Garrett done for season after setback with elbow in latest rehab

MIAMI -- Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett is likely done for the season after experiencing another setback.

Garrett is undergoing testing and being evaluated to determine the next course of action after feeling something on the back of his elbow following Friday’s bullpen session. Before this development, the expectation was for Garrett to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Sunday’s series finale against the Braves at loanDepot park. Righty Darren McCaughan will get the nod instead.

This is the latest issue in an injury-riddled 2024 for Garrett, who showed up to Spring Training with general shoulder soreness and began the season on the IL with a left shoulder impingement. He then experienced “dead arm” during a between-starts bullpen while on rehab assignment in mid-April, which delayed his season debut until May 12.

Much like now, Miami scratched Garrett from his June 23 outing due to left elbow discomfort he experienced after a pre-start bullpen session. He has been sidelined ever since with a left forearm flexor strain.

“Super disappointing,” Garrett said after Miami's 6-2 loss to Atlanta on Saturday at loanDepot park. “Just the whole year has been disappointing, not being able to get back healthy. The shoulder early, just couldn't quite get there. It's hard to take you through the whole process, but I was down in Jupiter for so long, working very hard, especially on the shoulder and coming back, and the elbow popped up again. We're just trying to find answers, so we're doing the best we can.”

The 27-year-old Garrett threw 77 pitches across 4 2/3 scoreless innings on Tuesday for Triple-A Jacksonville, striking out seven, walking two and scattering three hits. He previously went three scoreless frames on Sept. 11 for the Jumbo Shrimp and another three scoreless innings for Single-A Jupiter on Sept. 5 to begin a rehab assignment.

“Throughout his rehab starts, he's been feeling really good,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “All his stuff has been playing up, actually, and not even playing down. The spin was really good. His fastball velo was where it used to be or should be. Tough news. Tough for Brax. We know what kind of competitor he is, and he really wanted to end the season up here with a couple of good starts. It was pretty tough news yesterday.”

But Garrett admitted it was difficult to decipher regular from non-regular soreness during the rehab process. He found himself battling through it all and expecting to get over the hump and used to the workload. That didn’t happen to the point it became a constant feeling.

The Marlins entered 2024 hoping Garrett would build upon a breakout ‘23 in which he recorded a 127 ERA+ and a 1.15 WHIP over a career-high 159 2/3 innings. When right-handers Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez went down with late-season injuries, Garrett started Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Phillies.

Instead, Garrett, who underwent Tommy John surgery back in 2017 when he was still a prospect, was limited to just seven starts and 37 frames in ‘24, compiling a 5.35 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. The highlight of his campaign was his first career shutout on May 24 in Arizona.

Injuries have ravaged Miami’s starting pitching this season, with Alcantara, Pérez, Garrett, Jesús Luzardo, Ryan Weathers, Edward Cabrera, Sixto Sánchez and Max Meyer missing extended time; Weathers returned from a 60-day IL stint of his own on Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Once the training staff has formulated a plan within the next few days, Garrett will focus on offseason work to get ready for 2025.

“Definitely not downtime,” Garrett said. “I'd like to get back throwing as soon as I can and condition my arm throughout. That's kind of how I like to do it in general, but this year would be even more so when I get to the point where I'm back throwing, I feel like I could probably start getting going a little quicker and kind of just build that endurance.”