JUPITER, Fla. - Max Meyer, the Marlins' talented right-hander, made his much-anticipated return to the mound in the Grapefruit League, and while the nerves didn’t get to him, the cool weather was a welcome companion. In a 5-4 loss to the Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Meyer took a significant step forward.
Reflecting on his debut, Meyer shared, “I kind of understand how spring is. You want to slowly increase.
You don't want to go and try to make the team [on the] first day and do something you're not supposed to be doing. So, yeah, just building up, taking it one day at a time.”
Entering his fourth big league season in 2026, Meyer has faced more than his share of setbacks. His rookie year in 2022 was cut short after just six innings due to Tommy John surgery, which also sidelined him for the entire 2023 season. Injuries continued to plague him with right shoulder bursitis in 2024 and a left hip labral repair in 2025.
Monday's outing was Meyer's first time back on the mound since those challenges. “It's nice not being on the injured list and being an actual player again,” Meyer remarked.
“It obviously sucks. Everyone has to go through it.
I've had to do a lot more than some other guys. It just feels good to be in the dugout and know that you're going to pitch in a few days, and you can actually think about it a little bit and get ready.”
In his spring debut, Meyer showcased his skills:
- 1 IP, 2 K
- 11 pitches (seven strikes)
- Max velo: 96.7 mph
- Both strikeouts on the slider
The last time Meyer pitched in a game, he struggled against the Rockies, allowing five runs (four earned) on 10 hits over five innings. Shortly after, he was placed on the injured list with a left hip impingement.
Despite the discomfort, Meyer showed flashes of brilliance early in the 2025 season with a 2.10 ERA over his first five starts, including a dazzling 14-strikeout game. However, his ERA ballooned to 7.01 over his last seven starts. Even so, he set career highs for starts (12) and innings (64 2/3).
Determined to make 2026 different, Meyer spent the offseason focusing on his physicality, adding weight to improve his durability. He refined his pitches, adding more vertical movement to his fastball and depth to his changeup.
Manager Clayton McCullough commented on Meyer’s journey: “Unfortunately, he just hasn't had the chance to be able to just get on the mound and pitch and go through a lot of experiences that you knew would help from year to year because of some missed time due to injury. The health part and the durability is a thing.
I think that he's in a great spot right now and will be fine, but certainly, just the chance to be able to get on the mound with regularity and pitch through stretches of success, while also having to adjust and pitch through times when things don't go well, is an important part of becoming a really high-end viable Major League starter. And we're hoping this is the year where Max gets the chance to put together a full year of work.”
The Marlins have always seen potential in Meyer since drafting him third overall in 2020. The question remains whether he will remain a starter or transition to a reliever if injuries persist.
The Marlins’ rotation is stacked with talent, including Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Janson Junk, Bradley Blalock, Adam Mazur, Ryan Gusto, and Braxton Garrett, along with prospects like Thomas White, Robby Snelling, and Dax Fulton in camp.
Meyer remains focused and determined: “That's always my goal, every season. I want to be there when they call my name, and I want to contribute when they call my name, and I don't want to be sitting on the sidelines anymore, because it's pretty frustrating.
No, [Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers leaving] didn't change [my mentality] at all. Obviously, I'm going to miss those guys, fun to be around.
But yeah, obviously I’ve got to step up.
“We have a lot of guys. We’ve got a bunch of guys that can fill in whenever. Your job is never going to be locked in through the whole season, because we have so many good pitchers coming up, and you’ve got to prove your worth, and you’ve got to stay healthy.”