Bender (elbow) increased his flat-ground throwing Tuesday to 120 feet, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Bender needed Tommy John surgery in late August of last year and probably won't be ready to return to a major-league mound until the beginning of the 2024 season, but all of the reports from the early stages of his recovery have been encouraging.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Throwing again
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The Marlins announced Monday that Bender (elbow) has resumed playing catch, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Playing catch marks Bender's first reported throwing activity since he underwent Tommy John surgery Aug. 30, 2022. Though he'll likely face a shorter recovery and buildup program from his surgery than a starting pitcher, Bender still isn't expected to be ready to pitch out of the Miami bullpen at any point in 2023.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Placed on 60-day IL
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The Marlins placed Bender (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Bender underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery in late September and will miss the entire 2023 season. Garrett Hampson has been added to Miami's 40-man roster in a corresponding move.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Will begin rehab soon
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Bender (elbow) will begin his rehab process with Single-A Jupiter in a week, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery Tuesday, Bender is scheduled to begin the rehab process next week in the minors. Of course, Tommy John surgery typically takes a long time to return from, so it might take Bender an entire season before he's able to pitch in the big leagues again.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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Bender (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Tuesday, Paige Leckie of MLB.com reports.
It was reported earlier this month that Bender would require Tommy John surgery, and he was able to sneak in the procedure before August came to a close. Given the timing of the injury, Bender may not be ready to pitch again until sometime in 2024.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Requires Tommy John surgery
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Bender (elbow), who was placed on the injured list Sunday, will require Tommy John surgery, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The 27-year-old's initial diagnosis was a right elbow strain after he exited a game last weekend against Atlanta, and he's apparently dealing with damage to the UCL. Bender will miss the rest of the season and should also be expected to be sidelined for the full 2023 campaign. He recorded six saves and three holds with a 3.26 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB across 19.1 innings this year.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Lands on injured list
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Bender was placed on the injured list Sunday with a right elbow strain, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
The extent of the injury that forced Bender from the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Atlanta is uncertain, but he will be out at least a couple weeks.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Exits Saturday's game
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Bender (undisclosed) was removed from the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Atlanta after throwing five pitches, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Bender came in to pitch with the Marlins down four runs in the ninth, though his outing was cut short. It's unclear what caused his exit, but Bender returned from a back injury on Aug. 2.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Returns from injured list
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Bender (back) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Bender had been out since mid-May, but he's ready to after four scoreless, hitless rehab appearances. Prior to his absence, he'd recorded a mediocre 4.50 ERA in 14 innings of work but had recorded six saves. It's unlikely he'll unseat current closer Tanner Scott right away.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Moves to 60-day IL
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Bender (back) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Sunday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Bender has already been on the injured list for nearly 60 days, so the transaction won't affect his return timeline. The 27-year-old began a rehab assignment in mid-July, and he could rejoin the Marlins after making a couple more outings in the minors.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Begins rehab assignment
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Bender (back) began a rehab assignment with the Marlins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Bender has been sidelined since late May due to a back injury, but it's encouraging that he's now been cleared to return to game action. His rehab assignment will shift to Single-A Jupiter on Sunday, and he'll likely be in the mix to rejoin the Marlins shortly after the All-Star break.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Tosses another bullpen
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Bender (back) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Sunday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Bender threw 15 pitches off a mound Thursday and slightly increased his pitch count during Sunday's throwing session. He apparently felt good afterward, as he's expected to throw in a simulated game soon. The right-hander doesn't yet have a timetable to rejoin the Marlins but has made good progress recently.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Playing catch again
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Bender (back) is scheduled to play catch Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
It's the first known throwing activity for Bender since the Marlins placed him on the 15-day injured list May 25. He may not be ready to return to the active roster when first eligible next Monday, but the fact that Bender isn't being shut down bodes well for his chances of avoiding an extended absence. Once he's activated, Bender could re-emerge as a factor in the Marlins' still-unsettled closer picture.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Lands on injured list
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Bender (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, retroactive to May 23, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Bender hasn't pitched since May 18, and he's apparently been dealing with a back injury that has kept him out of action. He'll be sidelined until at least early June, while Cole Sulser, Dylan Floro and Anthony Bass should continue to see the majority of high-leverage work in Bender's absence.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Collects win Tuesday
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Bender (1-3) picked up the win in Tuesday's 5-1 victory over the Nationals, giving up two hits and striking out one in a scoreless inning of relief.
While the win is nice, it's a little concerning for his long-term fantasy outlook than Bender entered a scoreless tie in the fifth inning. The right-hander has yet to record a save in May after reeling off four in five days at the end of April, and while Dylan Floro has struggled since coming off the injured list, Bender's usage Tuesday suggests he might be moving into a lower-leverage role and out of the ninth inning. On the season, he carries a 3.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB through 14 innings while converting six of eight save chances.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Blows save in loss
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Bender (0-3) was charged with a blown save and the loss Wednesday against Arizona after giving up two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and zero walks during the ninth inning.
The right-hander entered for the top of the ninth with a 7-6 lead and struck out the first batter he faced, but Daulton Varsho reached on a single and Pavin Smith followed with a two-run home run. Bender came into the contest having converted four straight saves while not allowing a run in his past four appearances, but he got bit by the Diamondbacks. The 27-year-old is 6-for-8 in save opportunities and has a 5.79 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 8:2 K:BB across 9.1 innings this season, and his run as Miami's primary closer could be near an end with Dylan Floro (shoulder) on a rehab assignment and close to returning from the injured list.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Collects third save
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Bender worked a perfect ninth inning Tuesday without a walk or strikeout to record his third save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Nationals.
The right-hander hadn't pitched since last Wednesday due to hip soreness, but Bender seemed healthy in this one as he needed only seven pitches (six strikes) to nail down the save. The 27-year-old still appears to be manager Don Mattingly's top option as closer for now, but with Dylan Floro (shoulder) closing in on his season debut, that could soon change.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Battling hip soreness
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Bender didn't enter for Saturday's save opportunity due to hip soreness, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The injury apparently cropped up during his last outing Wednesday against St. Louis, when he took the loss after giving up two runs on a hit with a strikeout and a walk over one inning. Bender is apparently feeling better, but the Marlins will remain cautious with his return. Tanner Scott picked up the save Saturday, as Miami's closing situation remains wide open with Dylan Floro (shoulder) still on the injured list. Bender has struggled early in the campaign and has an 8.31 ERA over 4.1 frames while converting two of three save chances.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Stuck with loss Wednesday
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Bender (0-1) took the loss Wednesday as the Marlins fell 2-0 to the Cardinals, giving up two runs on one hit and one walk while striking out two in the ninth inning.
The right-hander entered a 0-0 game in the top of the ninth and promptly struck out Paul Goldschmidt, but after walking Tyler O'Neill, Bender served up the game-winning homer to Nolan Arenado on a fastball that didn't get far enough inside to jam the third baseman. Bender has had a rough start to the season, posting an 8.31 ERA and 1.62 WHIP over 4.1 innings, and while he's converted two of his three saves chances, his hold on the closer job for Miami seems very tenuous.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Picks up first save
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Bender gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his first save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Giants.
After blowing his first save chance of the year Friday, Bender was right back on the mound with a lead on the line the next day, and this time he came through. It's reassuring that manager Don Mattingly didn't lose faith in the right-hander after one outing, and if Bender can keep getting the job done through the first couple weeks of the season, he could wind up keeping the closer role even after Dylan Floro (shoulder) comes off the injured list.
