Marlins re-sign Tyler Zuber to a Minor League deal

Right-handed Tyler Zuber returns to the Marlins on a minor league deal, according to the transaction log on him MLB.com profile page. Zuber was cut from the 40-man roster in early November. Because he had been elected outright earlier in his career, he had the opportunity to choose free agency, which he took advantage of.

Miami claimed Zuber off waivers from the Mets in early July. He gave up two runs over two innings in his lone appearance with New York. Zuber spent a month at Triple-A when he first joined the Marlins organization. He was recalled in August, but struggled to an 11.70 ERA in nine appearances. As has been the case for much of his career, Zuber posted solid strikeout numbers while struggling with control. He also gave up three home runs in 10 innings, which is especially treacherous for a pitcher with walk problems.

Zuber made a number of arsenal adjustments in his limited MLB action this past season. He led with the sweeper for the first time in his career, while adding a sinker and changeup. Total sweeper usage didn’t change much from 2024, rising from 32% to 34.3%, but it jumped ahead of Vierzemer as Zuber’s most used field. The veteran had thrown his fastball at least 42.7% of the time in his previous three Major League seasons before using it just 27.8% of the time in 2025. Zuber’s strikeout rate reached a career high of 64.9%, so perhaps the adjusted mix helped him be in the zone more often.

Kansas City took Zuber in the sixth round of the 2017 draft. He broke through the Royals’ minor league system and posted a strikeout rate above 30% in each of his first three professional seasons. Zuber played a late-innings role in most of his minor league stops, earning 18 saves across two levels in 2018 and 21 saves between High-A and Double-A in 2019.

Zuber made his debut with the Royals in the shortened 2020 season. He posted an elite strikeout rate of 30.3% in his first taste of the big leagues, but that came with a huge 20.2% walk rate. Opposing hitters hit just .192 against Zuber, but the frequent free passes led to a FIP and SIERA of over 5.00. Zuber made 31 appearances out of Kansas City’s bullpen in 2021. He posted a 6.26 ERA with less than one strikeout per inning and an inflated walk rate of 13.8%.

A shoulder injury cost Zuber the entire 2022 season. He was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks prior to the 2023 campaign. After a season at Triple-A Reno, he landed with Cleveland on a minor league deal. The Guardians released him before the season started, and Zuber ended up with Tampa Bay midway through the year. He appeared in two games with the Rays before leaving for the Mets in a trade for a reliever Paul Gervaas.

Photo courtesy of Bob DeChiara, Imagn Images