Robby

Snelling

Snelling was diagnosed with a UCL sprain, and the operation will not only cost him the rest of 2026, but likely a chunk of 2027 as well. The 22-year-old is one of the best left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, and fantasy managers have seen plenty of hurlers recover from the operation. Still, it’s very disappointing that Snelling won’t be on the mound again until around the middle of next season at the earliest.

The move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Rece Hinds, with Hinds being acquired in a corresponding move earlier Thursday. The 22-year-old will be out at least through the All-Star break with his UCL sprain, and there’s a chance he may not be able to pitch again in 2026.

It’s the first tangible update the Marlins have provided since Snelling hit the injured list with a UCL sprain in his left elbow last week. The 22-year-old top pitching prospect will presumably meet with the renowned specialist to determine whether he’s dealing with ligament damage that will require a surgical procedure. It’s abundantly clear that Snelling is facing a lengthy absence, even if he manages to avoid elbow surgery. There should be a clearer picture regarding his next steps at some point in the coming days.

It’s an absolute bombshell development after Snelling made his highly-anticipated major-league debut last Friday against the Nationals, allowing three runs over five innings. The 22-year-old top pitching prospect was slated to start Thursday’s series finale against the Twins. There’s no word yet regarding how much time the 22-year-old top prospect will miss, but elbow injuries tend to lead to significant absences, especially when UCL damage is involved. There should be some clarity on his status at some point in the coming days. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough told reporters it’ll be veteran lefty Braxton Garrett, who has been outstanding at Triple-A Jacksonville this season, coming up to fill Snelling’s rotation spot.

Snelling struck out two of the first three batters he faced in the first inning on Friday, but an RBI single by CJ Abrams to bring home Curtis Mead gave the Nationals their first run of the night, while a Jacob Young homer on the following at-bat pushed the Nationals’ lead to 3-0. It would be the only three runs Snelling would allow in his debut, as the lefty would settle in to pitch four-straight scoreless innings, to hold the Nats in check. He struggled at times with his command, as evidenced by the four walks he allowed, but Snelling bounced back in fine fashion after a rough first inning in his debut. His next start is scheduled for Thursday at the Twins.

This move was known for most of the week, but is now official. Snelling had an official breakout last season, and then continued that with an impressive start to this season, posting a 1.86 ERA and 44/15 K/BB ratio across 29 innings at Triple-A. He’s worth an add in all formats, but it should be noted that the jump to the big leagues is a large one, and rookie pitchers tend to be inconsistent.

It’s happening. The worst-kept secret in baseball for the last few days has been that Snelling was going to be brought up to make his big-league debut after Miami finally jettisoned Chris Paddack from their rotation. It became undeniable after Braxton Garrett made his scheduled start for Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday night. The 22-year-old southpaw is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball and has outstanding at Triple-A Jacksonville this season with a microscopic 1.86 ERA and 44/15 K/BB ratio across 29 innings. There will be some of the usual growing pains for a talented young arm acclimating to life in the majors, but Snelling offers enough strikeout upside that he should be rostered in all fantasy formats.

Snelling’s forthcoming major-league debut feels inevitable after lefty Braxton Garrett took the ball for Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday night instead of being scratched. It’s not official yet, but all signs point to Snelling arriving in the big leagues later this week after Miami decided to finally move on from Chris Paddack. There are likely to be some growing pains as he acclimates to pitching at the highest level, but the 22-year-old out southpaw offers enough strikeout upside to warrant a speculative roster spot in all fantasy formats.

This comes just two days after the Marlins said that Paddack was going to make his next turn in the rotation. Turns out, posting a 7.34 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 30 2/3 innings is not what Miami had in mind for the final spot in their rotation. In the immediate, they will call up a reliever to give them an extra arm in the bullpen, but another starter will be joining the rotation on Friday. While everybody wants it to be Robbie Snelling, and he is an option, fellow left-hander Braxton Garrett is actually on the 40-man roster and has a 1.71 ERA in five Triple-A starts this year. We would bet that Garrett gets the call on Friday, but it’s undecided for now.

It’s not hyperbolic to suggest that Snelling doesn’t have much left to prove in the minors after recording a stellar 1.86 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 44/15 K/BB ratio across 29 innings over six starts this season. The 22-year-old southpaw has notched at least nine strikeouts in three of his last four starts and showed improved command in this latest outing after handing out five free passes in his previous start. Snelling is worthy of a speculative roster spot in deeper fantasy leagues on the chance that Miami finally decides he’s ready to take the ball in the majors.