Spring Breakout Game: Marlins Pitching Prospects Shine

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Jupiter, Florida– With Spring Training winding down and rosters slowly coming to form, fans have the chance to see their favorite team’s prospects throughout the Grapefruit and Cacti league this week during the second annual Spring Breakout Games. For the Miami Marlins, they took on their Jupiter counterpart, the St. Louis Cardinals, for their breakout game, showcasing their prospects and hopefully some future stars for their respective organizations.

In an era when pitchers are not going as deep into games as they used to and velocity is at an all-time high, Miami has a new wave of pitching prospects in the pipeline who can potentially do both with the trio of Thomas White, Karson Milbrandt, and Noble Meyer. There is still much room to grow on the position player development side. Still, what Miami hasn’t lacked over the years through different front offices, scouting departments, and managers is developing pitching.

Let Spring Breakout begin 💥

📺: @FanDuelSN_FL pic.twitter.com/SCuIjw0J6M

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) March 14, 2025

Southpaws Dueling in the Spring

White, MLB’s No. 3 left-handed pitching prospect, got the starting nod against the Cardinals’ prospects and toed the rubber against MLB’s No. 4 left-handed pitching prospect and reigning MiLB Pitching Prospect of the Year, Quinn Mathews. Both southpaws did not disappoint as they shut down the opposing offenses for two and three innings, respectively.

In White’s two innings of work, he only allowed one base hit and struck out three. This isn’t the first time White started the Srping Breakout Game for Miami, starting in last year’s game and struck out the side in is only inning on the mound. The 20-year-old needs a bit more grooming in the minor leagues, but he is not that far off from cracking the MLB roster after dominating in the minors the last couple of seasons. In 2024, he split time between Low-A Jupiter and High-A Beloit, going 6-4 in 21 starts with an outstanding 2.81 ERA. Depending on his performance in 2025, Marlins fans can potentially see him in a big league uniform for the 2026 season.

Back-to-back strikeouts for White. This time gets Leonardo Bernal swinging. Got him with the slider.#Marlins pic.twitter.com/TuFEmZ0gYc

— Kevin Barral (@kevin_barral) March 14, 2025

Quinn Matthews had something to say about White’s outing as St. Louis’s top pitching prospect dazzled for three shutout innings, striking out three as well. Matthews also showed composure on the mound, able to work out of multiple due to walking three batters. At the age of 24, Matthews is expected to make the MLB roster at some point this season.

More Spring Love for the Pitchers

White handed the ball off to Milbrandt, Miami’s 26th overall prospect and right-handed pitching prospect to be on the lookout for. The 20-year-old was just as effective as White, throwing two innings of hitless baseball while striking out two. This could be the outing that can catapult him into his best season in professional baseball after he went 1-8 with a 4.33 ERA in 22 starts during the 2024 campaign for the Advance A Beloit Sky Carp.

Nasty Karson Milbrandt slider.

He retired the last 6 batters he faced. pic.twitter.com/S1Y21Iu2vL

— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) March 14, 2025

After Miami scored all of their three runs in the bottom of the fourth, Noble Meyer was the new arm for Miami entering the fifth. Another 20-year-old in Miami’s system, the 6-5 right-hander, kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard in the fifth inning and was back out to handle the sixth inning. St. Louis was able to break Miami’s shutout in the sixth inning off of Meyer after scoring a run on a double-play with the bases loaded and no outs. Meyer worked out the jam to keep the damage to just one run and hold Miami’s lead.

Just like White, Meyer split time between Low-A Jupiter and High-A Beloit but did not have the same successful transition when he was promoted. In 2024, Meyer went 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA in eight starts for the Jupiter Hammerheads. After a successful stint, he was promoted to High-A Beloit and struggled, going 0-5 with a 5.18 ERA in 11 outings (10 starts).

Noble Meyer's Spring Breakout:
2 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, HBP, K
32 pitches (17 strikes)
Max velo: 95 mph

Worked around a leadoff double in his first inning of work. Just one run after loading bases with no outs in his second.

Meyer is @MLBPipeline's No. 81 overall prospect. #Marlins pic.twitter.com/gmm9PK6sKt

— Christina De Nicola (@CDeNicola13) March 14, 2025

The Future of the Rotation

With the Marlins beginning another rebuild, Sandy Alcantara‘s future remains uncertain as one of the few remaining players from their 2023 postseason appearance. Miami’s ace is looking to bounce back in 2025 after missing all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery. If he ends up getting traded, Miami will be without a true “ace” in the rotation.

The only other veterans in Miami’s rotation were Braxton Garrett, who will be out for the 2025 season due to injury, and Jesus Luzardo, who has been long gone, traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Max Meyer, Ryan Weathers, and Edward Cabrera will be looked at to piece together the rest of the rotation behind Sandy, but they are still considered “young arms” and in the future plans for the organization. Free agent Cal Quantrill was signed on the first day of Spring Training to provide depth and MLB experience, and Valente Bellozo, acquired in a trade with the Astros last season, rounds of the starting pitchers who are projected to make the Opening Day roster, but both those pitchers are not viewed to be in the long-term plan for the team.

Ryan Weathers talks about his excitement for the new season after his 2024 season was cut short due to injury. He also shares his preparation for this Spring and what he thinks new #Marlins Manager Clayton McCullough can bring to the team after being part of the Dodgers coaching… pic.twitter.com/geGoj7tPBP

— Alex “Milo” Aguirre (@aguirrethecap33) February 12, 2025

Fans will have to wait and hope that White, Milbrandt, and Meyer continue to grow and have a successful 2025 season because they probably won’t see any of them in a Marlins uniform until 2026 at the earliest. If all goes according to plan and trajectory, Miami will be in good shape at the top of the rotation going into the new decade with that trio of young arms.

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