Anthony Wayne Bender Bio
Anthony Wayne Bender is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on February 3, 1995, Bender was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round of the 2016 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut in 2021. He has built a career as a reliable bullpen arm, appearing in 162 major league games through mid-2026 with a career record of 13 wins and 13 losses. Bender spent parts of five seasons in minor league baseball before establishing himself as a major league contributor.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Wayne Bender was born on February 3, 1995. He attended Santa Rosa Junior College, where he played college baseball before entering professional baseball. His path to professional baseball took him through the junior college ranks, a route that eventually led him to the MLB Draft.
Path to Professional Baseball
Bender was drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the 613th overall pick in the 20th round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Santa Rosa Junior College. He signed with the Royals shortly after being selected and began his professional baseball career in their farm system. The Royals saw potential in the right-handed pitcher and gave him the opportunity to develop in their minor league organization.
Anthony Wayne Bender Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Bender made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Royals after being drafted. He spent the 2017 season splitting time between the Single-A Lexington Legends and the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, where he posted a combined record of 5 wins and 6 losses with a 3.96 earned run average. The following season in 2018, Bender remained with Wilmington and improved his performance, recording a 6 wins and 3 losses mark with a 3.57 ERA across 30 appearances. He was released by the Royals on March 21, 2019, ending his tenure with the organization.
Milwaukee Brewers and Minor League Journey (2019–2020)
After being released by Kansas City, Bender signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association on April 12, 2019. He pitched effectively for Sioux City, allowing no earned runs over 3 and two-thirds innings. The Milwaukee Brewers signed him to a minor league contract on May 29, 2019. Bender progressed through the Brewers system, playing for the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the High-A Carolina Mudcats, and the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers. He compiled an impressive 1.49 ERA over 29 total appearances in the Brewers organization. When the 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bender joined the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association. He posted a 5.48 ERA with 25 strikeouts and helped the Milkmen win the American Association championship that season. Bender elected free agency on November 2, 2020.
Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Bender signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins on November 30, 2020. On May 4, 2021, he was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut on May 5 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, pitching a scoreless inning of relief and recording his first major league strikeout by punching out Tim Locastro. Bender established himself as a dependable reliever immediately, not allowing an earned run until his 22nd appearance of the season. He finished his rookie year with a 3 wins and 2 losses record, a 2.79 ERA, and 71 strikeouts across 60 relief appearances. In 2022, Bender appeared in 22 games for Miami, recording 1 loss, a 3.26 ERA, and converting 6 saves while working primarily as the setup man. On August 14, 2022, he was placed on the injured list due to a right elbow strain. Bender underwent Tommy John surgery on August 30, 2022, which ended his season prematurely.
Recovery and Return (2023–2024)
Bender missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from the Tommy John surgery performed in August 2022. The extended rehab process required patience and dedication from the pitcher as he worked to return to major league action. Bender returned to the mound in 2024, making 59 relief appearances for the Marlins. He posted a 5 wins and 2 losses record with a 4.08 ERA, 59 strikeouts, and 1 save over 53 innings pitched. His return demonstrated his ability to contribute as a durable bullpen option for Miami.
2025 Season and Injury
Bender made 51 appearances for Miami during the 2025 season, compiling a 3 wins and 5 losses record with a 2.16 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 50 innings of work. He served as a reliable middle-inning option out of the Marlins bullpen. On August 19, 2025, it was announced that Bender had suffered a season-ending stress reaction in his right tibia, cutting his campaign short. The injury marked another setback in his career following his Tommy John surgery recovery. Despite the injury, Bender showed resilience and continued to be a valuable member of the Marlins organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bender has shown consistency as a multi-inning reliever capable of working across different situations in the bullpen. His ability to pitch effectively in high-leverage moments early in his career demonstrated his capability to handle pressure. He has served as both a setup man and a closer, showing versatility in his role from year to year.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bender’s MLB debut on May 5, 2021, against the Arizona Diamondbacks stands as a significant milestone, with his first strikeout of Tim Locastro marking the beginning of his major league career. His 2021 rookie season performance, where he maintained an ERA under 3.00 until his 22nd appearance, established him as a promising young arm in the Marlins bullpen. The Tommy John surgery in August 2022 represented a major obstacle, but his successful return in 2024 proved his resilience.
Anthony Wayne Bender Career Wins
Through mid-2026, Bender has accumulated a career record of 13 wins and 13 losses with a 2.99 ERA and 228 strikeouts across 162 major league appearances. His career has been highlighted by consistent bullpen work and the ability to record saves in crucial moments.
Miami Marlins Highlights
At the major league level with Miami, Bender has been a steady presence in the Marlins bullpen across three seasons. He earned his first career save during the 2022 season, finishing with 6 saves that year. His rookie campaign in 2021 saw him post a 2.79 ERA with 71 strikeouts, establishing himself as a reliable option. Bender’s best season by win percentage came in 2024 when he returned from injury to post a 5-2 record.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching the majors, Bender won the American Association championship in 2020 with the Milwaukee Milkmen. In the minor leagues with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2018, he went 6-3 with a 3.57 ERA across 30 appearances. His time in the Brewers system in 2019 saw him compile a 1.49 ERA over 29 appearances before the minor league season was canceled.
Anthony Wayne Bender Family
Family Background
Limited verified information is available regarding Anthony Bender’s family background. No publicly confirmed details about his parents, siblings, or family lineage have been established through verified sources.
Personal Life
Anthony Bender maintains a public Instagram presence at anthony_bender28. No additional verified personal life information is publicly available. He has demonstrated resilience in overcoming significant injuries, including Tommy John surgery and the subsequent stress reaction in his tibia, showing dedication to his baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented Bender’s third full season back from Tommy John surgery. He appeared in 51 games for Miami, serving as a reliable option in the middle innings of the Marlins bullpen. Bender posted a 3-5 record with a 2.16 ERA over 50 innings, demonstrating his continued ability to pitch effectively at the major league level. His season momentum was halted when a stress reaction in his right tibia was announced on August 19, ending his year prematurely. Before the injury, Bender had been a consistent presence in Miami’s relief corps, logging meaningful innings across multiple appearances. His career trajectory shows promise despite the injury setbacks, as he has continued to perform as a viable MLB reliever following his recovery from elbow surgery.