After a long layoff, Braxton Garrett eyes a vital role in Miami's playoff push, battling injuries and fierce competition for a rotation spot.
Miami Marlins fans got good news Wednesday regarding one of their pitchers.
MLB.com's Christina De Nicola first reported that starting pitcher Braxton Garrett has been cleared to report to pitch this week, thus putting him on track to pitch in the majors for the first time since June 2024.
Garrett was a big reason why the Marlins made the playoffs in 2023.
The crafty lefty known for his pitch command started 30 games for the Fish, ending the year with a 3.66 ERA and 128 ERA+, which was 28 points above the league average.
Garrett only got to pitch in seven games the next season before an elbow injury that required surgery in December, which ended up costing him all of 2025.
The Marlins' 2025 team ended up being way better than most expected, improving from 62-100 to 79-83.
Garrett, who has been with the Marlins organization since 2016, was happy for his teammates. But when talking with reporters Wednesday, the day pitchers and catchers reported to spring training, he didn't pretend that it wasn't bittersweet.
"I miss the butterflies," Garrett said. "I miss the anxiety, getting ready to pitch. It's been a while, so feeling it for the first time again will be a lot of fun."
Garrett will have that feeling again this season, but what role he has is to be determined.
Barring a bad spring training, it appears that Garrett will be in Miami's starting rotation.
But Garrett doesn't see his job as locked down.
"I don't think anything is going to be handed to me," Garrett said. "I've been out a little too long for that, in my opinion."
Even with the Marlins trading two of their top starters in Edward Cabrera (Chicago Cubs) and Ryan Weathers (New York Yankees), the rotation still has depth, both in the majors and minors.
The Marlins' projected rotation is anchored by Sandy Alcántara, who many feel is too talented to have another season like 2025 (5.36 ERA).
Behind Alcántara is Eury Pérez, a 23-year-old who is looking to break out.
Like Garrett, Max Meyer was a former top 10 pick who has had bad luck with injuries in Miami, but he's also back healthy and likely to havea spot.
The Marlins also signed Chris Paddock, who will likely battle Jansen Junk, who started 16 games last season but performed better in the bullpen.
Even if Garrett does make the rotation, he'll have to perform to keep his spot. With top left-handed pitching prospects Thomas White (No. 17 overall prospect by MLB.com) and Robbing Snelling (No. 39) waiting in the wings, two starters are going to have to come out to make room for those guys, if all goes according to plan.
Garrett will have to fully overcome the physical and mental hurdles of a long-term injury to make sure he isn't one of the two.
In whatever capacity Garrett competes in, this is a Marlins team that plans to play meaningful games in late September and beyond again.
It will be much more fun for Garrett if he's on the mound, not the shelf, for it.
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