Anthony Bender #37

Full name is Anthony Wayne Bender...Selected by Kansas City in the 20th round of the 2016 Draft from Santa Rosa Junior College...After working his first job with his uncle as a teenager, Bender saved up enough money to buy himself a truck on Craigslist. When he arrived at the DMV to register the 1987 Ford Ranger he just purchased for a little over $1000, he found out that the vehicle was flagged as a stolen truck. After contacting the original owner, he signed the truck over to him but it then broke down three weeks later. Bender then sold the scraps to a new buyer.

2023

Missed the entire 2023 season in recovery from “Tommy John” surgery.

2022

Anthony Wayne Bender made 22 appearances in an injury-shortened season, posting a 3.26 ERA (19.1 IP/7 ER). 17 of his 22 outings were scoreless...Missed 64 games with back stiffness from May 25 - Aug. 2. Made six relief outings in return before suffering a right elbow strain that landed him back on the injured list for the remainder of the season. Underwent Tommy John surgery on Aug. 30 and is expected to miss all of 2023...In his six appearances from Aug. 2-13, pitched 5.1 scoreless innings in which he allowed 0 hits and three walks with four strikeouts...Converted six of eight save opportunities, all coming in April.

2021

Went 3-2 with a 2.79 ERA, 71 strikeouts and three saves in his first Major League season in 2021. Recorded his first career save vs. LAD on July 5. Became the first rookie in Marlins history to record his first career save against the defending World Series champion...Started his MLB career with 21.1 innings in 21 games without allowing an earned run, the fourth-longest streak to start a career in MLB history...Became the only Marlins reliever in club history to strike out all six batters faced in 2.0 innings pitched July 2 at Atlanta...Threw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in his MLB debut May 5 vs. Arizona...48 of 60 outings this season were scoreless.

2020

Anthony Wayne Bender spent the 2020 season with the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association...Went 2-1 with a 5.48 ERA in 22 games. Pitched 21.1 innings and struck out 25.

2019

Began the 2019 season with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association. Did not allow a run in 3.2 innings of work...Signed by the Milwaukee Brewers on May 29. Pitched at Single-A, Advance-A and Double-A. Finished the season 2-3 with a 1.49 ERA in 36.1 innings across all three levels.

2018

As a member of the Kansas City Royals organization in 2018, pitched in 30 games (nine starts) for Advanced-A Wilmington. Went 6-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 93.1 innings.

2017

Pitched in 24 games (nine starts) between Single-A Lexington and Advanced-A Wilmington in 2017. Finished the season 5-6 with a 3.96 ERA in 77.1 innings.

2016

Selected by Kansas City in the 20th round of the 2016 Draft from Santa Rosa Junior College...Pitched in nine games for the Arizona League Royals. Finished the season 2-0 with a 3.03 ERA in 32.2 innings.