Marlins’ Zuber’s Journey Culminates in First MLB Save

Tyler Zuber's career has been a roller coaster of ups and downs, including a stint in independent baseball. Still, it all came together Saturday night when Zuber entered the game with bases loaded in the ninth inning and, with a 95-mph fastball at the top of the zone, earned his first major league save for the Miami Marlins.

Zuber was forced to come in to try and finish off the game after Pete Fairbanks, who started the ninth inning but struggled, loaded the bases, and allowed two runs before being pulled. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but Zuber seized the moment and stepped in to play the role of hero for a change.

He became the hero in getting the Marlins the 4-3 victory by striking out Junior Caminero, who had been on a tear over the past week with a .400/.545/.680 slash line and a 1.225 OPS. Despite Caminero being one of the hottest hitters in baseball, Zuber came in with the plan to be aggressive, attack the zone, and got him to swing at a ball out of the zone for a called third strike to escape the jam.

“That’s exactly how I drew it up in my mind,” Zuber said. 

After the game, when asked about the moment, Zuber said, "It's the epitome of kind of what I want to be a part of as a team.

"My whole pro career, I've closed a lot, but this is like one of those things that I wanted the most,” Zuber said. “I'm still shaking right now. I'm shaking now more than I was in my debut, so that tells me that this means a lot."

It’s understandable that Zuber became emotional afterward, considering his long journey through six different MLB organizations and one independent league stop. But it all came together with Zuber finally getting the opportunity he had been chasing.

The 30-year-old from White Hall, Arkansas, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in Round 6, 180th overall, of the 2017 MLB Draft.

Zuber worked through the Kansas City Royals' minor league system before earning his major league debut in 2020. That season, he appeared in 23 games for the Royals, posting a 4.09 ERA over 22 innings.

The next stretch of Zuber's journey was characterized by injuries and roster moves. After being claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Zuber never earned a call-up to the major leagues and was released on July 3, 2023.

Zuber would bounce between multiple organizations after leaving Arizona, having short stops with the Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, and New York Mets. Before signing with Tampa, Zuber had a short stint in independent baseball with the Long Island Ducks, and when some may have quit, Zuber showed his determination and pushed through.

During that span, he moved between the majors and Triple-A while trying to establish himself as an everyday arm.

Zuber finally found his way to South Florida with the Miami Marlins organization in 2025. After an up-and-down season, Zuber chose to try free agency but returned to the Marlins on a minor league deal.

On June 1, he earned another opportunity, getting the call-up when the Marlins selected his contract and added him back to the major league roster.

Saturday night’s save was more than just the first of Zuber’s career; for the Marlins, it was a win they needed to help maintain the momentum they have been building early in June. And for Zuber, it’s a testament to his persistence through all the ups and downs he has faced in getting to this point in professional baseball.

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