The role of the closer has evolved in the past decade or so. Managers are less likely these days to have a dedicated arm for the ninth inning and more likely to save their best bullpen pitchers for high-leverage situations, regardless of frame. Consider this: since 2022, there have been only five 40-save seasons by pitchers, and three of them belong to Guardians righty Emmanuel Clase. There were six such individual campaigns in 2016 alone.
That doesn’t mean the closer -- and the save as a stat -- has completely gone away. Robert Suarez (Padres), Kyle Finnegan (Nationals), Andrés Muñoz (Mariners), Carlos Estévez (Royals) and Mason Miller (A’s) all entered Wednesday with 10 or more saves, and we’re still not at the quarter pole for the 2025 season.
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Which current prospects could eventually join their ranks? Here is one future closer candidate from each of the 30 farm systems:
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AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays: Colby Martin, RHP (Unranked)
A second baseman at Division III Shenandoah University, Martin switched to pitching at NAIA program Southeastern University and went to the Blue Jays in the 16th round last July on the strength of a fastball that can touch triple digits. He’s opened his first full season as Single-A Dunedin’s closer and has fanned 12 over 9⅓ scoreless innings to begin the campaign. Martin also has a hard mid-80s slider/cutter to play off the high heat, and that combination could be good enough to earn him more save opportunities higher up the chain.
Orioles: Patrick Reilly, RHP (No. 10)
Reilly was the choice for the Pirates in this story a year ago, so why wouldn’t it just transfer over? He’s always missed bats starting back from his time at Vanderbilt (11.7 K/9 in college) but command had been an issue. A step forward on the strike-throwing front last year, his first full season of pro ball, raised his profile and he was sent to the O’s for Billy Cook at last year’s Trade Deadline. He’s still being developed as a starter, though he came out of his third start of this season after an inning with elbow discomfort and has been on the injured list since. When healthy, his upper-90s heat and slider-cutter can be nasty.
Rays: Yoniel Curet, RHP (No. 15)
Curet opened the season on the Double-A 60-day IL with a shoulder injury, but he’s always been a strikeout machine with a career 31.6 percent K rate in the Minors. His control has been a constant pain point, even after some improvement in 2024, so once he returns, it might be worth Tampa Bay seeing if they can protect the shoulder and get the most of his stuff in shorter spurts. Curet’s mid-90s fastball has terrific life up in the zone, and his mid-80s cutter gets ample swing-and-miss to give him two plus pitches -- enough to be another dominant Rays reliever.
Red Sox: Brandon Clarke, LHP (No. 30)
The best junior college prospect in the 2024 Draft, Clarke signed for a below-slot $400,000 as a fourth-rounder out of the State JC of Florida (Manatee-Sarasota). He has posted stunning stats in his pro debut this year -- 0.63 ERA, .063 average-against, 24/2 K/BB ratio in 14 1/3 innings over two Class A levels -- while displaying an upper-90s fastball and a wipeout upper-80s slider. He needs a third pitch and doesn't have much history of throwing strikes, so he could land in the bullpen in the long run.
Yankees: Eric Reyzelman, RHP (No. 21)
Bouncing back from a cyst on his back that required three operations and sidelined him for most of his first two years, Reyzelman works with a mid-90s fastball that touches 99 mph and a tight low-80s slider. The 2022 fifth-rounder from Louisiana State has logged a 2.63 ERA, .170 average-against and 16 strikeouts in 13 2/3 Triple-A innings.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Guardians: Andrew Walters, RHP (No. 11)
Walters already flashed big league bullpen dominance with a 0.77 ERA in 13 appearances for the Guardians last season, including the playoffs, though shoulder stiffness and elbow inflammation have slowed him a bit in 2025. A 2023 supplemental second-rounder from Miami, he pitches mainly off a mid-90s fastball with carry, command and deception and complements it with a mid-80s slider. He fanned 13 of the 28 batters he faced at Triple-A before going on the injured list on April 21.
Royals: L.P. Langevin, RHP (No. 26)
Last year’s fourth-rounder is currently on the IL with a lat strain, but his fastball should draw plenty of intrigue when he does return. The 92-96 mph offering was a high-spin offering with a flat vertical approach angle at Louisiana-Lafayette, and with his deceptive delivery, the pitch can be an invisiball. With subpar secondaries, he can lean more easily on the heater in shorter outings and be a quick mover once healthy.
Tigers: Yosber Sanchez, RHP (No. 30)
Sanchez played two seasons in the Rangers system, got released in October 2022 and joined the Tigers in May 2023. He might turn out to be a great find. The 23-year-old right-hander sits 96-99 mph with his fastball but doesn’t get great movement, making it more like a plus pitch than a plus-plus one. But his low-80s slider generates whiffs with solid sweep and separation. Now at Double-A for the first time, he may not be far from being a bullpen option for A.J. Hinch.
Twins: Travis Adams, RHP (No. 21)
There are those who think Marco Raya might eventually be suited for this role, but the Twins aren’t giving up on him as a starter. Adams has made the transition to the 'pen this year and already has a pair of saves for Triple-A St. Paul. His stuff has ticked up with his heater touching 99 mph, and he also has a two-seamer that gets a lot of ground-ball outs while utilizing a slider and a cutter. He fills up the zone (1.1 BB/9) with all of his offerings.
