Memories of Emmanuel Clase’s forgettable 2024 postseason, in which he posted a 9.00 ERA in eight innings, might haunt some Cleveland Guardians fans to this day.
However, and far from staying at home crying and getting stuck in the past, the star closer is training hard with a goal in mind: help Cleveland reach the last series of the season.
He looks slimmer, his arm looks lively, and his cutter seems to be in mid-season form already.
A three-second video was enough for us to take those things away from Clase’s current form.
“Cleveland #Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase starting to ramp things up getting ready for spring training back home in the Dominican Republic,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
Cleveland #Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase starting to ramp things up getting ready for spring training back home in the Dominican Republic. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/2IastOh11r
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) January 30, 2025
It’s just a quick glance, sure, but he does look fantastic.
Many Guardians players are already in the team’s Spring Training complex in Goodyear, Arizona, getting ready for the season.
The fact that Clase is still not there doesn’t mean he hasn’t been preparing for a pivotal 2025, though.
On the contrary, you can see he is already throwing with high intensity and effort.
Let’s not forget that, October aside, 2024 was an outstanding year for the Dominican closer.
He became the Guardians’ all-time leader in saves, he also took possession of the franchise’s single-season record, and he posted a 0.61 ERA.
In 74.1 innings, Clase only conceded five earned runs.
Five!
That’s what most closers surrender in any given blown save situation.
Clase was so good that he was a Cy Young finalist in the American League.
He, a reliever, got more votes than all but two starting pitchers in the junior circuit.
He wants to prove to the world that he can be sharp and succeed in any situation.
NEXT: Must-See Video Shows How Close Guardians Star Was To Joining 40-40 Club
