The Marlins will open the 2027 season with a major question in center field after Jakob Marsee was scheduled for left-elbow surgery Monday. The 25-year-old is set to undergo UCL repair with an internal brace following an examination by Dr. Keith Meister, with Miami projecting a six-month recovery.
That timetable places Marsee’s return in the early weeks of the 2027 campaign. He began feeling discomfort in the elbow late in the 2026 season, but remained in the lineup through a demanding first full year in the Major Leagues.
Quick facts
- Jakob Marsee is expected to need about six months after left UCL repair with an internal brace.
- Marsee played in all but seven Miami games in 2026 and posted 23 steals.
- Tyler Zuber will have right UCL repair with an internal brace on the same day.
- Zuber’s 10-to-12-month outlook could keep him out for most, if not all, of 2027.
- Esteury Ruiz, Javier Sanoja and prospect Cam Cannarella are possible center-field alternatives.
Marsee finished with a .231/.348/.359 slash line, 83 runs, 19 doubles, seven triples, 11 home runs and 41 RBIs. He added 23 stolen bases and was worth 2.5 fWAR after spending much of the first four months near the Mendoza line.
His defense remained a steady part of the package. Marsee recorded nine Outs Above Average, placing him in the 95th percentile, while his 88.6 mph arm strength ranked in the 78th percentile.
Peter Bendix, Miami’s president of baseball operations, said before the specialist visit that Marsee had dealt with more than one physical issue during the year. Bendix credited him for avoiding the injured list and for closing the season on a strong run, calling attention to the outfielder’s toughness and resilience.
Miami used only two other players in center field during 2026: Ruiz and Sanoja. Both now stand as in-house choices while Marsee works back from surgery.
Cannarella could give the club another path. Miami’s No. 5 prospect and organizational Player of the Year, the 23-year-old hit .324/.422/.512 across 98 games at High-A Beloit, Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Jacksonville.
Cannarella collected 15 homers, 21 steals and 57 RBIs during that three-level climb, earning MLB Pipeline Second Team recognition. His progress gives the Marlins a prospect with center-field potential as they sort out the position in camp.
The injury news also reached the bullpen. Reliever Tyler Zuber is slated for a right-elbow UCL repair with an internal brace Monday, and Miami estimates his rehabilitation at 10 to 12 months.
That recovery window puts nearly the entire 2027 season in jeopardy for Zuber, with the possibility that he misses it altogether. The Marlins will be managing two significant elbow rehabs from opposite sides of the roster as the offseason moves forward.
