Braxton Garrett has made a name for himself as a promising lefty for the Miami Marlins since the team grabbed him seventh overall in the 2016 MLB Draft. The Florence, Alabama native signed with the Marlins for a hefty $4,145,900 signing bonus, which really showed how much the organization believed in his potential right from the start.
He worked his way through the Marlins’ system and finally made his MLB debut, officially kicking off his career at the highest level.
Right now, Garrett plays on a one-year, $1,530,000 contract with the Miami Marlins, all guaranteed. That’s a big jump from his earlier $732,000 salary, and it clearly signals the Marlins’ growing faith in him as a key piece in their rotation.
At 26, Garrett has steadily raised his value since joining the Marlins’ roster.
He’s built his career on persistence and constant improvement. After the team assigned him to the Marlins Alternate Training Site during the 2020 season, he worked his way into a regular role on the pitching staff.
His rising salary reflects both his better numbers on the mound and the Marlins’ commitment to him as part of their long-term plans.
Early Life and Baseball Development
Braxton Garrett’s baseball journey started when he was a kid, and it didn’t take long for people to notice his talent as a left-handed pitcher.
His amateur career and eventual high draft selection set the stage for his MLB success.
Amateur Career
Garrett sharpened his pitching skills at Florence High School in Alabama, and he quickly became one of the country’s top lefty pitching prospects.
During his senior year, he dominated, posting a 0.56 ERA over 65â…“ innings.
He struck out 131 batters and only walked 13, which is an insane 10:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
That kind of control and strikeout ability really caught MLB scouts’ attention.
Garrett’s arsenal in high school featured a fastball in the low-90s and a curveball that scouts loved.
His smooth mechanics and advanced feel for pitching set him apart from most other high school arms.
Prospect Rankings and Draft
Baseball America and other big scouting publications consistently ranked Garrett near the top of the 2016 MLB Draft class for pitchers.
His mix of projectability, polished mechanics, and that left-handed delivery made him a hot commodity.
The Miami Marlins picked Garrett seventh overall in the 2016 MLB Draft, making him one of the highest-drafted high school pitchers that year.
His draft stock soared thanks to his plus curveball and sharp command.
Garrett signed with the Marlins for a solid $4,145,900 bonus.
He didn’t have the blazing velocity of some other prospects, but scouts raved about his finesse approach and mature feel for pitching.
Professional Career and MLB Milestones
Braxton Garrett has steadily developed as a pro, growing into a dependable part of the Marlins’ rotation.
His left-handed arsenal and calm presence on the mound have helped him carve out a spot as a valuable starter.
MLB Debut and Early Performance
Garrett debuted in the majors on September 13, 2020, during the pandemic-shortened season.
He faced some immediate challenges but showed enough flashes to justify his high draft slot.
That first year, he pitched in just two games.
In 2021, Garrett started to settle in at the big league level.
He made eight starts, working alongside rotation mates like Sandy Alcantara and Trevor Rogers.
He focused on improving his fastball command, which sits in the low-90s.
Early on, he faced plenty of learning experiences against MLB hitters while refining his pitch mix.
His slider started to look like a legit out pitch, though his changeup still needed work.
Progression as a Starting Pitcher
By 2022, Garrett had become a regular in the Marlins rotation.
He made 17 starts and posted better numbers across the board.
His WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) improved as he gained more experience.
Other young Marlins arms like Edward Cabrera and Jesus Luzardo emerged at the same time.
Together, they gave the Marlins a promising young rotation behind ace Sandy Alcantara, who won the Cy Young that year.
Garrett’s growth as a starter has come from:
- Sharper command of his three-pitch mix
- Smarter sequencing
- Better durability and stamina
- More consistent mechanics from the left side
Notable Seasons and Achievements
The 2023 season was Garrett’s most complete yet.
He set career highs in starts, innings, and strikeouts.
He really learned how to limit hard contact and get ground balls, which became his signature.
Garrett has figured out how to work through MLB lineups multiple times, which isn’t easy for starting pitchers.
His strikeout numbers have climbed as he’s gotten more confident in his breaking stuff.
He hasn’t reached All-Star status like Sandy Alcantara, but he’s become a steady mid-rotation starter for Miami.
He’s especially tough on left-handed hitters, holding them to a lower batting average than righties.
Injuries have popped up from time to time, including a stint on the 60-day IL that cost him parts of a season.
Contracts and Financial Overview
Braxton Garrett’s financial path in MLB shows his growing value to the Marlins.
His contract history tells the story of a pitcher steadily earning his spot and pay.
MLB Contracts and Salary Progression
Garrett has watched his MLB earnings rise since his debut.
His first contracts were pretty modest, but as he performed better, his paychecks grew.
In 2023, Garrett earned a salary of $732,000, which is standard for early-career players.
For 2023, he signed a one-year, $1,530,000 contract with the Miami Marlins, a big step up from before.
