Big league closers can come from all areas of the pitching world. Some are guys who have always been relievers, from college all the way up to the big leagues. Some were starters whose power stuff (and perhaps lack of command) were better suited for shorter stints coming out of a bullpen. It’s not always clear who can handle the pressure of the ninth inning until they get the ball.
Below is a list of 30 potential future closers, and there’s obvious crossover with our recent Top 10 future closers list. Some are still in Minor League rotations, while others have already made the transition to the ‘pen. It’s a list worth keeping an eye on. Our 2022 future closers list included Félix Bautista, a 2023 All-Star, and Jhoan Duran, one of the most overpowering stoppers in the game.
Blue Jays: Connor Cooke, RHP (No. 19)
The highest-ranked pure reliever in the system, Cooke hasn’t gotten off to a tremendous start at Triple-A Buffalo (5.73 ERA, 10 K, 11 BB in 11 IP), but the pieces are there for him to return to dominance. His fastball still sits 94-96 mph, but it’s his low-80s slider that steals the show. The pitch has averaged 18.2 inches of horizontal sweep, seventh-most among Triple-A pitchers with at least 50 sliders thrown in ’24. If Cooke can work more in the zone and set up that slider to get swing-and-miss, he could be a bullpen arm in Toronto in short order.
Orioles: Juan Nuñez, RHP (No. 26)
The Orioles got Nuñez at the 2022 Trade Deadline in the deal that sent Jorge López to the Twins. He started for most of his first full season with his new organization, making it to High-A Aberdeen and missing bats (10.7 K/9) but also walking a lot of hitters (5.0/9). He’s both started and relieved back with Aberdeen this year and is throwing more strikes in the early going (3.1 BB/9) while still striking out more than 10 per nine. His fastball, which touches the upper-90s, could be even better in shorter stints and he has both a power curve and gyro slider that could be downright nasty late in games.
Rays: Yoniel Curet, RHP (No. 17)
Tampa Bay famously doesn’t employ a traditional closer – six different Rays have Major League saves this season – but go with us here. Curet is still being developed as a starter and has been a good one with a 1.93 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 34 strikeouts in 28 innings for High-A Bowling Green, but control concerns remain. His upper-90s fastball and wicked slider are both potential plus-plus pitches, and he lacks much of a third pitch, another reason why he could be headed to the bullpen long-term. Added to the 40-man in the offseason, Curet would fly up the Tampa Bay chain if and when that role change comes.
Red Sox: Luis Guerrero, RHP (No. 30)
After ranking third in the Minors with 19 saves a year ago, Guerrero has compiled a 2.08 ERA, .156 opponent average and 17 strikeouts in 13 Triple-A innings. A 17th-round pick out of Chipola (Fla.) JC in 2021, he works primarily with an upper-90s fastball more notable for velocity than life and a low-80s splitter that dives at the plate.
Yankees: Jack Neely, RHP (No. 24)
An 11th-round find in 2021 from Ohio State, Neely ranked fifth among Minor League relievers (minimum: 50 innings) with a 40 percent strikeout rate in 2022 and fourth with a 39 percent K rate last year. His devastating mid-80s slider and mid-90s fastball are continuing to work in Double-A, where he has a 2.03 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings.
Guardians: Andrew Walters, RHP (No. 25)
Walters had more saves (26) than earned runs allowed (16) in three college seasons, recording a 1.41 ERA with a 170/22 K/BB ratio in 102 innings at Miami before the Guardians drafted him in the supplemental second round in 2023. He relies heavily on a deceptive fastball that works at 94-96 mph and touches 99 with riding life, and it has helped him post a 0.73 ERA, .178 opponent average and 26 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings while making his pro debut in Double-A this spring.
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