Bendix navigating his new life as a front-office father

This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

MIAMI -- It’s April 9 and the Marlins are hosting the Reds during a midweek series at loanDepot park.

President of baseball operations Peter Bendix, usually tuned in for every pitch, is out of pocket -- and for good reason. Bendix’s wife, Lauren, is giving birth to their first child, Brody.

“That day and the first few days afterwards, I was pretty much just locked in at the hospital with Lauren, with the baby,” Bendix said. “I told people, ‘If there's something, an emergency happens, call me twice. Other than that, just take care of it.’”

Being a parent is a full-time responsibility. Now imagine adding on the high-stakes job of overseeing a Major League ballclub.

With this new development in his life, Bendix has used it to delegate and see how his employees step up. Whether it be new responsibilities or challenges, the opportunities remind Bendix of how he climbed the ladder with the Rays.

“I am fortunate that we have such great people in this organization, great people around me, that -- especially right when the baby came -- I was able to really focus on what's most important, which is Brody and Lauren,” Bendix said. “Being there, being present, being as helpful as I can, that's only because I trusted the people around me.

“I think putting people in spots to grow and learn and develop is really important. That's how I got better. I was really lucky to be able to be entrusted with a lot of different things throughout my career, and to always have that guidance and support to make sure that I didn't make too big of a mistake.

“So to be able to do that with people now, it's really important, regardless of my own personal circumstances. And then you add in the fact that I really do want to be as good of a father and husband as I possibly can, and that means relying on others.”

Bendix, 40, isn’t very different from other fathers.

He didn’t know what to expect as a first-time dad. He gushes over Brody’s milestones, like recognizing faces and reacting with his gummy smile. He often hears from others that they see his face, but Lauren’s eyes in Brody. He changes his share of stinky diapers and balances work and home life.

Once Brody got all his shots and his doctor gave the all-clear, Peter and Lauren brought their baby to his first game, a 4-3 win over the Rays on June 6. Beginning that day, the Marlins went on to rattle off a season-high six straight victories with their new good luck charm.

Arguably Bendix’s biggest test comes over the next six weeks leading up to the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline, with the Marlins currently chasing a National League Wild Card spot. Since Bendix joined the organization, he has been one of baseball’s busiest front-office members during Hot Stove season.

This time around comes with the added wrinkle of juggling being a dad. Though the Bendix family has help with Brody, sleep will be on even shorter supply as the Deadline nears.

“We've been transitioning back into more of a normal schedule with travel, with spending time [at the ballpark],” Bendix said. “We're learning every day. He's changing every day. He's growing and doing new things every day. And Lauren is incredible. I couldn't do this without her. I couldn't work in this industry and also have a family without the incredible support of Lauren.”

Though Bendix’s routine is getting back to normal -- or as normal as one can be in a front office -- there is a noticeable difference: a beard. It’s not due to superstition because of the club’s recent run. When Brody was born, Bendix didn’t shave for a while. It got to the point he wanted to see how far he could let it grow out.

“I have a number of friends around the league that have done this job or are currently doing this job and have kids, and so I've asked them even before the baby came, ‘How in the heck do you make it work?’” Bendix said. “The general answer is, ‘You just kind of figure it out.’ It's heartening to see that there's plenty of other people who do make it work and are good fathers and husbands and seem to be successful in their roles, as well, and that's what I aspire to.”