The first relief pitcher the Miami Marlins used in the 2019 season waited almost a decade for the opportunity.
With Jose Urena struggling in the fifth inning of an eventual 6-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, Nick Anderson clamored up to the mound from the bullpen. The 28-year-old rookie relief pitcher, whose career began in 2012 with two bad seasons in the independent Frontier League and jail time, was tasked with stopping Opening Day for the Marlins from getting out of hand.
“I’m not going to lie, my heart rate was a little up, but honestly it was more excitement,” Anderson said after the game, “like, Hey, I’m here.