What makes Ronny Henriquez so important as missing piece of Marlins bullpen

Ronny Henriquez was sidelined for all of 2026 after undergoing right UCL reconstruction with an internal brace procedure, and the Miami Marlins sorely missed him. Their bullpen ranked 18th in Major League Baseball with a 4.10 ERA. With Anthony Bender missing the second half of the season due to injury and Tyler Phillips converting to a starting pitcher, the bridge to closer Pete Fairbanks was highly inconsistent.

Assuming no setbacks, Henriquez is fortunately on track for a full 2027 season. Last month, he was seen continuing his throwing program at loanDepot park multiple times. The most recent update regarding the 26-year-old was that he will continue his rehab in the Dominican Republic.

The Marlins acquired Henriquez via waivers, claiming him after the Minnesota Twins designated him for assignment. Prior to joining the Marlins organization, Henriquez had thrown only 31 innings with the Twins. In spring training, the righty pitched in seven innings, posting a 5.14 ERA and 7.88 FIP, yet the Marlins put him on their Opening Day roster (even if they wanted to send him down to the minors, Henriquez is out of options).

In his first season with Miami, Henriquez posted a 2.22 ERA, 3.15 FIP, 12.08 K/9, 3.33 BB/9 and seven saves in 69 appearances (73.0 IP). His 98 strikeouts tied Edwin Díaz for second-most among National League relievers last year. He didn't spend any time on the injured list. Henriquez also recorded strikeouts in 60 separate appearances, which set an all-time Marlins single-season record.

Henriquez possesses swing-and-miss stuff, which the Marlins lacked this season. He had a 16.7% swinging strike rate in 2025 and ranked in the 97th percentile of MLB pitchers whiff rate. His strikeout rate was even higher against left-handed batters than right-handed batters, an important consideration for a team that is thin when it comes to lefty relievers.

Henriquez's sweeper was his best pitch (+7 Run Value), generating a 47.3% whiff rate and a .181 batting average against. His slider was even more unhittable (.145 BAA). Both of those play off a fastball that averaged 96.7 mph.

This offseason, the Marlins are unlikely to sign another established veteran closer like Fairbanks. The door is open for Henriquez to be used in several different game situations, but he should be the first name that comes to mind in high leverage.

Although bullpen help is on the Marlins' shopping list, don't forget about Henriquez's comeback. Recapturing his 2025 form would go a long way toward turning a shaky part of the roster into a strength.