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Porter Hodge 2025 Player Outlook: Solid But Unspectacular Sophomore Season In The Works
5 hours agoChicago Cubs reliever Porter Hodge burst onto the scene in May of 2024, eventually taking over as the Cubs' closer in late August. The 23-year-old posted a 1.88 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 20.1% K-BB% over 43 innings pitched, but the numbers were even a bit better during his time as the "official" closer, recording a 1.32 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 21.2% K-BB% while converting eight of nine save opportunities. The 6-foot-4 hurler is the 18th closer coming off the board in 2025 drafts, behind David Bednar of the Pirates who struggled mightily last season (5.77 ERA, 11.5% K-BB%, 7 BS), and with the Cubs as favorites to win the division, Hodge should have plenty of chances to outperform Bednar, or at least his own current NFBC ADP of 193. However, with an 11.6% BB% last season for the Cubs and a 5.6% HR/FB% due to regress, his 80.1% LOB% from 2024 feels tenuous. ATC projections see the righty earning 24 saves this season, considerably less than other projection metrics (30), with a 3.61 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, which backs up RotoBaller's less optimistic view for the former 13th-round draft pick, ranking him at 204 overall.
