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Last year, Hector Rondon had some struggles as closer of the Chicago Cubs. He led the team with 30 saves, but was shaky right from the start, eventually getting downgraded to setup man. Ultimately, six other pitchers recorded saves for the Cubs, as Joe Maddon implemented a closer by committee policy. Rondon did eventually get the job back, however, keeping the job through the postseason. Rondon is an unorthodox closer, only recording 8.9 K/9, ranking 22nd in the league amongst closers, while his 1.00 WHIP ranked 11th. He’s not going to breeze through his saves, he’s going to make you sweat. This combined with Joe Maddon’s quick hook on closers makes Rondon a tricky player. Perhaps the best thing he has going for him is that he’s still the best reliever in the bullpen, automatically giving him the benefit of the doubt. Even if he’s demoted at any point in the season, he’ll remain valuable, as his eight holds last year can attest to. Rondon figures to be in line for a better campaign this year due to his team’s improvement. This may spell an increase in saves, perhaps approaching 40, but you can still expect him to be a second relief option, definitely a late-round pick.
Will Hector Rondon Lose The Closer Role Again?
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