Steve Cishek arrived in Miami as a fifth-round pick in 2007, a gangly right-hander whose sidearm delivery and sinking velocity made him an immediate intrigue for the organization's bullpen. After a brief run in 2010, in which he threw over four scoreless innings, he returned in 2011 to become a permanent fixture in the late innings.
While he showcased an ability to induce ground balls and missing bats, his 2012 transition to closer sealed his status as a top late-inning reliever. Taking over for struggling Heath Bell, Cishek led the National League with 62 games finished, recording 15 saves. His funky delivery proved a reliable asset against top hitters in high-pressure situations.
During 2013-2014, he showed consistency, converting 34 of 36 saves in '13 with a 2.33 ERA, and set an MLB record for saves on a team losing 100 games. In 2014, he hit a career-high 39 saves and achieved 33 consecutive saves, marking historic milestones.
After a tough start that lowered his efficiency, the organization traded him mid-season to the St. Louis Cardinals for prospect Kyle Barraclough. Cishek finished 191 Games for the Marlins with 94 Saves.
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