record, with his major-league experience limited to seven appearances.
But Acton did pitch well in the minors last season, going 5-1 with a 3.68 ERA for the AAA Durham Bulls. With a mid-90s fastball and solid strikeout rate (10.9 K/9 in Durham), Acton will be a big help for the Marlins if that production can translate to the majors.
He's the latest subject of "Getting to Know the Fish," a Marlins Roundtable series profiling each Miami player.
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 215 pounds
Hometown: Naperville, Illinois
Years in MLB: 2
Before Miami: Acton wasn't a high draft pick-- or any form of draft pick, for that matter-- after his college career ended with 25 saves at Illinois.
With him already being 23 years old by the time his pro career began, Acton made it to AAA by the middle of the 2022 season.
The next year, the undrafted free agent made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics. It didn't go well. In six appearances, Acton ended his first cup of coffee in the majors with a 12.71 ERA.
That winter, Acton signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, but he didn't get to pitch in the Rays' organization that season due to Tommy John surgery.
Acton recovered from surgery well in 2025, which led to him signing with the Colorado Rockies in November.
In late January, the Rockies designated Acton for assignment, but it wasn't long before Miami picked him up.
Outlook: A lot could happen with Acton in 2026.
He could make the Marlins' Opening Day roster and find a home in the bullpen.
He could start the season in AAA and then work his way back to the majors, or he could be cut during spring training.
As of now, Fangraphs has Acton starting the season in AAA Jacksonville.
For that to change, Acton will have to pitch well for Miami in spring training, which begins in less than three weeks. What Acton does this spring could be the difference in him starting the season in the majors or not starting the season anywhere in baseball.
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