With Spring Training approaching, the Marlins are gearing up for their annual FanFest at LoanDepot Park. The team's rotation showed promise last year, thanks to Eury Pérez and Edward Cabrera, who has since been traded. However, today's events focused on two key players for the 2026 season: Max Meyer and Braxton Garrett.
Max Meyer, a 26-year-old right-hander, is recovering from left hip surgery for a labrum tear, which he underwent in June. General Manager Peter Bendix assured reporters that Meyer would be ready for Spring Training, and he's feeling confident. Meyer shared that he started running halfway through his rehab and followed a normal throwing program this offseason. Manager Clayton McCullough emphasizes the team's commitment to using Meyer as a starter, not a reliever.
Since his debut in 2022, Meyer has pitched 127 2/3 innings over 25 starts, with a 5.29 ERA, a 21.5% strikeout rate, and a 7.3% walk rate. While his groundball rate is strong at 49.4%, Meyer struggles with hard contact, as evidenced by his average exit velocity of 91.2 MPH and a 47.8% hard-hit rate, both of which are below average. He's also had issues keeping the ball in the yard, allowing 1.97 home runs per nine innings.
In 2025, Meyer's performance dipped with a 4.73 ERA in 64 2/3 innings, a career-high workload. He missed the latter half of 2022 and all of 2023 due to Tommy John surgery. Despite his challenges, Meyer remains a young, affordable asset and a former Top-100 prospect. He'll continue to get rotation chances, but a full starter's workload might be too much, even if he stays healthy.
Braxton Garrett, a 28-year-old right-hander, missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing an internal brace procedure on his throwing elbow in January. He made just seven starts in 2024 before missing most of that season due to a flexor strain and general elbow soreness. Garrett is now healthy and will compete for a mid-rotation spot. Sandy Alcantara and Pérez are expected to secure the front-end spots in the rotation.
Garrett, a former first-round draft pick (No. 7 overall in 2016), has a stronger track record. He established himself as a mid-rotation arm from 2022-23, throwing 247 2/3 innings over 48 appearances (47 starts) with a 3.63 ERA, a 23.8% strikeout rate, and an exceptional 5.1% walk rate. Garrett excels at inducing groundballs (48.2%) and getting hitters to chase, ranking in the 76th percentile in chase rate in 2022 and 2023.
Despite his impressive performance, Garrett's recent injuries raise questions about his ability to return to form. Like Meyer, he's unlikely to pitch 150+ innings. A healthy season would be a success for the Marlins, who have traded Cabrera and Ryan Weathers and are counting on Alcantara's return to form. Garrett has one option year remaining, so he can be sent to Triple-A if needed after a year off.
Turning to position players, Manager McCullough hinted at a competitive first base scenario in 2026. Christopher Morel, Griffin Conine, and Liam Hicks are in the mix. Interestingly, neither Morel nor Conine has played first base in the majors or minors, while Hicks is the only one with experience at that position. Eric Wagaman, the team's primary first baseman in 2025, was traded to the Twins last month.
Morel, signed by the Marlins in December after being non-tendered by the Rays, was an above-average hitter in his first two seasons (2022-23) but struggled in 2025, grading out 10% below average by wRC+. He's played multiple positions without excelling at any. Conine, who debuted in 2024, has exclusively played the outfield and is open-minded about first base, possibly getting reps in Spring Training as an emergency option. Hicks, a left-handed hitter, batted .247/.346/.346 with a 98 wRC+ last year, 4% better than average against righties. The team might consider a timeshare with Hicks starting against righties and Morel against southpaws.
