Not so long ago, there was no doubt that the Cleveland Guardians had the best closer in all of baseball.
That’s why it’s way too early to be worried about Emmanuel Clase.
Granted, it hasn’t been a good start to the season for the Dominican hurler, but we shouldn’t sound the alarms just yet.
At least, that’s how Bruce Drennan feels.
In the latest edition of his show, he claimed that even though some think Clase might be burnt out from last season, it’s too early to draw that conclusion.
Are you concerned about Emmanuel Clase? #GuardsBall
"Is he burnt out? I guess we'll find out shortly, but I'm not concerned….yet" pic.twitter.com/97HkdMW7VO
— Bruce Drennan Show (@Bruce_Drennan) April 7, 2025
Clase has made four appearances so far this season.
He has yet to record a save, and he has a 6.75 ERA and 1.75 WHIP with just two strikeouts.
He’s allowed three earned runs in four innings played.
There were some major concerns about the huge workload he’s had to endure over the past couple of years.
That much action can be taxing to any closer, so perhaps he just needs some more time to get back to full strength.
The Guardians signed Paul Sewald in the offseason, and while he’s been used mostly as a set-up man, he does have some experience as a closer.
Of course, it’s not like he’s going to take Clase’s spot altogether, but perhaps Stephen Vogt will want to give him a chance to handle those duties until Clase figures things out and gets his legs back under him.
This isn’t an ideal start to the season, but he’s certainly earned his stripes and the benefit of the doubt.
NEXT: Analyst Warns Fans Not To Panic About Guardians
