Health is key for Max Meyer to have success in 2026

MIAMI—Through the first two months of 2025, Max Meyer was on track to lead the Miami Marlins in innings pitched. Then a hip issue popped up, leading to season-ending surgery. 

"I feel good," Meyer said when he spoke to the media on Friday. "Had a good offseason, put on some weight and everything feels good—how it should feel. Hoping that I can just continue that throughout the whole season."

The Marlins saw a 17-win improvement from the previous year, though Meyer unfortunately had to watch most of that from the dugout due to his injury. While being sidelined, he kept himself involved in team activities and tried to make the best of the situation.

"There is a lot you can always learn every day and you just can't stop while going through injuries like that," Meyer said. "You have to be there for your teammates and you always have to be a good guy in the clubhouse. There is a lot you can do when you are even on the shelf for a long time. You can help the team out by being with guys who are maybe down or playing games and having fun in the clubhouse, so you just have to attack it a different way every day."

In 2025, Meyer pitched 64 ⅔ innings, posting a 4.73 ERA, 4.47 FIP, 9.46 K/9 and 2.78 BB/9. He had gotten off to a red-hot start, highlighted by his 14-strikeout performance against the Cincinnati Reds. Within his first five outings, he posted a 2.10 ERA and 2.50 FIP.

In Meyer's final seven starts before landing on the IL, he posted a 7.01 ERA and 6.16 FIP. He had two games where he surrendered 10 hits.

Meyer already began to feel like himself again at the end of the 2025 season. "The whole offseason, I've felt pretty good," he said. "Started running and sprinting probably halfway through and everything just feels good."

With the exception of his signature slider, Meyer has made "tweaks" to the other four pitches in his arsenal. He "tightened up" his sweeper and worked on a "more consistent sinker shape." He also focused on "getting my depth back on my changeup and a little more (induced vertical break) on my fastball."

The Marlins went into the offseason with a projected 2026 rotation featuring Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers. Now that Cabrera is a Chicago Cub and Weathers is a member of the New York Yankees, there's a lot more room for Meyer...as long as he stays healthy.

"I wanna be there when they call my name," said Meyer. "When they call my name, I don't want to be sitting on the sidelines anymore because it's pretty frustrating. I'm gonna miss those guys, fun to be around, but obviously I gotta step it up."