Anthony Maldonado (baseball)

Anthony Omar Maldonado (born February 6, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Career
Maldonado played college baseball at Bethune–Cookman University. He was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 11th round, with the 321st overall selection, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut with the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Marlins, posting a 1.59 ERA across 10 games. Maldonado did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He returned to action in 2021, and split the season between the rookie–level Florida Complex League Marlins, Single–A Jupiter Hammerheads, High–A Beloit Snappers, and Double–A Pensacola Blue Wahoos. In 21 games for the four affiliates, he accumulated a 4.30 ERA with 34 strikeouts across $29 1⁄3$ innings pitched. Maldonado split the 2022 campaign between Pensacola and the Triple–A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, compiling a 3.03 ERA with 86 strikeouts across 42 appearances out of the bullpen.

In 2023, Maldonado played for Jacksonville, also making three scoreless appearances for Jupiter. In 34 relief outings for the Jumbo Shrimp, he registered a 7–3 record and 1.76 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 9 saves. On November 14, 2023, the Marlins added Maldonado to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He was optioned to the Triple–A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to begin the 2024 season.

On April 26, 2024, Maldonado was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He was named the starting pitcher for that night's game after Jesús Luzardo was scratched due to injury.

International career
Maldonado played for the Puerto Rico national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.