Braxton Garrett

Marlins Designate Aneurys Zabala For Assignment

By Anthony Franco | September 12, 2022 at 5:29pm CDT

Between games of today’s doubleheader against the Rangers, the Marlins designated reliever Aneurys Zabala for assignment, tweets Daniel Álvarez Montes of El Extrabase. The move clears space on the active roster for lefty Braxton Garrett, who has been reinstated from the 15-day injured list to take the ball in game two. Miami’s 40-man roster tally falls to 39.

It’s an incredibly quick turnaround for Zabala, whose contract was just selected this afternoon. He was in the bullpen for the first game of the twin bill but didn’t make an appearance in a 3-2 loss. He now loses the roster spot he occupied for a few hours, although he’ll at least collect a major league salary for today and any time he spends in DFA limbo.

Zabala has been selected and designated for assignment on three separate occasions this year. He’s made only two MLB appearances — the first of his career — tossing 2 2/3 scoreless frames while averaging over 99 MPH on his heater. The 25-year-old has had a tough season in Triple-A Jacksonville, walking more than a quarter of batters faced en route to a 9.47 ERA through 19 innings. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, he’d have the right to refuse an outright assignment in favor of minor league free agency, but he’s already foregone that possibility once this year.

Marlins To Place Braxton Garrett On Injured List, Select Bryan Hoeing

By Mark Polishuk | August 20, 2022 at 4:53pm CDT

Braxton Garrett was scheduled to start the Marlins’ game against the Dodgers tonight, but instead, the left-hander has been scratched and will be placed on the 15-day injured list, according to Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). According to Garrett’s MLB.com profile page, he is suffering from a right oblique strain, and his IL placement is backdated to August 17.

The Marlins have selected the contract of right-hander Bryan Hoeing from Triple-A Jacksonville, and Hoeing will make his big league debut filling in for Garrett in a spot start. To create room on the 40-man roster, right-hander Anthony Bender — who will undergo Tommy John surgery — has been moved to the 60-day injured list.

Garrett already missed a month of the Triple-A season due to a shoulder injury, and he’ll now face a possible early end to his 2022 season unless his oblique issue is a mild strain. The quick IL placement might not necessarily be a sign of how severe the injury could be, as even minor oblique problems usually require at least a minimal IL stint, and the Marlins had to create roster space on short notice to add Hoeing to the club.

This is Garrett’s third MLB season, as he was up for a two-game cup of coffee in 2020 and then pitched in eight games (34 innings) in 2021 while being frequently shuttled back and forth from the minors. Since being called up in early June, this has been Garrett’s most extended stretch in the Show, and he has delivered a 3.67 ERA and an above-average walk (5.9%) and strikeout (24.5%) rate over 13 starts and 68 2/3 innings.

Selected seventh overall in the 2016 draft, Garrett’s early potential was hampered by a Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2018 season. The left-hander then became a little overlooked amidst the many other up-and-coming arms in Miami’s farm system, though Garrett has kept himself with some solid numbers at Triple-A and now a good performance this season. While injuries have thinned the Marlins’ pitching depth to some extent, Garrett has at least put himself in the conversation for a rotation spot in 2023, and he could yet add to his case if he is able to return from his oblique injury this year.

Hoeing now gets an unexpected opportunity to make his Major League debut in his third season of pro ball. A seventh-round pick for the Marlins in the 2019 draft, Hoeing has a 4.55 ERA over 253 1/3 innings in the minors, including a 5.44 ERA over 84 1/3 frames of work for Triple-A Jacksonville this season. The groundball specialist could very well be headed back to the minors after tonight’s emergency outing, yet Hoeing will get a chance to test himself against the elite competition of the Dodgers lineup.

Marlins Option Elieser Hernandez

By TC Zencka | June 4, 2022 at 12:42pm CDT

The Marlins have optioned right-hander Elieser Hernandez to Triple-A, per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Hernandez has mostly pitched out of the rotation this season, making nine starts, though he also has a pair of relief outings to his name.

It was not long ago that Hernandez looked like a bedrock arm for the Marlins’ rotation, but the 27-year-old has been unable to keep the ball in the ballpark this season. He has surrendered a whopping 18 home runs in just 48 innings of work, leading to a 6.75 ERA/7.25 FIP. Hernandez has continued to control the zone in line with his career marks, posting a 47-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Hernandez tends to keep this ball in the air, but he’s done so this year more than usual with just a 30.0 percent groundball rate.

