Janson Junk didn't have a year that would blow you away when it comes to his overall numbers, but the Miami Marlins saw a lot of encouraging signs from the emerging young hurler.

Junk, a 30-year-old righthander, made 25 starts in 2026, compiling a record of 6-9, a 4.22 ERA, and 89 strikeouts in 123.2 innings pitched. He had a 1.29 WHIP, and while he certainly wasn't imposing on the mound, he gave the team some quality innings. However, the landscape of the pitching staff in Miami is shifting, and the veteran will have to battle younger arms in Spring Training. And quite frankly, they aren't just new faces; they are true, legitimate prospects - ones who (quite frankly) have higher ceilings than Junk does.

Robby Snelling will most certainly be given every opportunity to earn one of those players, and he has more than just the advantage of youth and potential; he's also lefthanded, a premium for most Major League Baseball teams. That would include the Fish, whose three top starters, Sandy Alcantara, Max Meyer, and Eury Perez, are all right-handed. So, finding a dominant southpaw carries more weight for the club than trying to coax some more progress out of Junk.

Snelling isn't the only pitcher who could challenge for the rotation. Triple-A righty Karson Millbrandt will also get a shot this Spring, and that doesn't even include any 'street free agents' - quality veterans who have been designated for assignment by a parent club, only to be released. So, Junk will need to step up if he wants to remain in the rotation.

“We have a lot of guys we think really highly of," Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix stated about the team's depth. "Pitchers are volatile. Pitchers get hurt. We know that. But we've seen really good things from a lot of those guys, and we think there's really good things in some of the younger guys.”

Despite being in his 30s now, Junk is still somewhat a work in progress. He made his MLB debut in late 2021, but he doesn't have a ton of mound experience. He's only appeared in 62 career games at the big league level, with 48 of them coming as a starting pitcher. He's also never truly established himself before landing in Miami, having pitched for the Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, and Oakland Athletics before putting on a Marlins uniform.

That being stated, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough has confidence in his starting pitcher.

“I've said it a number of times: Janson's a good pitcher," McCullough told MLB.com early in the season. "We still feel very good about the group that we have here right now, and Janson certainly is proven to be a really high-quality Major League pitcher.”

At the same time, the South Florida skipper acknowledges that Junk could still be an option in the bullpen; nothing is written in stone.

“We know Janson can (start or pitch out of the bullpen).”

That might be an omen for 2027 for Janson Junk. He would be best to spend his offseason rounding out his pitching arsenal before he arrives in camp next season, if he intends to be a starter. Because he's likl=Ely going to have to battle for it.