Braxton Garrett throws Triple-A no-hitter, loses game

Just last weekend, my colleague Alex Carver detailed why Braxton Garrett should and would be the first man up from Triple-A Jacksonville whenever the Miami Marlins need starting rotation reinforcements. The veteran left-hander further augmented his case Tuesday night with an eight-inning no-hitter in a road start against the Gwinnett Stripers.

The Jumbo Shrimp themselves mustered one measly hit and failed to score, while Gwinnett manufactured a pair of runs thanks to Garrett's messy sixth inning, which included two hit-by-pitches, a wild pitch and an errant pickoff attempt. That contributed to this ultra-rare final pitching line: 8.0 IP, 0 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 6 K (98 pitches/65 strikes).

Garrett is through 7 no-hit innings. His slider looks phenomenal. Five strikeouts, eight groundouts, five fly outs.#Marlins https://t.co/58vQvbYvhd pic.twitter.com/biOGA1h2QM

— Fish On First Prospects (@FOFProspects) April 21, 2026

Devin Smeltzer threw a seven-inning no-no for Jacksonville in 2023 (doubleheader games in the minor leagues are only seven innings apiece). According to the team, Garrett authored their first solo no-no of at least eight innings since Detroit Tigers farmhand Kevin Mobley in 2000.

Optioned to Triple-A at the end of spring training, Garrett is making a mockery of the International League. He was arguably even better in his previous outing, and dating back to the one before that, he has tossed 15 ⅔ consecutive hitless innings. This season overall, opponents have combined for a .056 batting average. In 86 plate appearances, nobody has recorded an extra-base hit.

Obviously, Garrett is the beneficiary of favorable batted ball luck—for example, he got away with allowing four hard-hit balls against Gwinnett. Still, he's earning plenty of his success versus left-handed batters in particular, with a strikeout rate of 43.3% this season when he has the platoon advantage.

Meanwhile down in Miami, Chris Paddack struggled against the St. Louis Cardinals (4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 7 K). The Marlins have lost all four of Paddack's starts in 2026. He only participated in a victory on April 5, serving as the bulk guy that day. Nearly a month into the regular season, the free agent signing is beginning to separate himself as the weakest link of the Marlins rotation with a 6.37 ERA and 4.63 FIP, but his ability to fill up the strike zone remains alluring. Also, his guaranteed salary of $4 million ensures he'll get a relatively long leash.

Paddack is projected to pitch next on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Garrett the following day against Triple-A Durham (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate).