RADIO
Raisel Iglesias 2025 Player Outlook: Remains Elite Closer Despite Underwhelming Strikeout Production
2 days agoAtlanta Braves relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias should be viewed as an elite closer heading into the 2025 season. Last summer, in his tenth major league season, the right-hander tallied 34 saves (which tied a previous career-high) with a stellar 1.95 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP across 69 1/3 innings of relief. Under the hood, the 34-year-old generated a 2.24 xERA and .195 xBA, which placed him in the 99th and 93rd percentile among qualified pitchers, respectively. In addition, Iglesias generated a stellar 4.0% barrel rate and a 30.9% hard-hit rate, both among the top marks in the sport. He also showed excellent command with a 5.0% walk rate. However, the 34-year-old struck out batters at a 26.3% rate, which is relatively low compared to other elite closers. However, after the All-Star Break, Iglesias averaged over a strikeout per inning, suggesting he could continue to see this number climb heading into the 2025 season. Pitching on a competitive Atlanta team should continue to present him with a hefty amount of save opportunities all summer. Given his stellar underlying metrics, Iglesias should be confidently selected at his current 60.63 ADP on the NFBC as an RP1.
