Have the Marlins found another underrated arm in Freddy Tarnok?

[Kevin Barral]

Under Peter Bendix in 2024, the Marlins acquired several quality relievers cheaply. Tarnok could continue that trend in 2025.

Earlier this week, the Miami Marlins officially inked right-hander Freddy Tarnok to a minor league deal. Aram Leighton of Just Baseball reports that it includes an invitation to spring training and that Tarnok will "get a shot to start." Tarnok's prospect history and pitch mix make him more interesting than a normal NRI.

Tarnok was selected in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves. He ranked as high as 11th on Baseball America's Braves prospect list during his minor league career. In 2022, he was one of five players traded to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for catcher Sean Murphy.

Tarnok reached the major league level in his final season with the Braves, but only for one relief appearance. He got a longer look with the Athletics in 2023, going 14 ⅔ innings through five appearances and even earning his first career win.

In 2024, Tarnok began the season in the Athletics organization, but was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies on June 1. He spent the rest of the season in the minors and elected free agency before signing with Miami.

The 26-year-old will now have a fresh start with his fourth MLB organization. The Marlins had success last season turning little-known pitchers into solid relievers at the major league level. Examples include Calvin Faucher and Declan Cronin. Could Tarnok be next?

Tarnok's arsenal consists of a four-seam fastball, changeup, slider and curveball. The slider was his primary secondary pitch during previous stints in the majors, but he's been going with the changeup more since then. His best pitch by far is the changeup, which generated a 48.0% whiff rate at the Triple-A level in 2024. Nobody's changeup on the Marlins major league staff came close to that, per Baseball Savant.

Tarnok's fastball averages 94.8 mph. Six of his seven home runs allowed were off that pitch. His slider generated a 45.2% whiff rate and a lot of soft contact.

The biggest issues for Tarnok are control and command. He had a 5.68 BB/9 in 2024 and threw only 58.1% strikes in AAA. Too often, his strikes finish middle-middle, leading to high HR/FB rate.

Injuries have also held Tarnok back from reaching his potential. He's been placed on the injured list six separate times since being drafted, including twice in 2024. However, he has had a "fully healthy offseason," according to KineticPro Performance lead throwing strategist Cam Lanzilli.

Tarnok will enter spring training with an opportunity to make the Marlins Opening Day roster. He profiles best as a reliever, a role that would allow him to lean heavily on his quality changeup and slider, but if he doesn't make the cut, there should be plenty of innings available on the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for him to work as a starter until there's an opening in Miami.

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[rurrusuno]

The Marlins usually have that dark horse bullpen candidate that ends up making the Opening Day roster. Last year it was definitely Declan Cronin. This year it could be Freddy Tarnok. 

[2qbn]

Well, they have an opening in the rotation now. Oof

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

Excellent opportunities for some of the young pitchers to shine. 

[BMK3]

The operative term is "acquired cheaply".    Am I seeing a pattern here?