Miami Marlins pitcher Pete Fairbanks (29) pitches during the team’s first full-squad spring training workout at Roger Dean Stadium on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Jupiter, Fla.
Photo by Matias J. Ocner
mocner@miamiherald.com
Anthony Bender glances around at his corner of the Miami Marlins’ spring training clubhouse, and the potential of his position group tantalizes him.
“Our whole bullpen can throw at any time,” Bender said. “Once people start getting into the zone and start dominating, I feel like you throw any one of us out of there at any time, and we’ll be able to do the job.”
Experience and versatility is the name of the game with the Marlins’ group of relievers. Just about everyone in the group has experience closing games. Many are able to throw multiple innings if asked to do so.
While the Marlins will be without top reliever Ronny Henriquez this season after undergoing right elbow UCL reconstruction surgery, Miami returns a handful of key players from last season’s bullpen. The additions of Pete Fairbanks and John King fortify the group. Andrew Nardi’s pending return after missing all of last season adds yet another dynamic arm to the mix.
“When our names are called, we’re ready to roll no matter the situation, which is huge,” said Calvin Faucher, who led Miami with 15 saves in 20 opportunities a year ago. “So yeah, a lot of guys got opportunities last year late in games to throw, and I think that’s just going to benefit us going forward.”
Here’s a look at each of Miami’s top bullpen options to begin the season. A note that there are nine relievers on this list and only eight will make the Opening Day roster.
Pete Fairbanks
Fairbanks was the Marlins’ big offseason signing this year, inking him to a one-year, $13 million deal. The 32-year-old served as the Tampa Bay Rays’ primary closer the past three years, logging 75 saves in 88 opportunities.
He’s coming off a 2025 season in which he set a career high in appearances (61), innings pitched (60 1/3) and saves (27) while posting a 2.83 ERA, .201 batting average against and 59 strikeouts against 18 walks.
Fairbanks, who mainly relies on a four-seam fastball that averages 97.3 mph and a mid-80s slider while also mixing in a changeup and cutter, will be Miami’s main closer.
Miami Marlins pitcher Calvin Faucher (53) reacts to defeating the Atlanta Braves 2-1 an MLB game at loanDepot park on Monday, August 25, 2025, in Miami, Fla. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com Calvin Faucher
Faucher has been one of Miami’s main high-leverage relievers the past two seasons and has picked up 21 saves in 28 opportunities while also registering 18 holds. His walk rate is on the higher side (11.1% in 2024, 9.4% in 2025) but he has found ways more often that not to work out of jams.
His cutter is his primary pitch and then he has four secondary offerings at his disposal in a sweeper and sinker against righties as well as a four-seam fastball and curveball for lefties.
Miami Marlins pitcher Tyler Phillips (30) reacts to defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 after the ninth inning of an MLB game at loanDepot park on Sunday, August 23, 2025, in Miami, Fla. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com Tyler Phillips
The Marlins acquired Phillips from the Philadelphia Phillies just before the start of the season, and he adjusted to whatever role the team needed from him.
As a former starter, he showed he could provide length in relief, as he pitched at least two innings (with a season-high of four) in 17 of his 54 appearances. He also showed he can be productive in short spurts late in games and converted all four of his save opportunities.
Phillips, who went viral last season after cameras caught him slapping himself on the face as he went to the mound, ranked among the league’s best last season with a 34.6% chase rate (96th percentile) and a 55.7% groundball rate (93rd percentile). His curveball (thrown mainly to lefties) had a 38.2% whiff rate, while his sweeper (thrown mainly to righties) had a 43.2% whiff rate.
The Marlins once again had Phillips build up this spring to be able to pitch multiple innings, allowing him to be a Swiss army knife of sorts in the bullpen.
Miami Marlins pitcher Anthony Bender (37) reacts during the team’s first full-squad spring training workout at Roger Dean Stadium on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com Anthony Bender
Bender has been a mainstay in Miami’s bullpen for four of the past five seasons. He missed the 2023 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
But in his 192 career appearances, he has a 3.04 ERA with 14 saves and 49 holds, striking out 189 batters in 183 2/3 innings of work. He was having a career year in 2025 (2.16 ERA, .177 batting average against, four saves in seven opportunities) before a right shin injury forced him to miss the final month and a half of the season.
Bender will be primed to handle a setup role this season.
Miami Marlins relief pitcher Cade Gibson (58) looks on from the dugout after being subbed out in the seventh inning of his MLB game against the Minnesota Twins at loanDepot park on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com Cade Gibson
Gibson was Miami’s breakout reliever last season.
After not even being in big-league spring training a year ago, Gibson made his MLB debut on April 20 and turned into Miami’s only reliable lefty reliever. He finished the year with a 2.63 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 54 2/3 innings.
Like Phillips, Gibson can provide consistent work over multiple innings or be used in short spurts depending on need.
Miami Marlins pitcher Andrew Nardi (43) throws the ball during the team’s first full-squad spring training workout at Roger Dean Stadium on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com Andrew Nardi
Nardi, who had a breakout 2023 season that earned him a full-time role in Miami’s bullpen, missed all the 2025 season due to recurring back injuries.
He has looked back to form so far this spring, pitching 3 1/3 shutout innings in three Grapefruit League appearances.
Miami’s main decision between now and Opening Day is if they feel Nardi is fully ready for game action after the long layoff or if it might serve him best to delay his return.
But when he’s at his best, Nardi has shown that his four-seam fastball and slider combo has high-end potential at the back end of a bullpen.
John King
King was Miami’s second bullpen acquisition of the offseason, signing him for $1.5 million just after camp started. He’s a groundball specialist, with a career 62% groundball rate.
If Gibson, Nardi and King all shine, that gives Miami three lefty options out of the bullpen.
Miami Marlins pitcher Lake Bachar (84) walks on the field as he attends his team’s first full-squad spring training workout at Roger Dean Stadium on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com Lake Bachar
Bachar made 53 appearances for Miami last season tossing 71 innings and recording three saves and six holds. He struck out 75 while walking 30 and holding opponents to a .213 batting average.
All four of his pitches — a mid-90s four-seam fastball, a slider that hits the low 90s, and mid-80s sweeper and split-finger changeup — had whiff rates of at least 25%.
Miami Marlins pitcher Michael Petersen (49) pitches against the New York Mets in the seventh inning of their MLB game at loanDepot park on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com Michael Petersen
Petersen was a late-season acquisition by the Marlins in 2025. He made 11 appearances, with 12 strikeouts in 11 1/3 inning.
His fastball averages 97.5 mph and his low-90s cutter is an intriguing secondary option.
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Miami Herald
Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.