Robby Snelling Lands on 15-Day IL With Left Elbow UCL Sprain
Robby Snelling landed on the 15-day injured list with a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, stopping the Marlins’ plan for their top pitching prospect just a week after his major league debut. He had been scheduled to start Thursday, but Braxton Garrett was recalled to take the mound instead.
Robby Snelling and Thursday’s change
Snelling felt discomfort after a between-starts bullpen session, and manager Clayton McCullough said, "Snelling experienced some discomfort after throwing a between-starts bullpen session." McCullough also said Snelling would be undergoing more testing. The move came as the Marlins also reinstated right-hander Pete Fairbanks from the injured list in a corresponding transaction.
That change altered a rotation that had already been reshaped just over a week earlier. Snelling had come up to take Chris Paddack’s spot after Paddack was designated for assignment, and he started the season in the minors before Miami shuffled its pitching mix.
Braxton Garrett back on Thursday
Garrett was the arm the Marlins chose for Thursday, giving them a left-hander who had already been in the system while Snelling stepped out. McCullough said Garrett would be called up to pitch in the majors that day, and the club moved quickly once Snelling’s elbow issue surfaced.
Snelling’s debut offered a first look at why the organization valued him so highly. On Friday, he allowed three earned runs over five innings, a solid opening that now sits next to the injury note instead of building into a longer run in the rotation.
Left elbow UCL sprain concerns
The injury carries more weight because UCL sprains often precede major surgeries such as Tommy John. If that path is needed, the rehab could wipe out most of 2026 and part of 2027, turning a short-term IL move into a much longer interruption for a pitcher the Marlins had only just promoted.
For Miami, the immediate answer is Garrett on Thursday and more testing for Snelling. For Snelling, the debut that began with five innings now shifts to the elbow exam that will decide how much of his next two seasons are at risk.
