Marlins drop their first game of the year as Paddack struggles

[Isaac Azout]

MIAMI — It had been 3,565 days since right-handed pitcher Chris Paddack last appeared in a game for the Marlins organization. A year after being selected in the eighth round of the 2015 MLB Draft, Paddack was infamously dealt to the San Diego Padres in exchange for All-Star closer Fernando Rodney, who was sporting an incredible 0.31 ERA at the time. The hope was that the move would help propel the Marlins to their first postseason berth since 2003. Instead, Rodney posted a 5.89 ERA with Miami, the team fell short and declined his option for the following season, while Paddack went on to become a top-100 prospect and established big leaguer. 

Fast-forward a little more than a decade, Paddack has made 110 MLB starts over his seven-year big league career, one filled with ups and downs. His official Marlins debut on Monday night featured more of the latter, as he surrendered eight earned runs in Miami’s 9-4, series-opening loss to the Chicago White Sox—Miami’s first loss of the season.

Paddack got off to a fast start, tossing two perfect innings with three strikeouts to begin his night. In the third, he recorded two quick outs after allowing a leadoff double to Everson Pereira. Pitching coach Daniel Moskos then made an early mound visit. Immediately after, Miguel Vargas drove in Pereira with an RBI single, and two batters later, Austin Hays launched a three-run home run to make it 4-0.

"He got off to a really great start, and then a two-out bloop, a swinging bunt, and then Hays got a ball and elevated it for a home run,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said postgame.

Despite the damage, Paddack was a victim of some tough luck throughout the outing, finishing with a 2.41 expected FIP on the night.

“In this game, I try not to think about good versus bad luck, because there are times when guys line out at 110 mph off the bat, and then there are those 65 mph swinging bunts, so it evens itself out over the course of the year,” Paddack said postgame. “I thought they put together some really good at-bats, and after I executed our game plan well early, they made some pretty good adjustments that caused me to not be as convicted with my changeup.”

The knockout blow came in the fourth inning, when Vargas struck again—this time with a grand slam to extend the lead to 8-0. The eight earned runs tied a franchise record for the most ever allowed by a pitcher making his Marlins debut (also done by Elih Villanueva in 2011).

Paddack's final line: 4 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 6 SO, 0 BB. 

“Following a start like this, I usually write down all the negative thoughts—everything bad that happened—on a piece of paper, then I rip it up and throw it in the trash,” Paddack added. “The beauty of pitch design here with the Marlins is that I get to go compete against my guys again in three days.”

Paddack's next start will come on Sunday in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. "If you let something like this affect the next four days, you think those guys in New York will feel sorry for me? No. so you have to get back on the saddle and stay within your routine," the $4 million free agent added. 

The right-hander also mentioned some positives from Monday's outing, referencing the swing-and-miss he generated on his new sweeper. He also didn't allow a walk. 

Offensively, Liam Hicks got Miami on the board with his second home run of the season. That gives the Marlins three total home runs so far, all coming from members of Team Canada’s World Baseball Classic roster. Hicks and Jakob Marsee later added RBI singles to keep things respectable, but it wasn’t enough, as Miami suffered its first loss of the 2026 season.

Miami fell to 3-1 while the White Sox earned their first win of the season. Janson Junk will make his season debut on Tuesday against Erick Fedde. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm. 

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[One Regend]

On the 1-2 pitch that Paddack allowed the grand slam on, I can't help but notice Hicks was setup up high, indicating that he's expecting a fastball. He got a changeup.

Was there a miscommunication between Paddack and Hicks? Just by the way he tried to catch the pitch, it looked as though it wasn't the pitch he was expecting to receive.

[Shawn]

It’s Cal 2.0. Shouldn’t have traded weathers, but I can’t help but think that garret should be in the rotation. 

[2qbn]

19 minutes ago, Shawn said:

It’s Cal 2.0. Shouldn’t have traded weathers, but I can’t help but think that garret should be in the rotation. 

I know it was a rough start, but Cal 2.0? Ouch. lol 

[2qbn]

That was a rough one. Today is now must win to have a chance at the series. We have Junk. 

[Jose Herrera]

We probably would have won the game if our starter did not give up 8 runs, but he did pitch 4 innings. I say give sheriff 5 starts before we call him Cal 2.0. By then Garrett or Snelling should be ready if need be.

[Ely Sussman]

11 hours ago, One Regend said:

Was there a miscommunication between Paddack and Hicks? Just by the way he tried to catch the pitch, it looked as though it wasn't the pitch he was expecting to receive.

Good observation. Looking back at most of the game, I saw that by default, Hicks sets an initial target around waist high, but then drops his glove down and reacts to the pitch. This applied to most pitch types. The grand slam was an example of his default position.

With a lot of fastballs, he would show an even higher target around the letters.

I believe this was just terrible execution, but the pitch they wanted. Paddack likes throwing his changeup to both LHB and RHB.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

One game. Nothing to go nuts over yet.