Miami Marlins: A profile on recent pitching addition Freddy Tarnok

The Miami Marlins made a rare non-trade move at the end of 2024. The club signed former Braves and Athletics pitcher Freddy Tarnok to a deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training.

Little is known of the 26-year-old Tarnok. To date, he has pitched 15.1 major league innings with a 4.70 ERA and 15 strikeouts. Once a top-10 prospect in Atlanta's system, Tarnok's best pitch is his fastball. He also features a useful curveball and changeup (which, interestingly, is particularly effective against left-handed hitters), giving him three legitimate pitches.

Once a solid prospect who was included as a piece in the blockbuster trade that sent star catcher Sean Murphy to the NL East rival Braves and All-Star William Contreras to the Milwaukee Brewers, Tarnok will now have a chance to establish himself as a true major leaguer with Peter Bendix's Miami Marlins.

It is noteworthy that Bendix targeted Tarnok specifically. Marlins fans are painfully familiar with the fact that Miami typically seems allergic to free-agent signings. The club is generally one of the last in the league to agree to deals in the offseason. And the moves are few and far between.

However, the Marlins, who have long had a favorable reputation for their ability to identify and develop starting pitching, saw fit to take a flier on Tarnok. If everything breaks right, the young righty could be a part of Miami's roster, either as a back-of-the-rotation arm, spot starter, or long reliever, as early as 2025. This is a sensible gamble by Bendix and the Marlins.