Miami Marlins All-Time Top 50 Players

43. Steve Cishek (4.9)

Steve Cishek is a 6’6″, 215 lb. right-handed pitcher from Falmouth, Massachusetts. Born on June 18th, 1986, he was the fifth round pick of the Florida Marlins in 2007. He made his Marlins debut in 2010, striking out three and allowing one walk in 4 1/3 innings across three appearances.

Cishek struck out 55 in 54 2/3 innings for the Marlins in 2011, going 2-1 with three saves and a 2.63 ERA. He held opponents to a 1.171 WHIP and an opposing slashline of .221/.296/.294, with 19 walks.

In 2012, Cishek went 5-2 for the newly rechristened Miami Marlins, with 15 saves, a 2.69 ERA, 68 K’s in 63 2/3 innings, a 152 ERA+, and a 1.304 WHIP. He started out the season as a setup man, but soon afterward inherited the closer role due to the complete ineptitude of Heath Bell. Cishek would hold on to the role for the rest of his time with the Marlins.

2013 would see submarine-style Cishek make 34 saves and go 4-6 in 69 appearances in total. He earned a 2.33 ERA, struck out 74 in 69 2/3 innings, put up a 167 ERA+, and kept batters to a 1.077 WHIP.

In 2014, Cishek saved a career-high 39 games for the Miami Marlins. He went 4-5 with a 3.17 ERA, 84 K’s in 65 1/3 innings pitched, and a 1.209 WHIP. He lost the closer role near the start of the 2015 season to A.J. Ramos after initial struggles, including a career-worst 85 ERA+. The Marlins traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals straight up for Kyle Barraclough.

Cishek has since pitched with the Cardinals (0-0, 2.31), the Seattle Mariners (5-7, 2.89), the Tampa Bay Rays (2-1, 1.09), and the Chicago Cubs (8-9, 2.55).