Since joining the Braves at the 2022 trade deadline, Raisel Iglesias has been among MLB’s top closers. However, a rough start to the 2025 season had some fans—and even MLB.com’s Mark Bowman—doubting his ability. Iglesias posted his worst stretch in a Braves uniform to open April, leading to questions about whether he’d lost his edge.
Bowman noted that Iglesias’ struggles weren’t just bad luck, citing his .439 expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA), which ranked near the bottom among qualified pitchers. That stat suggested he was the weakest link in the bullpen. Many critics echoed this sentiment, pointing to concerning metrics on his Baseball Savant page.
While advanced analytics like Baseball Savant offer deeper insights, they often confirm what’s already visible: Iglesias was clearly struggling. His primary issue was the location of his slider, which was frequently left belt-high and over the middle of the plate—an easy target for hitters. Opponents were slugging an astronomical 1.625 off the pitch this season, compared to just .216 last year, when his slider location was much sharper.
Despite the early season woes, Iglesias’ struggles shouldn’t have triggered widespread panic. Pitchers occasionally go through short slumps, and his issues were fixable. In his last four appearances since April 28, Iglesias has bounced back impressively. He hasn’t allowed a run, giving up only two hits while striking out eight batters. His recent dominance includes a save against the Dodgers and a win in extra innings, where he kept the free runner from scoring.
Ultimately, while there are valid concerns around the Braves roster, Raisel Iglesias isn’t one of them. His rebound shows that with better pitch location, especially on his slider, he remains a reliable and elite closer. Fans who rushed to judgment may want to exercise more patience moving forward.
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