Marlins Reliever Pete Fairbanks Gets Rare Start to Leave for Child's Birth

Fairbanks threw 27 pitches in the first inning before leaving the game.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:18pm

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Miami Marlins reliever Pete Fairbanks, 32, was given a rare start on Sunday afternoon to allow him to leave the game and get home for the birth of his child. Fairbanks threw a 27-pitch first inning against the New York Yankees, allowing a 3-run homer, before being relieved by left-hander Andrew Nardi in the bottom of the second inning. The Marlins had planned to put Fairbanks on paternity leave, as his wife was scheduled to have labor induced on Monday morning.

Why it matters

Allowing a reliever to make a rare start so he can leave the team for a family event is an uncommon but thoughtful move by the Marlins organization. This highlights the challenges professional athletes face in balancing their careers with personal life events.

The details

Fairbanks, the Marlins' closer, was given the start on Sunday instead of the scheduled starter Chris Paddack. Fairbanks threw 27 pitches in the first inning, allowing a 3-run homer to Yankees batter Ben Rice before being relieved. The Marlins had planned this arrangement so Fairbanks could leave the team and get home in time for his wife to have their child induced on Monday morning.

  • Fairbanks last pitched on Tuesday, April 2.
  • Fairbanks' previous start was on September 21, 2020 for the Tampa Bay Rays.
  • The game on Sunday, April 5 was scheduled to start at 1:35pm but was delayed 3 hours and 35 minutes due to rain.

The players

Pete Fairbanks

A 32-year-old right-handed relief pitcher for the Miami Marlins who was given a rare start on Sunday to allow him to leave the game and get home for the birth of his child.

Ben Rice

A New York Yankees batter who hit a 3-run homer off Fairbanks in the first inning.

Andrew Nardi

A left-handed pitcher for the Miami Marlins who relieved Fairbanks in the bottom of the second inning.

Chris Paddack

The Miami Marlins pitcher who was originally scheduled to start the game on Sunday before Fairbanks was given the start instead.

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What’s next

Fairbanks is expected to be placed on paternity leave on Monday so he can be with his wife for the birth of their child.

The takeaway

This story highlights the challenges professional athletes face in balancing their careers with important personal life events. The Marlins' decision to give Fairbanks a rare start so he could leave the team for his child's birth shows empathy and flexibility from the organization.