Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Robby Snelling will undergo Tommy John surgery on Friday to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, Miami officials said Thursday.
Snelling, the club’s No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, will miss the rest of the season and a chunk of next season that has yet to be determined. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Thursday.
The Marlins said a recovery time span will be revealed after the surgery, which will be performed in Dallas by Dr. Keith Meister. Snelling visited with Meister on Thursday.
“Disappointing for him, us,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough told reporters. “That’s an unfortunate part of our industry. Guys go down. So Robby will have the surgery. We’ll have more what the timeline and return to play will look like after that. We just keep going, and Robby will come back from this a stronger person.”
Snelling was scratched from a May 14 start against the Minnesota Twins after experiencing soreness during a bullpen session two days earlier. Initial tests revealed a UCL sprain and further examination determined that Tommy John surgery was necessary.
The situation emerged just days after Snelling made his major league debut against the Washington Nationals on May 8. He gave up three runs and five hits in five innings in a 3-2 loss to Washington. He walked four and struck out two.
Snelling was one of four prospects the Marlins received from the San Diego Padres in July 2024 in a six-player deal that featured left-hander Tanner Scott.
The Marlins brought up another one of those prospects, third baseman Graham Pauley, prior to Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Braves.
Pauley, 25, batted .173 with one homer and nine RBIs in 28 games with Miami earlier this season. He has played in 103 games with the Padres and Marlins over the past three campaigns.
Also, Miami placed infielder Leo Jimenez on the 7-day concussion list. The 25-year-old is batting .227 with one RBI in 18 games.
