Paddack Struggles in Marlins Debut 11 Years After Being Drafted

Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara reassures Paddack after franchise-record 8 earned runs allowed in first start for Miami

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:04am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a baseball pitcher's windup and delivery, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, capturing the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the sport.Paddack's rocky Marlins debut underscores the unpredictable nature of a pitcher's journey, as the team rallies around their new addition.San Diego Today

Chris Paddack, the Marlins' 8th-round draft pick in 2015, made his long-awaited debut for the team on Monday night, 11 years after being drafted by them. However, the outing did not go as planned, as Paddack allowed a franchise-record 8 earned runs in the 9-4 loss to the White Sox. Despite the tough start, Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara encouraged Paddack in the dugout, telling him the team believes in him and that he'll bounce back.

Why it matters

Paddack's debut was highly anticipated, as he was once considered a top prospect in the Marlins' system before being traded away in 2016. His struggles highlight the challenges young pitchers can face when returning to an organization after a long absence, and the importance of veteran leaders like Alcantara providing support during difficult outings.

The details

Paddack, who signed a one-year deal with the Marlins this offseason, struggled from the third inning on, giving up four runs in both the third and fourth innings. He was done in by a trio of softly hit singles and a three-run homer by Austin Hays, followed by a grand slam from Miguel Vargas. Despite the poor results, Paddack remained positive, saying he's been in tough spots before and will look to bounce back in his next start.

  • Paddack was the Marlins' 8th-round draft pick in 2015.
  • The Marlins traded Paddack to the Padres in June 2016 after just 17 outings in the minors.
  • Paddack made his Marlins debut on Monday, March 31, 2026, 3,565 days after his last appearance in the Marlins' organization.
  • Paddack's next start is scheduled for Sunday, April 6, 2026 at Yankee Stadium.

The players

Chris Paddack

A 30-year-old right-handed pitcher who was drafted by the Marlins in 2015 and made his long-awaited debut for the team on Monday, allowing a franchise-record 8 earned runs.

Sandy Alcantara

The Marlins' ace pitcher who reassured Paddack in the dugout after his tough outing, telling him the team believes in him and that he'll bounce back.

Clayton McCullough

The Marlins' manager, who expressed confidence that Paddack will have better outings going forward despite the poor debut.

Daniel Moskos

The Marlins' pitching coach, who will work with Paddack to address the issues from his debut start.

Austin Hays

The White Sox outfielder who hit a three-run homer off Paddack in the third inning.

Miguel Vargas

The White Sox infielder who hit a grand slam off Paddack in the fourth inning.

Liam Hicks

The Marlins' catcher, who discussed the approach to Paddack's pitches and the need to make adjustments.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He said, 'Hey man, you're here for a reason. We believe in you. I believe in you.'”

— Chris Paddack, Pitcher

“Results aside, we'll get a lot better days out of Chris than today. He's a pro. He'll flip the page. He'll just go right back to looking through this one with [pitching coach Daniel Moskos] and company, and just kind of look where we can get things in line and ready to go for his next one. He'll be ready to go, and [I] expect him to go out and throw a good game.”

— Clayton McCullough, Marlins Manager

“Start of the game, we did a really good job of getting the pitches that are supposed to be up, up in the zone, and the ones down, down in the zone. And then I think in the middle couple of innings, they just kind of blended a little bit.”

— Liam Hicks, Marlins Catcher

What’s next

Paddack's next start is scheduled for Sunday, April 6, 2026 at Yankee Stadium.

The takeaway

Paddack's difficult Marlins debut highlights the challenges young pitchers can face when returning to an organization after a long absence, but also the importance of veteran leadership and support in helping them bounce back. The Marlins and Paddack remain confident he will have better outings going forward as he settles into the rotation.