The Marlins acquired lefthander Robby Snelling in July 2024 as the key prospect in the trade that sent Tanner Scott to the Padres.
The following season, the Marlins hired Rob Marcello—who had worked with Snelling in the Padres organization—as pitching coach at Triple-A Jacksonville.
When the Marlins promoted Snelling to Jacksonville in July, the 21-year-old teamed up again with Marcello—and proceeded to go on his best run as a pro.
“I’m known to push people,” Marcello said. “Nothing is good enough, and (Snelling) has taken it by storm.”
The Padres drafted Snelling in the supplemental first round in 2022, going well over slot to sign him for $3 million. He shined in his pro debut season of 2023, winning BA Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors.
Snelling scuffled through much of 2024 but found his footing in the Marlins organization late in the season. This year has been a different story.
Snelling struck out 166 batters, one of the highest totals in the minor leagues, while pitching to a 2.51 ERA across 136 innings. He walked 39 and allowed 10 home runs, while making 14 starts for Double-A Pensacola and 11 more for Jacksonville.
From the day Snelling made his first start for Jacksonville on July 10, he had the top ERA (1.27) and most strikeouts (81) at Triple-A.
Snelling’s arsenal includes a four-seam fastball that averages 94.7 mph and tops out at 98 with extreme movement. His go-to secondary pitch is his curveball, which has shown improved power and spin since he arrived in Triple-A and has been up to 2,650 rpm.
Snelling also has amplified use of his changeup to combat righthanded batters.
“He lost the vertical movement on his fastball last year,” Marcello said. “But he came back with that changeup and the return of his fastball (which had lost an average of 2 mph).
“I think he can be a No. 2 (in a rotation) or even a No. 1.”