Marlins breakout righty Ronny Henriquez underwent UCL reconstruction with an internal brace, reports MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola. He’ll miss the entire 2026 season. Miami subsequently announced the news and added that he’s expected to be ready for Spring Training in 2027.
Henriquez was an excellent waiver pickup during the 2024-25 offseason. The Fish grabbed him out of DFA limbo from the Twins in February. Henriquez was coming off an impressive Triple-A season but hadn’t missed many bats in 19 career big league appearances. He was an intriguing flier as a 25-year-old former prospect of note who sat around 96 MPH with his fastball.
Miami needed to carry Henriquez on the active roster, as he’s out of minor league options. It didn’t take long for him to emerge as one of Clayton McCullough’s most trusted arms. Henriquez reeled off 73 innings of 2.22 ERA ball over 69 appearances. He picked up seven saves and 26 holds while only blowing four leads. He punched out 32.4% of batters faced behind a massive 16.7% swinging strike percentage. Henriquez ranked among the game’s top 20 relievers (minimum 50 innings) in strikeouts and whiff rate.
Henriquez added a tick to his fastball and took a little off his slider. He spun the breaking ball at a higher rate and got a little more depth on what emerged as a plus pitch. He showed no signs of slowing down towards the end of the season, turning in a 1.61 ERA in 28 innings after the All-Star Break. That came on his heaviest workload since he moved to the bullpen during the ’22 campaign.
Miami only had two relievers with 20+ innings who struck out at least a quarter of opponents: Henriquez and Lake Bachar. They had five bullpen arms who managed a sub-3.00 ERA but need to miss more bats as a group. Miami relievers were 24th in strikeout rate and swinging strikes. They’ve been linked to free agent righty Pete Fairbanks a few times this offseason. His strikeout numbers have declined over the past couple seasons, but even his 24% rate of the last two years would make him one of their best swing-and-miss arms.
Henriquez can be placed on the 60-day injured list once Spring Training begins. He’ll collect a full service year and be paid around the $780K minimum. He’s unlikely to meet next winter’s Super Two cutoff, meaning he’ll be slated for another league minimum salary in 2027. He’s under club control through 2030.
Ooof that’s rough. Speedy recovery there.
Makes sense. That lil guy was throwing gas.
Brutal.
Modern baseball just chews pitchers up and spits them out.
Eh, I mean fifty years ago it wouldnt have even been diagnosed, let alone treated / repaired.
Dudes weren’t blowing out their elbows constantly back then.
Source?
It was revealed to me in a dream.
So I can’t provide evidence, but I will point to a guy that pitched crazy yearly innings as I’m familiar with the franchise. Jim Palmer, and to this day I have no idea how you throw over 300 innings in a single year, let alone do that 4 times. Let alone throw 270+ 8 times. Obviously he’s a HoF guy so he might just be built different. But the game is markedly different from how it used to be. I see a lot of opinions pointing at the spin pitchers put on their pitches and I can’t disagree outright. You would think that medical technology advancing to the point it is now would help identify risk factors. But I am neither a major league pitcher or a decorated physician so my opinion merely comes from observation and hypotheticals. But the real thing to do here is just to wish the man a speedy and healthy recovery so he can get back to doing what he loves.
I imagine everyone understands the risk and is willing to take it for maximum production. In the past pitchers weren’t throwing at maximum overdrive every pitch.
True, back then it was more about “pitching” rather than “throwing” in general it seems. Not that you can’t go back and forth between the two, but nowadays it does seem to be more max effort every single pitch until you burn your arm out. At some point, in general, pitchers need to understand the stress of all of the force and motions that their deliveries will put on on their wrists/elbows/shoulders/forearms/etc. Everyone wants to earn the big bucks for sure, but understanding your body and how it reacts to what you’re doing is far more key to a long career.
It was revealed to me in a dream.
Seems legit then.
Nolan Ryan also threw over 300 innings during a couple of seasons, 299 in another, and threw over 270 5+ times. Those were different times, before pitchers started being coddled in bubblewrap. And he was max effort every pitch, for 27 years of MLB service. (Including his initial cup of coffee, which was only 2 games in 1966.) He pitched into the 1990s. No bubblewrap required for health or longevity.
