Anthony Bender Bio
Anthony Wayne Bender (born February 3, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed reliever, Bender first reached the major leagues in 2021 and has built his career primarily out of the bullpen. He is best known for a long scoreless streak early in his rookie season and for a successful return from Tommy John surgery.
Bender played college baseball at Santa Rosa Junior College before entering professional baseball through the 2016 MLB draft. After several seasons moving between the minor leagues, independent ball, and a Tommy John rehabilitation, he has settled into a late-inning relief role with the Marlins.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Wayne Bender was born on February 3, 1995, and grew up in the United States. Details of his hometown and family background are not widely documented, and he has kept his early personal life largely private. His path to professional baseball began in northern California, where he attended Santa Rosa Junior College.
At Santa Rosa Junior College, Bender developed as a pitcher and drew the attention of Major League Baseball scouts. The program gave him the experience he needed to transition into the professional ranks, and he was selected in the 2016 MLB draft after his time with the school.
Path to Baseball
Bender entered professional baseball when he was chosen by the Kansas City Royals with the 613th pick in the 20th round of the 2016 MLB draft. He made his professional debut that summer with the rookie-level Arizona League Royals, getting his first taste of life in a Major League organization.
Over the next two seasons, Bender worked his way through the Royals’ minor league system. In 2017, he split the year between the Single-A Lexington Legends and the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, finishing with a 5–6 record and a 3.96 ERA. He returned to Wilmington for the entire 2018 season, posting a 3.57 ERA and a 6–3 record across 30 appearances, showing enough progress to remain on the Royals’ prospect map.
Anthony Bender Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Bender spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons adjusting to professional baseball within the Kansas City Royals system. His 2018 campaign in Wilmington was a clear step forward, and he appeared poised to climb further in 2019. However, on March 21, 2019, the Royals released him, ending his time in their organization.
Looking for an opportunity, Bender signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball on April 12, 2019. After pitching 3 and 2/3 scoreless innings for Sioux City, he was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers to a minor league contract on May 29, 2019. He pitched for the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the High-A Carolina Mudcats, and the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers, posting a 1.49 ERA across 29 appearances.
Milwaukee Brewers and Independent Ball (2019–2020)
After the 2020 minor league season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bender joined the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association. He recorded a 5.48 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 2020, but the season ended on a high note when he won the American Association championship with the club. On November 2, 2020, he elected free agency.
Miami Marlins (2021–Present)
On November 30, 2020, Bender signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins organization. On May 4, 2021, he was added to the 40-man roster and promoted to the majors for the first time. He debuted the next day, pitching a scoreless inning of relief and recording his first MLB strikeout against Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Tim Locastro. He did not allow an earned run until his 22nd major league appearance and finished his rookie year with a 3–2 record, a 2.79 ERA, and 71 strikeouts across 60 appearances.
In 2022, Bender pitched in 22 games for the Marlins, going 1–3 with a 3.26 ERA, 17 strikeouts, and six saves in 19 and 1/3 innings. On August 14, 2022, he was placed on the injured list with a right elbow strain, and on August 30, 2022, he underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season. He missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from the procedure.
Bender returned to the Marlins bullpen in 2024, making 59 appearances with a 5–2 record, a 4.08 ERA, 59 strikeouts, and one save over 53 innings. In 2025, he made 51 appearances for Miami, posting a 3–5 record, a 2.16 ERA, and 42 strikeouts across 50 innings. On August 19, 2025, the Marlins announced that Bender had suffered a season-ending stress reaction in his right tibia.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bender’s first MLB appearance on May 5, 2021, marked the start of a memorable rookie run that included a 21-appearance scoreless streak to open his major league career. His first career save came during the 2022 season with the Marlins, and his 2024 return from Tommy John surgery was a key comeback moment for both player and team.
Anthony Bender Career Wins
Anthony Wayne Bender has notched a steady stream of wins across the minor leagues, independent baseball, and Major League Baseball. His most notable team success came in 2020, when he won the American Association championship with the Milwaukee Milkmen.
Major League Highlights
In the major leagues, Bender has recorded regular-season wins with the Miami Marlins in 2021 (3 wins), 2024 (5 wins), and 2025 (3 wins). He has built a reputation as a reliable middle-to-late reliever rather than a traditional starting pitcher, with his victories typically coming in tight, late-inning situations out of the bullpen.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the major leagues, Bender won the 2020 American Association championship with the Milwaukee Milkmen. He also posted strong numbers in the Milwaukee Brewers’ minor league system in 2019, finishing with a 1.49 ERA in 29 appearances across three affiliates.
Anthony Bender Family
Personal Life
Anthony Wayne Bender has kept much of his personal life private, and detailed public information about his family, marital status, or children is not available. His social media presence focuses primarily on his baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
Bender opened the 2025 season in his familiar late-inning relief role with the Miami Marlins and quickly established himself as one of the most effective bullpen arms on the staff. He appeared in 51 games, going 3–5 with a 2.16 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 50 innings, numbers that placed him among the team’s more dependable relievers before his injury.
His season was cut short on August 19, 2025, when the Marlins announced he had suffered a season-ending stress reaction in his right tibia. The injury came at a difficult stretch for Miami, removing a high-leverage arm from a bullpen that had leaned heavily on him through the summer months.
Looking beyond 2025, Bender is expected to focus on rehabilitation and a full recovery from the tibia injury. Once healthy, he is likely to return to his established role as a multi-inning reliever for the Miami Marlins, with the goal of building on the improved ERA he posted before the injury.