Miami Marlins History: All-Time Top 10 K/9

5) Steve Cishek (9.69)

Steve Cishek was a 6’6″, 215 lb. right-handed submarine-style pitcher from Falmouth, MA. The Florida Marlins drafted him in the fifth round of the 2007 draft out of Carson-Newman College. In three seasons with the NCAA organization, he was 5-7 with a 3.31 ERA, 81 whiffs in 100 2/3 innings, and a 1.18 WHIP to his credit.

Cishek made quick work of the Marlins’ minor league feeder system, with stops for the Jamestown Jammers, the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the Jupiter Hammerheads, and the Jacksonville Suns. He didn’t stop in triple-A on his way to Florida, making his debut with the Marlins in 2010. He allowed one hit and struck out three in 4 1/3 innings in his limited appearance.

In 2011, Cishek did play with the New Orleans Zephyrs for 15 games, but spent the majority of the campaign coming out of the Florida Marlins bullpen. He appeared in 45 games at baseball’s top level, and earned his first three saves to go with a 2-1 record. Cishek had a 2.63 ERA and a 2.46 FIP. He also had a 1.17 WHIP and held opposing batters to a .221/.296/.294 slashline, striking out 55 in 54 2/3 innings.

In 2012, Heath Bell opened the season as heir apparent to the closer role. A tough start to the season for Bell would see Cishek moved into the role. In 68 games for the now-Miami Marlins, Cishek was 5-2 with a 2.69 ERA and a 3.22 FIP. He struck out 68 in 63 2/3 innings, saving 15 games and racking up a 1.30 WHIP. Opponents slashed .230/.327/.336 against Cishek, and he would enter 2013 as the Miami Marlins bonafide closer.

Cishek would save 34 games for the 2013 Fish, whiffing 74 in 69 2/3 innings. He dropped his ERA to 2.33, with a corresponding drop in FIP to 2.52. Cishek also could boast a 1.07 WHIP, his best with the Marlins, and a opposing batter slash of .211/.277/.291.

In 2014, Cishek saved a career-best 39 games for Miami, and struck out a career-high 84 batters in 65 1/3 innings. He posted a 3.17 ERA and a 2.17 FIP, suggesting that he was pitching better than his record would already indicate. He was 4-5 with a 1.20 WHIP, and batters continued to have a tough time with him, slashing .237/.296/.347.

Cishek struck out another 28 batters in 32 innings for the Miami Marlins in 2015. Near the trading deadline, the Marlins sent him to the St. Louis Cardinals for a prospect. There was a lot of bellyaching over that one, an unknown guy named Kyle Barraclough. More on him later.