Though no corresponding move has been made yet, Braxton Garrett is expected to get the call-up tomorrow to step into Hernandez’s rotation spot, per MLB Network contributor Craig Mish (via Twitter). The 24-year-old southpaw has yet to appear in the Majors this season, but he has made 10 appearances (nine starts) over the past two seasons for Miami, compiling a 5.18 career ERA over 41 2/3 innings. Time will tell whether Garrett is able to hold onto a rotation spot in the long-term.

Marlins Outright Austin Pruitt

By Steve Adams | August 10, 2021 at 9:15pm CDT

AUGUST 10: Pruitt has cleared waivers and been sent outright to Triple-Jacksonville, according to the MLB.com transactions tracker. As a player with more than three years of MLB service, Pruitt had the right to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency. Doing so would’ve meant forfeiting the remainder of his $617.5K salary, though, and he has indeed accepted an assignment to Jacksonville, where he made his first appearance this evening. If he’s not selected back to the 40-man roster before the end of the season, Pruitt will qualify for minor league free agency this winter.

AUGUST 5: The Marlins are designating right-hander Austin Pruitt for assignment in order to open a roster spot for lefty Braxton Garrett to be recalled from Triple-A, tweets Christina De Nicola of MLB.com.

It’s a bit of a surprise, given that Miami just acquired Pruitt alongside outfield prospect Bryan De La Cruz in the trade that sent right-hander Yimi Garcia to Houston. Then again, Pruitt himself was in DFA limbo at the time of that swap, having recently been designated by the Astros. It was clear at the time that De La Cruz was Miami’s target in that swap, and today’s move only further underscores that reality.

Pruitt, 31, did appear in one game with the Marlins and toss a scoreless inning. He’s pitched just 3 2/3 innings so far in 2021, allowing a pair of runs on four hits with no walks and a strikeout in that short time. That marks Pruitt’s first action since the 2019 season; he missed all of the 2020 campaign with an elbow fracture that required surgical repair — a procedure that also sidelined him well into the 2021 season.

Prior to that injury, Pruitt had spent parts of three seasons with the Rays, working to a 4.87 ERA and 4.28 FIP in 199 2/3 frames. Pruitt didn’t miss tons bats in that time (17.2 percent strikeout rate, 9.9 percent swinging-strike rate), but he excelled at keeping the ball on the ground, inducing weak contact and limiting walks. Pruitt’s 5.8 percent walk rate in that three-year stretch was considerably better than the league average, and he also posted a healthy 48.9 percent grounder rate while getting opponents to chase out of the strike zone at a hearty 34.2 percent clip. Those traits, plus elite spin rates on his curveball, all surely appealed to Houston when trading for Pruitt in the 2019-20 offseason.

With the deadline to trade big league players behind us, Pruitt will be placed on either outright waivers or release waivers. Any of the other 29 teams will have the opportunity to claim.

Garrett, the No. 7 overall draft pick in 2016, returns to the Majors on his 24th birthday. He’s tossed 22 1/3 innings for Miami already this season, working to a 4.37 ERA with a below-average 20.2 percent strikeout rate and a 9.1 percent walk rate.

Roster Notes: Marlins, Phillies, Royals

By TC Zencka | July 25, 2021 at 11:22am CDT

Let’s round up some roster moves made ahead of today’s ballgames…

The Marlins will reinstate Sandy Alcantara from the bereavement list today. To create a roster spot, Braxton Garrett will be optioned to Triple-A, per MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola (via Twitter). Garrett made the most of his spot start yesterday, tossing seven innings to get the win against the Padres. He gave up just two earned runs on four hits while walking one and notching 10 strikeouts.
The Phillies announced a number of roster moves today. Mickey Moniak has returned to the Major League roster in place of Travis Jankowski, who was placed on the COVID-related injured list. Chase Anderson, meanwhile, was reinstated from the COVID-related IL, and Cristopher Sanchez was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Royals optioned Tyler Zuber to Triple-A today to make room for Daniel Lynch, who has been recalled to start today’s ballgame, per MLB.com’s Anne Rogers (via Twitter). Lynch is hoping for better results today after getting shelled in his first three career starts. He’s lasted just eight total innings while yielding 14 earned runs on 18 hits and five walks while recording seven strikeouts.

Marlins Place Trevor Rogers On 10-Day IL, Activate Brian Anderson, Designate Chad Wallach

By TC Zencka | July 24, 2021 at 3:53pm CDT

3:53PM: Catcher Chad Wallach has been designated for assignment to open up roster space for Anderson, according to McPherson. Wallach has spent the last four seasons in Miami, appearing in 71 total games and hitting .213/.280/.315 over 220 plate appearances.

