Right-hander Adam Mazur underwent elbow surgery on Wednesday and miss the 2026 season, the team announced. The procedure was a UCL reconstruction with an internal brace.
Mazur had been expected to begin the season with Triple A Jacksonville and was considered one of the top three or four options to join the Marlins’ rotation if there were an injury to starters Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, Chris Paddack, Braxton Garrett or Max Meyer.
“He’s bummed, as anyone would be,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “Adam will be motivated to embrace the rehab.”
Mazur pitched three scoreless innings this spring and began feeling elbow discomfort last week and recently was examined by surgeon James Meister, who is performing the procedure. Meister previously handled Alcantara’s Tommy John surgery and Garrett’s UCL operation.
In July 2024, the Marlins acquired Mazur, Graham Pauley, Robby Snelling, and Jay Beshears from San Diego in exchange for Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing. San Diego Mazur 53rd overall in the 2022 draft after a standout Big 10 career at Iowa.
Snelling is one of the Marlins’ top two pitching prospects (behind only Thomas White), and Pauley is competing with Connor Norby to start at third base.
Mazur, 24, was 0-4 with a 4.80 ERA in four starts for the Marlins last season. He pitched primarily last season at Jacksonville, finishing with 6-7 record and a 4.86 ERA, in 22 games and 19 starts.
Pitching staff update
The rotation looks set: Alcantara, Perez, Paddack, Meyer and Garrett.
Janson Junk, Ryan Gusto and even reliable reliever Tyler Phillips are options to step into the rotation if there’s an injury, but there might not be room on the opening day roster for Gusto. Snelling, Dax Fulton and Karson Milbrandt also could be in play to step into the Marlins rotation if there’s an injury. So will White once he’s healthy.
Snelling will begin the year at Triple A, which would give the team another year of team control if he remains at Triple A for at least a couple of months. White also likely will begin his season in Triple A after he recovers from an oblique strain that has sidelined him for much of this spring.
If the Marlins begin the season with their eight best relievers, it’s mostly — but not entirely — clear-cut: closer Peter Fairbanks; right-handers Phillips, Calvin Faucher, Anthony Bender, Lake Bachar and Junk; and lefties John King (the veteran pickup) and Cade Gibson (2.63 ERA for Miami last season).
Among these pitchers, only Phillips and Junk do not have minor-league options remaining.
But left-hander Andrew Nardi, who returned to game action on Tuesday after missing all of camp with a blood blister on a finger, also factors into the equation, despite missing all of last season with a back injury. So does Gusto. And Mike Peterson has impressed in camp. Josh White and Jack Ralston also have made a case.
Barring injuries, the back of the bullpen won’t be an easy decision.
McCullough has raved about many of them. He said Faucher “will be a one-inning pitcher for us. If he comes in to clean up a mess, it’s probably it. Or he comes out for his own inning.
“John King has thrown the ball very well. John’s been great. We’ve asked him to throw more secondaries than he has in the past. Our belief is that is going to bode well for him during the season to go along with the sinker. He’s always been able to keep it on the ground. Looking to enhance his arsenal.
“Cade Gibson has looked great. He’s really spun the ball well. He’s better than he was last year. Tyler Phillips has looked great [until a rough start on Monday]. Mike pitched well for us last year. He can get out right and left [handed hitters]. He has worked hard on his change up.”
Roster moves
The Marlins re-assigned pitchers Justin King and Josh Ekness and outfielders Andrew Pintar, Brendan Jones and Matthew Etzel to minor league camp.
This story was originally published March 11, 2026 at 10:16 AM.
Miami Herald
Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.