Braxton Garrett dominated with strikeouts and a near-perfect ERA, showcasing a strong comeback after injuries. He's building pitch count, proving his potential to return to the big leagues.
Braxton Garrett shut down Sugar Land’s bats in 4.2 innings with eight strikeouts while allowing only two hits. RBI singles from Matthew Etzel and Deyvison De Los Santos were all Jacksonville needed to win 2-0 on Easter Sunday.
If Garrett is going to stay in Triple-A, then he may be the clear choice for MVP of the defending national champions. Two of Jacksonville’s three wins this season were on days Garrett started. His 0.96 ERA is the third lowest in the International League.
Garrett struck out Jack Winkler swinging with a slider and picked off Cèsar Salazar after giving up a single to end the first inning. His slider got Salazar to strike out inning to get out of a bases loaded jam in the third inning.
He got two more strikeouts in the fourth and fifth innings with a mix of his slider, sinker, and cutter. But back-to-back walks ended his outing in the fifth with 85 pitches.
“The spin was really good,” Garrett said during his Player of the Game interview. “I was in good counts most of the time and when I wasn’t I really battled.”
Garrett has yet to get past the fifth inning this season, but his pitch count is increasing with each start. He threw 70 pitches in 4.2 innings during his first start of the season during Jacksonville’s 4-3 win over Rochester on March 29.
Garrett missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John after other injuries derailed his 2024 season. It was the second time he had to have that surgery. The Miami Marlins’ 2016 first-round draft pick missed all of 2018 due to his first TJ surgery.
“Last year was a long year,” Garrett said. “A lot of work, a lot of time in the trainer room.”
When healthy, Garrett proved to be a solid pitcher for the Marlins. He made his MLB debut in the middle of a playoff race in 2020. His best season was in 2023, where he recorded a 3.66 ERA with an 8.79 K/9 in 31 outings, as well as starting in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series against Philadelphia.
Garrett worked through spring training trying to return to a big league mound for the first time since June 17, 2024. He was optioned to the minors as Marlins manager Clayton McCullough opted to round out the starting rotation with Janson Junk, who starts on Monday at home against the Cincinnati Reds.
At the time, McCullough said it was a difficult decision, which was a good thing because it showed the depth that they have going into the season. He sent Garrett to Jacksonville to “get built up and go pitch,” knowing that his return to Miami would come in due time.
“He's a pro, and I know that when we do need him, which we will, he'll come up and help,” McCollough said of Garrett on March 21. .
Despite making the big leagues in 2020, Garrett didn’t exceed rookie limits until 2022, when he started 17 games with a career-best 3.58 ERA for the Marlins. Garrett, 28, isn’t eligible for arbitration until 2027 and barring an extension, won’t hit free agency until 2029. Signed at $1.53M this season, Garrett remains a value as a starting pitcher when healthy.
“It’s awesome to take the mound no matter what happens,” Garrett said. “I’m just happy to be playing ball.”
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