RADIO
Raisel Iglesias 2025 Fantasy Baseball Outlook: Remains Elite Closer Despite Underwhelming Strikeout Production
Atlanta 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.
Read More News
