Playing in MLB is extremely difficult.
Staying in the league is even harder, especially for a highly volatile position such as a relief pitcher.
We are already used to seeing talented bullpen pieces flame out because of injury or other reasons.
Those who manage to stay in the closer role for years are a truly special breed indeed.
This is the case of Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase.
Despite missing 80 games in 2020-21 for violating MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, Clase not only took over the closer gig in Cleveland but became the man with the most saves in the current decade.
The best of the best out of the pen 😤 pic.twitter.com/4CGxKJKgGa
— MLB (@MLB) January 25, 2025
With 157 saves since 2021, Clase has gotten more than Josh Hader (150), Kenley Jansen (146), Raisel Iglesias (126) and Ryan Pressly (106).
Some teams don’t employ their best pitcher at the closer role, preferring to save them for the ‘fireman’ and put out fires when needed.
Clase, however, has been the best and most consistent pitcher in Cleveland’s bullpen for years.
Some even say he is the best reliever in baseball, and stats prove it.
Not many relievers (or pitchers in general, for that matter) can deliver a 1.67 ERA over a 312.2-inning sample.
Not many bullpen pieces can finish a season with a 0.61 ERA.
And you can be sure that not many relief pitchers can become the all-time saves leaders for a specific franchise at 26 years old.
Clase’s dominance, therefore, goes well beyond saves.
It’s the yearly consistency that separates him from the rest.
Additionally, people criticizing him for his subpar 2024 postseason forget that he was flawless in 2022.
Clase is, plain and sample, in a tier of his own.
NEXT: Guardians Receive Surprising Offseason Ranking
