Anthony Bender
Anthony Wayne Bender (born February 3, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He grew up in Petaluma, California, and played college baseball at Santa Rosa Junior College. The Kansas City Royals drafted him in the 20th round of the 2016 MLB Draft (613th overall), and he began his career in the Royals’ minor leagues.
After being released by the Royals in 2019, Bender played for the Sioux City Explorers in independent baseball, then joined the Milwaukee Brewers organization, playing for their minor league teams (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Carolina Mudcats, Biloxi Shuckers) and later the Milwaukee Milkmen in 2020. He signed with the Miami Marlins on a minor league deal in November 2020.
Bender was added to Miami’s 40-man roster and made his MLB debut on May 5, 2021, delivering a scoreless inning in relief. He finished his rookie season in 2021 with a 3-2 record and a 2.79 ERA over 60 appearances, recording 71 strikeouts.
In 2022, Bender appeared in 22 games for the Marlins, posting a 1-3 record and a 3.26 ERA with six saves. He later went on the injured list with a right elbow injury and underwent Tommy John surgery on August 30, 2022, causing him to miss the 2023 season.
Bender returned in 2024, making 59 appearances for Miami with a 5-2 record and a 4.08 ERA, along with 59 strikeouts in 53 innings and one save. In 2025, he appeared in 51 games, going 3-5 with a 2.16 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 50 innings, but had a season-ending stress fracture in his right tibia on August 19, 2025.
This page was last edited on 1 February 2026, at 21:11 (CET).