I will say, to be fair in anyone else’s defense, Nolan Ryan is a damned monster. Like an actual otherworldly being. When you look at the MLB nowadays is there anyone that can be a fair comparison to the pitchers of old? Obviously different eras, Kershaw is certainly a worthy comparison. He did just retire though.
Its kinda wild that out of some more unbreakable stats, Joe DiMaggio’s hit streak feels more attainable than a pitcher getting to 300 innings (not happening ever again imo) or most certainly Cal’s consecutive games played at 2,632 (even more impossible nowadays). Its definitely crazy to see how things have changed since I was a kid, I remember watching 2131 with my family as a youngun, that record in particular will never be reached again let alone 2,632. You never know though, maybe the game evolves in a different way that we can foresee. I doubt it will to the extent I’ve posted about, but I’m just a fan, what am I if not fanatical?
I agree with everything you just said. I think Justin Verlander might be one of the last of the ‘pitchers of old’. Imagine if he pitched even 30 just years ago? But you’re right, baseball might evolve in different directions. For example, the luxury tax might not exist anymore after next year, or affect the ’27 draft at all. Time will tell.
The elbow really can’t tolerate throwing over ~95 mph. Anyone who regularly does so will blow out a UCL or three over the course of their career. Go ahead and count them up—high velocity survivors are rare, especially those who also avoided shoulder and lat injuries.
Today’s emphasis on pitch design can come at the expense of health considerations. That can apply to tricks for getting spin, arm slot/release point optimization, and mechanical/workout priorities.
Bottom line, the body is machinery. When you overclock a GPU or when you soup up an engine, you destroy that machinery faster. If Skenes worked at 93, he’d probably hold up forever. That’s like driving 65 down the highway. Your car can do it forever. His actual pitching style is more like drag racing through crowded city streets.
Never say never re: pitchers throwing 300 innings again. Someday, if we’re given enough time, there will be a breakthrough. Medical, training, league-approved mechanical prosthesis…something.
The league is extremely incentivized to get the best pitchers on the mound more often—for entertainment maximization. That incentive will eventually tell, even if it means cyborg joints.
You guys ever heard of outliers?
Nolan Ryan would happen to be an outlier. Those exist in life. Go have 100 pitchers follow the Nolan Ryan plan and I’ll show you 99 with blown out arms.
Definitely a unicorn.
50 years ago 85 mph was “heat”
Bad timing. Should have gotten it done in September.
Probably injured it ramping up for the 26 season.
Still better than happening in April/may
Average TJ recovery is twelve months so a September surgery probably wouldn’t have gotten Henriquez back for 2026. Medical team would have assessed and tried other means before deciding on this course of action.
Aaaand there goes the marlins season, sorry Ronny, you don’t deserve this
Dang. Was this previously announced or is this the first we’re hearing of it? Henriquez was very impressive last year.
His FIP and strikeout numbers were great, hopefully he’s back sometime in 2027 firing strikes again.
Faucher and Bender, next guys up
Sad for the Marlins.
Many waiver claims can turn into success. In 2025, two of the Astros bullpen figures were waiver claims (Kaleb Ort and Bennett Sousa). I’ve learned to love the waiver claims. Some don’t turn out well, some do. Henriquez was a great one and best of luck to his recovery. The Marlins are probably one of the top teams I want to come back to the postseason minus the Astros.
Cant have nice things.
Genuinely so unfortunate
As a Marlins fan, please sign Pete Fairbanks
I might break your heart but I think Faribanks goes to Canada.
Dude!! My Marlins can NEVER catch a break.
Fire the people responsible for letting him go unprotected in the draft
Since uncle Bruce is not spending any money this offseason, I guess it’s Josh White time. His numbers in Jacksonville were really good this season, but maybe not for high-leverage situations, or at least not early in the season.
If the Marlins don’t sign Fairbanks (I think they won’t), I would spend that money in Kirby Yates and Evan Phillips. The first one is still a solid veteran with closing experience, maybe sharing duties with Faucher during the first half. Phillips should be ready by the ASG, and maybe can take the role for the rest of the season.
The roster needs more than them two, of course, but I’m guessing they will sign a bunch of minor-league deals with invitations to ST, trying to find that hidden gem.