That contract included $1,530,000 guaranteed, showing the team’s faith in his abilities.
Garrett started his MLB journey by signing for about $4 million as a top draft pick. Here’s how his annual salary has looked:
- 2021: League minimum (first re-signing)
- 2022: League minimum (second re-signing)
- 2023: $732,000
- 2024: $1,530,000
Player Options and Trade Value
Garrett’s current contract doesn’t include player options, since he’s still under team control.
His trade value has gone up as he’s established himself in the rotation.
At recent trade deadlines, rumors have swirled about him because of his performance and team-friendly contract.
When the Marlins traded guys like Pablo López to the Twins (who joined a rotation with Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, and Kenta Maeda), Garrett’s role with Miami became even more important.
The team’s choice to hold onto Garrett while dealing other arms shows how much they value him.
His left-handed delivery, improving numbers, and years of team control make him extra appealing to teams looking for affordable starting pitching.
Comparison With Teammates and League Averages
Garrett’s $1.53 million salary for 2024 sits on the lower end of the Marlins’ payroll, but honestly, it’s pretty good value for what he brings.
His rotation mates Jesús Luzardo and Trevor Rogers have higher salaries, mostly due to earlier breakouts.
Compared to league averages, Garrett’s pay is still below the MLB mean salary of about $4.4 million, reflecting his pre-arbitration status.
That’s similar to what Bailey Ober made with the Twins before his own breakout.
The Marlins have managed payroll carefully, trading higher-priced players like Luis Arraez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. while developing pitchers like Garrett on cheaper contracts.
If Garrett keeps improving, the team might try to extend him before he gets too expensive in arbitration.
Net Worth: Sources and Insights
Braxton Garrett’s net worth comes mainly from his MLB career with the Miami Marlins.
His income is a mix of baseball salary and some off-field opportunities.
Salary Earnings and Bonuses
Garrett’s net worth is estimated at around $5.38 million, mostly from his MLB contracts.
Right now, he earns $1.53 million per year with the Marlins, a solid jump from his previous $732,000 salary.
When he was drafted, he landed a signing bonus worth over $4 million.
That first contract gave him a strong financial base.
As Garrett keeps developing in MLB, his earning potential just keeps going up.
His salary progression really shows the Marlins’ growing belief in his talent since he debuted.
Endorsements and Off-Field Income
Specific endorsement details for Garrett aren’t really out there, but most MLB pitchers pick up extra income from off-field gigs.
These often include equipment deals, especially with glove and pitching gear brands.
He probably has some local endorsements in Miami, especially as his profile with the Marlins grows.
A lot of MLB players at Garrett’s level also make money from autograph signings and appearances.
Social media partnerships could add to his income, though he keeps a pretty low profile compared to some bigger MLB names.
As his career moves forward and his brand grows, he’ll likely see more off-field opportunities open up.
Pitching Style, Strengths, and Setbacks
Braxton Garrett has turned into a dependable big league pitcher with a diverse arsenal and a unique approach.
His style leans more on finesse and control than pure power.
Pitch Repertoire and Control
Garrett mixes his pitches well to keep hitters guessing.
His slider is his main out pitch, with good movement that gets whiffs. Statcast data shows he pairs it with a low-90s fastball that he spots effectively to set up his breaking stuff.
His changeup has become a real weapon against righties, showing good fade and a nice speed difference from his fastball.
In 2024, hitters averaged 92.3 mph exit velocity and a 48.3% hard-hit rate against him.
Garrett’s success comes from his excellent control—not overwhelming stuff.
He works the corners and changes eye levels, making up for his lack of elite velocity.
Key Strengths on the Mound
Garrett’s biggest asset? It’s definitely his precision and how he mixes pitches. He doesn’t give away free passes often, and you can tell he sticks to a plan when facing hitters.
He throws with a deceptive delivery that really messes with batters. That extra bit of trickery makes his breaking balls even tougher to handle.
When the pressure ramps up, the lefty stays cool. He sticks to his approach no matter what’s happening on the field.
Check out his barrel percentage of 8.5%—that shows he limits hard contact, even though his stuff isn’t overpowering.
Garrett also fields his position well. He manages the running game and helps his team with solid defense.
Injuries and Recovery
Injuries have really shaped Garrett’s career path in ways you can’t ignore.
Shortly after the Marlins drafted him seventh overall in 2016, he had to get Tommy John surgery, which you can read more about in his Baseball America profile.
That major elbow reconstruction set his development back quite a bit. It pushed his major league debut further down the road and definitely changed how his early career played out.
After coming back from Tommy John, Garrett ran into a few more bumps—some minor arm and shoulder issues that popped up here and there.
The Marlins’ medical staff has had to stay on top of things to help him manage these setbacks.
Still, Garrett keeps bouncing back. Honestly, the way he’s stayed effective after all that surgery says a lot about his work ethic and how he adapts as a pitcher.
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