On Tuesday, the Miami Marlins added right-handed pitcher Garrett Acton to their roster by claiming him off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. To make space for Acton on the 40-man roster, Miami designated outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. for assignment.
Garrett Acton’s Recent Performance and Background
Acton, 27, spent the 2025 season within the Tampa Bay Rays organization, largely pitching for their Triple-A affiliate in Durham. He made one scoreless relief appearance at the major league level during that season. Over 58â…” innings in Triple-A, Acton recorded a 3.68 ERA and a 4.01 FIP, striking out 10.89 batters per nine innings while allowing 4.14 walks. His appearances included 45 games, four of which were starts. Acton also has previous MLB experience from 2023 with the Oakland Athletics, where he appeared in six games but struggled with a 12.71 ERA.
Roster Moves and Team Transactions
After the 2025 season, Tampa Bay designated Acton for assignment, leading to his claim by the Rockies. However, Colorado also designated him for assignment on January 22. The Marlins moved quickly to claim the right-handed pitcher, indicating interest in his potential development within their pitching staff.
Pitching Style and Recovery Progress
Acton’s pitching arsenal features a four-seam fastball, a slider, and a changeup. Given the Marlins’ reputation for working closely with pitchers, it’s possible the organization will attempt to expand his repertoire. Having recovered from Tommy John surgery, Acton’s average fastball velocity decreased from 95.4 mph in 2023 to 93.7 mph last season. He retains two minor league options, providing roster flexibility.
Victor Mesa Jr.’s Career and Future Prospects
Victor Mesa Jr., 24, originally signed with the Marlins in 2018 as an international free agent for $1 million. Despite multiple injury challenges, he debuted in the major leagues in 2025. That season, he appeared in 16 games with Miami and posted a slash line of .188/.297/.344, hitting one home run with six RBIs and recording an 81 wRC+. In Triple-A during the same year, Mesa performed better, hitting .286/.352/.460 with seven home runs, 33 RBIs, and a strong 121 wRC+ across 52 games.
Outfield Depth and Career Outlook for Mesa
Once viewed as a top prospect in the Marlins’ farm system just two years ago, Mesa has since been surpassed by several other outfielders in Miami’s depth chart. Although he offers versatility by playing all three outfield positions and possesses a solid hitting ability, his chances of making the Opening Day roster appeared slim. With one minor league option remaining, Mesa now aims to find a new team that can offer more consistent playing time. The Marlins have seven days to negotiate a trade with interested clubs.
