Former Padres Reliever in Camp With Marlins as Starter

The 27-year-old right-hander has been a prolific starter at the minor league level, but never in the majors.

Former San Diego Padres relief pitcher Kyle Tyler was among the list of minor league invitees to the Miami Marlins' major league spring training camp announced Sunday.

can already see that jupiter sunrise. 🌅 pic.twitter.com/gtFpZu5jcC

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) February 5, 2024

A 20th-round draft pick by the Angels in 2018, Tyler came up through the Halos' organization as a starting pitcher, but made his only five appearances with Anaheim as a reliever, all in 2021. He allowed four runs across 12.1 innings that year, a 2.92 ERA.

Designated for assignment by the Angels in spring training the following March, Tyler would change organizations four times in less than a month: 

• Claimed by the Boston Red Sox March 22, designated for assignment two days later.
• Claimed by the Padres March 26, designated for assignment April 7. 
• Claimed by the Angels April 8, designated for assignment two days later. 
• Claimed by the Padres April 12 

Over the next two months, Tyler would make two appearances out of the Padres' bullpen. He did not allow a run across four innings. 

However, that wasn't enough to keep him on San Diego's major league roster — or even in the organization, as he was out of minor league options.

The San Francisco Giants claimed Tyler July 13, and he made four appearances for their Triple-A affiliate before the end of the season. 

Speaking of the whirlwind of changing teams, Tyler told The Athletic in April 2022, “I’m ready for this to stop."

Tyler spent all of 2023 with the Seattle Mariners' Double-A affiliate as a starting pitcher. He went 7-11 with a 5.60 ERA for the Arkansas Travelers, averaging more than a strikeout per inning.

After signing a minor league contract with the Marlins in November, Tyler will get another chance to show what he can do as a starter with a new organization — his sixth in three years. 

Tyler's agent, Nello Gamberdino, confirmed to Inside the Padres that the 27-year-old right-hander figures to be in the starting rotation with the Marlins' Triple-A affiliate with the understanding he could be promoted to the big league bullpen.