Ol' Petey Fireball was one of the better relievers in baseball once again, despite a little bit of regression. Fairbanks worked around forearm and hip issues to post gaudy strikeout numbers with a fastball that tickles triple-digits. Meanwhile, for the first time since his maiden voyage in the majors, the heater ever-so slightly took a backseat to his mid-80s slider. The change in usage led to more walks, but it was still a manageable amount given those strikeout and groundball metrics. Despite being one of the club's better arm barners over the past few seasons, Fairbanks racked up just 13 saves in his first 111 appearances with the Rays. Saves cost money in arbitration, after all. By signing Fairbanks to a three-year deal covering his arbitration years, the Rays were freed from their own tyranny and he magically converted 25 saves on the year. He should occupy a similar role for the next few seasons as his contract takes him through 2025 with a club option for 2026.

The Rays describe Fairbanks’ overall performance as "controlled violence." Up until 2022, the “controlled” part of that description was a misnomer, but the “violence” part has long been evident: Fairbanks throws really hard over and over again and looks like a maniac while doing so. As for control? He walked more than 10% of the batters he faced from 2019-2021 and seemed destined to forever be a wild thrower who got results because his stuff was just that good. But after Fairbanks suffered a torn lat in the spring that sidelined him until mid-summer, he came back a different pitcher. He still featured a violent delivery, but added about two ticks to his fastball—it now sits at 99 mph. He also maintained his hard, upper-80s slider. The biggest surprise was that Fairbanks resurfaced with legit control. He also surrendered just one home run, leaving him with tremendous fielding-independent marks. Typically, the Rays avoid using their best reliever to rack up saves, and thanks largely due to missed time, Fairbanks only notched a handful of them last season. Even so, he should see a bump in salary as he goes through the arbitration process for the first time, and if the post-injury version of Fairbanks is the one who’s here to stay, the sky’s the limit in terms of his future earnings.

Fairbanks resumed his role as a wide-eyed, fireballer in the Rays' pen. He continues to be more effective than not with an attack that is led by gaudy strikeout numbers. Using his upper-90s fastball and hard slider to change speed and eye levels, he displayed utter dominance over right-handed hitters. Meanwhile, take a glance at his splits in 2021 and you can see they were not ideal for a late-inning reliever. He did have a rough patch in the summer that culminated in a month long stay on the injured list with a cranky shoulder. He returned healthy in time for the stretch fun and was a reliable hand that kept the ball in the park. Walks continue to be an issue, but it's unlikely he develops into a control artist who paints the corners. He will continue to get looks as long as the strikeouts remain and he limits hard contact.

Remember the scene in Home Alone when Macaulay Culkin puts the aftershave on his face? Remember his expression? That’s the face Fairbanks makes anytime he’s on the mound. Fairbanks throws really hard and is generally effective at getting outs, but his wide-eyed aesthetic is bound to inspire doubts from now until the day he hangs them up. The Rays probably won’t mind too much so long as he keeps chucking his fastball in the upper-90s and breaking off nasty sliders. His command still isn’t great and probably never will be, but he should continue to get looks in high-leverage situations—even if his eyes suggest he shouldn’t.