2:52PM: The Marlins placed All-Star starter Trevor Rogers on the 10-day injured list today with lower back muscle spasms, per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter).

Braxton Garrett was recalled, and he will take Rogers’ turn in the rotation. Garrett has made four appearances (three starts), totaling 15 2/3 innings with a 5.17 ERA.

Garrett is a fine placeholder, but he’s obviously no replacement for Rogers, who has put together a stellar rookie season. Rogers boasts a 2.37 ERA through 19 starts, tossing 106 1/3 innings. There may be an element of workload management here for Rogers, who is just 23 years old and in his first full season. That’s not to say Rogers isn’t legitimately injured, just that the Marlins might be more cautious with Rogers given his rookie status.

In other news, Brian Anderson is likely to be reinstated from the injured list today, per MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola (via Twitter). Anderson has been on the 60-day injured list with shoulder subluxation, so there will need to be a corresponding roster to create a spot on the 40-man roster.

Anderson had yet to really get rolling. He was slashing .250/.316/.371 in 136 plate appearances prior to the injury. Shoulder injuries will often sap a player of their power, so Anderson may yet bounce back to his normal levels of production if the shoulder is fully healed.

Marlins Activate Jazz Chisholm From Injured List

By Anthony Franco | May 16, 2021 at 1:57pm CDT

The Marlins are reinstating infielder Jazz Chisholm from the injured list in advance of this afternoon’s game against the Dodgers, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald was among those to note (Twitter link). Chisholm is starting at shortstop and hitting leadoff today. Reliever Braxton Garrett is being optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move.

Chisholm, one of the top prospects in baseball, got off to a fantastic start before landing on the IL late last month with a hamstring strain. Through 80 plate appearances, the 23-year-old has hit .290/.375/.551 with four homers and seven stolen bases. While he’s returning to the lineup as a shortstop, he figures to again resume his role as Miami’s second baseman for now. The Marlins are set at short, where Miguel Rojas is off to a great start, but they haven’t gotten much from Isan Díaz at the keystone in Chisholm’s absence.

Miami has started the season just 17-22, placing them four games back in the National League East. There’s still time for the Fish to right the ship, but Miami generally wasn’t expected to contend in a competitive division (last season’s appearance in the expanded postseason notwithstanding). Speculatively speaking, it’s easy to envision Rojas attracting interest from other clubs nearer to the trade deadline if the Marlins fall out of the playoff picture and if Rojas continues to hit at or near his current level (.284/.360/.448) while playing his typically strong defense at short.

Rojas is controllable via a club/vesting option for 2022, so the Marlins needn’t move him this summer if they’re so disinclined. He’s clearly a beloved member of the organization for his work on the field and in the clubhouse, so perhaps the Marlins will simply wind up valuing him more than other clubs would. It’s worth noting, however, that general manager Kim Ng wasn’t part of the organization when Rojas was acquired or when he signed his September 2019 extension. There’s a case to be made the Marlins should consider moving the 32-year-old in the coming months if there’s strong demand for his services. That would allow Miami to slide Chisholm to shortstop, where scouting reports have pegged him as a potential above-average defender.

NL East Notes: Nationals, Soto, Harris, Marlins, Garrett, Hernandez

By Steve Adams and Anthony Franco | April 23, 2021 at 8:05am CDT

The Nationals are without a pair of star players, as both Juan Soto (shoulder strain) and Stephen Strasburg (shoulder inflammation) are on the injured list at the moment. General manager Mike Rizzo told reporters this week, however, that he doesn’t expect either to be a long-term issue (link via Ethan Cadeaux of NBC Sports Washington). “We nipped this in the bud early and before it came really bad, so that’s a good thing,” said Rizzo of Soto’s shoulder strain. Strasburg’s stay on the IL will extend beyond the 10-day minimum, as he’ll need a bit of time to ramp up after being shut down from throwing. The GM didn’t offer as much on Strasburg’s injury but noted that the pitcher himself isn’t concerned at this point.

