MIAMI _ Left-hander Braxton Garrett, the Miami Marlins' top prospect, is facing three of the most anxiety-provoking words in sports: Dr. James Andrews.
Next week, Garrett will visit Andrews, an orthopedic surgeon known best for repairing damaged elbow ligaments, in Alabama for a second opinion on his left elbow, Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said through a spokesman.
Last week, Garrett was diagnosed with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament, which could require Tommy John surgery.
If Garrett, 19, indeed needs Tommy John, the rehab for which typical lasts a year or more, it would be another significant blow to an already barren farm system. Right-hander Tyler Kolek, the Marlins' first-round pick in 2014 and No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, had the procedure in April 2016 and has not pitched since. Kolek is expected to make his season debut this month.
The Marlins have handled Garrett carefully since selecting him seventh overall in the 2016 draft, keeping him out of pro action last season and delaying the start of his 2017 until May to limit his workload. Garrett pitched in four games for Low-A Greensboro, posting a 2.93 ERA and 1.24 WHIP while striking out 16 batters in 151/3 innings.
In the first three games, Garrett allowed one earned run in 132/3 innings. In the fourth outing, on May 25, he allowed four runs in 12/3 innings _ including three on two homers in the second.
Garrett received a signing bonus of about $4.15 million last July.
Starting with Kolek in 2014 and continuing with Garrett in 2016, the Marlins have drafted a high school pitcher with their top draft pick three out of the past four years. On Monday they chose left-hander Trevor Rogers from Carlsbad, N.M., 13th overall.
