The Marlins will select the contract of right-hander Zach Brzykcy prior to tomorrow’s game with the Nationals, Fish On First’s Kevin Barral reports. Miami will have to open a spot on both the 26-man and 40-man rosters for Brzykcy, but 40-man space could be found by moving Andrew Nardi to the 60-day IL, since Nardi will miss for three months due to a stress reaction his left ribcage. Right-hander Josh Ekness could potentially be headed to the 15-day IL, as Ekness was seen on crutches during the Marlins’ team team train ride from New York to Washington today. (Hat tip to reporter Noah Berger and MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola.)
Brzykcy will be making his official Marlins debut the first time he appears in a game, and an appearance in the upcoming series in D.C. would pit the right-hander against his former team. The Nationals signed Brzykcy as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and he posted a 10.05 ERA over 28 2/3 innings with the club during the 2024-25 seasons. The Marlins claimed Brzykcy off waivers last November, and outrighted him off their own 40-man roster in December.
Over 22 1/3 innings with Triple-A Jacksonville, Brzykcy has a 5.24 ERA and 12.1% walk rate, though his 26.3% rate is pretty solid. Strikeout ability and control issues have basically been the story of Brzykcy’s pro career, and he isn’t exactly heading to the Show on a high note — twelve of the 13 earned runs Brzykcy has allowed this season in Jacksonville have come over his last five outings.
The call-up may be more based on the Marlins’ need for a fresh arm, as the club was forced into an unexpected bullpen game today. Scheduled starter Janson Junk was a late scratch due to a shin problem that resulted in a 15-day IL placement, and Miami used seven pitchers and utilityman Javier Sanoja for mop-up duty in a 10-1 loss to the Mets. Just within the last week, the Marlins have lost three starters (Junk, Eury Perez, Robby Snelling) to the injured list, as well as Nardi and perhaps Ekness from the bullpen mix. With the staff stretched so thin, there’s opportunity for Brzykcy to stick around for more than a cup of coffee if he performs well and eats some innings.
