Why the gutting loss of Braxton Garrett could endanger the Miami Marlins' young arms

The Miami Marlins 2025 outlook took a sizable hit with the news that starting pitcher Braxton Garrett will miss the entire season due to UCL surgery. The club, which was already projected to finish in the bottom three of the league standings, will now be without one of their most proven pitchers.

Miami will open the season with former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara as the clear ace and workhorse. While he is recovering from Tommy John surgery that cost him all of the 2024 season, Alcantara remains an excellent top-of-the-rotation arm.

Unfortunately for the Marlins, the rest of the rotation is in shambles. Ryan Weathers, Edward Cabrera, and Max Meyer are all locked into roles as starters. Players like Valente Bellozo and Adam Mazur will compete for the fifth and final rotation spot.

No current Marlins pitcher threw over 100 innings last season, with Cabrera's 96.1 leading the club. Marlins fans will know Cabrera should not be counted on as a pillar of consistency. In fact, outside of Alcantara and the now-injured Garrett, no starter has ever even handled a full-time starter's workload.

This places Peter Bendix in an awkward (and even dangerous) position. The 2025 season has always been about rebuilding the depth chart and gaining experience for the younger core of future Marlins. However, the lack of reliable innings puts undue pressure on young arms.

The MLB reps will have value. But Miami must be careful not to overtax or overwork their young players. The grind of a 162-game season could place pressure on the franchise to expedite prospects like Robby Snelling or Dax Fulton. Significant workload jumps on the arms of Weathers, Cabrera, and Meyer could also lead to negative regression.

Another injury, whether long or short-term, would only increase this tension. The Marlins must add at least one (if not multiple) innings eaters to their roster to help regulate their innings and preserve their young assets.