Struggles of MLB Closers in Early 2025 Season
The 2025 MLB season has started with unexpected challenges for several high-profile closers, leading to heightened scrutiny regarding their performances.
Emmanuel Clase: Cleveland Guardians
Emmanuel Clase, who had an exceptional season in 2024 with a staggering 0.61 ERA, encountered difficulties early in this season. By the end of April, Clase had recorded a 6.75 ERA, with 10 earned runs over just 13⅓ innings pitched.
In his initial outings, Clase succumbed to a blown save against the Kansas City Royals, along with other underwhelming performances. Despite a resurgence later, where he secured four saves, the early struggles raised questions about his mental state post-postseason disappointments.
Classical analysis suggests that his pitch location has been subpar. Although his cutter velocity averages 99 mph, he has allowed 25 hits, resulting from both unfortunate luck and less-than-ideal pitch placement. Manager Stephen Vogt noted the necessity for Clase to regain confidence, indicating that he is capable of a recovery, similar to his bounce-back in 2023.
Devin Williams: New York Yankees
Devin Williams faced his battles as well. After a challenging postseason with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he blew a crucial game against the New York Mets, he continued to struggle post-trade to the Yankees. Williams has an alarming 9.24 ERA in 2025, marked by 15 runs over 12⅔ innings.
Despite three promising appearances after losing his closer role, Williams encountered setbacks again against the San Diego Padres. His drop in whiff rates, down from nearly 48% to around 35%, points to his current command issues. Yankees manager Aaron Boone emphasized that while Williams has the necessary skills, his struggles with command pose a significant challenge.
Ryan Pressly: Chicago Cubs
Ryan Pressly, formerly a stalwart for the Houston Astros, has also yielded to adversity, especially highlighted by a disastrous outing where he allowed nine runs without recording an out. Currently, his strikeout rate is alarmingly low at 8.1%, indicating diminishing effectiveness since joining the Cubs.
Pressly’s velocity has declined from previous seasons, and despite recent success before his latest outing, his position as the closer may be in jeopardy if he does not improve his performance substantially.
Raisel Iglesias: Atlanta Braves
Finally, Raisel Iglesias, known for his past success, is experiencing a surge in home runs allowed this season. He has already surrendered five home runs in just 14 innings, a stark contrast to his previous high standards.
Although his overall statistics remain decent, the increase in fly balls and home runs suggests that his slider has not been as effective. In contrast to last season’s performance where he had a 42% whiff rate, this year his command on this pitch requires immediate attention to enhance his effectiveness in tight situations.
Conclusion
As the 2025 season progresses, each of these closers faces distinct hurdles. While the potential for recovery seems feasible, the underlying issues of pitch command and mental fortitude remain prevalent. The upcoming games will be critical for these elite pitchers as they aim to regain their form and contribute positively to their teams.