A few more notes on Washington and a division rival…

Nationals reliever Will Harris discussed the right hand inflammation that has delayed his season debut with Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post. The veteran righty tells Dougherty he’s still battling swelling in his fingers and forearm that progressively builds as he pitches, only to subside shortly after he’s completed his outing. Harris says he’s pain-free but the swelling has impacted his ability to command the ball and impart movement on his breaking pitches. As Harris and the organization search for ways to reduce its effect on the quality of his stuff, the 36-year-old continues to rehab and says he anticipates he’ll be ready for game action in a “few more weeks.” Dougherty’s interview with Harris is worth a full read for an examination of the rather bizarre situation.
The Marlins have passed over former first-round pick Braxton Garrett a few times early in the season when they’ve had open spots in the rotation. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes that general manager Kim Ng wouldn’t tip her hand as to whether Garrett would be an option this time around, particularly now with the struggling Nick Neidert optioned back to the team’s alternate site. Manager Don Mattingly spoke highly of Garrett’s showing in Spring Training, noting that the lefty was “more physical” than in 2020 and emphasizing the importance of fastball command for Garrett. The 23-year-old Garrett yielded five earned runs in 7 2/3 frames during a pair of starts in last summer’s MLB debut, and he fired four shutout innings during Spring Training. He’s missed a season due to Tommy John surgery since being selected seventh overall in 2016, but with prospects Sixto Sánchez and Edward Cabrera sidelined due to injury at present, Garrett could factor into the mix at some point early this year.
Sánchez and Cabrera aren’t the only Marlins starting pitchers currently sidelined by injury. Elieser Hernández has been on the shelf for most of the month after leaving his first start of the season with biceps inflammation. The righty is currently throwing from 90 feet without issue and is scheduled for a bullpen session next week, relays Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). The 25-year-old Hernández earned a spot in the Marlins’ season-opening rotation with six very strong starts in 2020.

Marlins Select Braxton Garrett

By Anthony Franco | September 13, 2020 at 11:10am CDT

The Marlins selected the contract of left-hander Braxton Garrett and named him the 29th man for today’s doubleheader against the Phillies, per a club announcement. They’ve also activated right-hander Nick Neidert from the injured list, optioning left-hander Dan Castano to open active roster space. To clear space on the 40-man roster for Garrett and Neidert, southpaw Brandon Leibrandt was transferred to the 60-day injured list with left elbow ulnar neuritis and infielder Eddy Alvarez was designated for assignment.

Garrett is the most notable name in today’s swath of moves, having been selected seventh overall in the 2016 draft out of an Alabama high school. An ill-timed Tommy John surgery the following June threw Garrett off track, and his prospect status has never completely bounced back. Nevertheless, he’s still among the most talented arms in the Miami farm system, with Baseball America recently placing him ninth among Marlins prospects thanks to his 92-95 MPH fastball and plus curveball. Garrett was due to be added to the 40-man roster this winter to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. The contending Marlins can afford to devote a roster spot to him a few months earlier if they anticipate him helping their playoff push.

Like Garrett, Neidert is one of the Marlins’ better pitching prospects. He was part of Miami’s season-opening roster but pitched in just one game before going on the IL amidst the team’s COVID-19 outbreak. The command artist turned in a 5.05 ERA in 41 Triple-A innings last year (deceptively productive work given the high-octane offensive environment in the Pacific Coast League).

Alvarez, meanwhile, was one of the more remarkable stories in baseball this season. The 30-year-old former Olympic speed skater cracked Miami’s MLB roster in the wake of their COVID outbreak. Unfortunately, he didn’t do nearly enough to hold down a roster spot permanently, hitting just .189/.268/.216 in 41 plate appearances.

NL East Notes: Marlins, Givens, Acuna, Mets, Red Sox

By Mark Polishuk | August 30, 2020 at 7:46pm CDT

Mychal Givens was a popular figure in trade speculation before the Rockies acquired him from the Orioles earlier today, and The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link) reports that the Marlins were one of the clubs who also had an interest in Givens’ services. With Givens now off the board, the Fish will continue to pursue relief pitching help, and Rosenthal notes that, unsurprisingly, Miami’s “young starting pitchers are popular with other clubs.” MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro (Twitter links) reports that the Marlins have thus far been asked about the likes of Elieser Hernandez, Edward Cabrera, Braxton Garrett, and Trevor Rogers, but the Fish have thus far been resistent to such demands.

Caleb Smith could potentially be a different story, as Frisaro tweets that Miami is at least “exploring his market” with potential suitors. It remains to be seen if the Marlins will actually send any of these young arms elsewhere, though it’s worth remembering that last year’s trade deadline saw Miami send a young starter in Trevor Richards (as well as a very notable young reliever in Nick Anderson) to the Rays for a reliever in Ryne Stanek and an outfield prospect in Jesus Sanchez. One would imagine the Marlins would only move any of Hernandez, Cabrera, etc. if they could land a similarly controllable piece back, rather than a rental player.

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