White Sox: Peyton Pallette, RHP (unranked)
Signed for an over-slot $1.5 million as a second-rounder coming off Tommy John surgery at Arkansas in 2022, Pallette struggled to succeed past the third inning as a starter in his first two pro seasons. The White Sox decided to channel his competitiveness into a bullpen role last July, and the switch also enabled him to focus on his two best pitches -- a mid-90s fastball with carry and a low-80s downer curveball. He has compiled a 5.27 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 13 2/3 Double-A innings.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
Angels: Ryan Johnson, RHP (No. 7)
We’re sneaking Johnson in as a prospect right when he’s about to graduate as a 2024 draftee who made his pro debut in the big leagues and does have a save on his resume. He’s been using his 90-91 mph cutter a lot to go along with a fastball with run/sink and slider. There have been some understandable bumps given the quick ascension, but he’s striking out guys at a 23.2 percent clip with that sweeper eliciting a whiff rate north of 40 pct.
Astros: Miguel Ullola, RHP (No. 5)
The Astros excel at finding older international pitchers at bargain prices, including signing Ullola (now their best mound prospect) for $75,000 at age 18 out of the Dominican Republic in 2021. He led the Minors in average-against (.163) while ranking third in strikeouts (171 in 130 1/3 innings) and sixth in K rate (31 percent) last year, but continues to battle the strike zone while fashioning a 6.00 ERA in his first five Triple-A starts this season. He has an electric fastball that reaches 98 mph with plenty of carry and a sharp mid-80s slider that would work well in a relief role if he can't develop enough polish to remain in the rotation.
A’s: Carlos Duran, RHP (No. 29)
Duran missed the 2023 season with the Dodgers after Tommy John surgery, then threw well upon his return last year before being dealt last month to the A’s for Esteury Ruiz. He got called up for a few days but didn’t pitch, and he’s transitioning to the 'pen for the first time. It’s been good so far with a .192 BAA as a reliever for Triple-A Las Vegas. He throws his slider a lot, with good reason (45 percent miss rate on it this year) and he can crank his fastball up to 98 mph.
Mariners: Hunter Cranton, RHP (No. 22)
Cranton is currently on the IL working his way back from a concussion, but the 2024 third-rounder has closing experience, with seven saves as a senior at Kansas and three more after he signed with the Mariners. This could be a really good money-saving sign ($50K bonus) with Cranton’s upper-90s fastball that touches triple digits with good ride up in the zone and a gyro slider could work in high leverage situations, if he can throw enough strikes.
Rangers: Marc Church, RHP (No. 22)
An 18th-rounder who turned pro for an over-slot $300,000 bonus out of an Atlanta high school in 2019, Church can miss bats with a mid-90s fastball with carry, a mid-80s slider with two-plane depth and a nasty 89-93 mph splitter that dives at the plate. He posted a 3.86 ERA in five appearances for the Rangers to begin the season but is currently on the Triple-A Round Rock injured list with an oblique injury.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Braves: Hurston Waldrep, RHP (No. 3)
Outside of his freshman year at Southern Miss, Waldrep has only started, including twice in the big leagues last year with the Braves, but this is the second year in a row he’s been the choice here. He’s been more hittable overall than expected as a pro, but he can still crank his fastball up to 98 mph and that splitter is producing a 45 percent miss rate this year. He’s walked 4.9 per nine so far in his pro career, another reason why he and his up-tempo delivery might be better suited to shorter stints.
Marlins: Josh Ekness, RHP (No. 27)
Control issues plagued Ekness during three college seasons at Lamar and Houston but he has thrived since the Marlins selected him in the 12th round of the 2023 Draft and made him a full-time reliever. Armed with an upper-90s fastball and a lively mid-80s slider, he sports a spotless 0.00 ERA along with a .125 average-against and 16 strikeouts in 9 1/3 Double-A innings.
Mets: Raimon Gomez, RHP (Unranked)
You may have heard of Gomez’s 104.5 mph fastball on April 26. That remains the fastest pitch recorded by Statcast in the Majors, Triple-A or Florida State League this season. It’s no fluke either. He has 10 pitches 103+ and has averaged 100.1 mph on his four-seamer over 11⅔ innings for Single-A St. Lucie. The 23-year-old has had trouble staying on the mound in his Minor League career, but that velocity will certainly play when healthy, as will his 89-91 mph slider.
Nationals: Zach Brzykcy, RHP (No. 21)
Brzykcy began the season with a right quad injury that required an IL stint and a few A-ball rehab appearances. He made one appearance Tuesday as the 27th man on the roster in a doubleheader, but given Washington’s bullpen woes, his return might not be far off. The 25-year-old righty gets plenty of ride on his 92-95 mph fastball, and while his low-80s curveball earned better grades in the past, he’s relied on his upper-80s changeup more to this point in ‘25.
Phillies: Seth Johnson, RHP (No. 12)
The Phillies moved Johnson, who came to the Phillies from the Orioles in return for Gregory Soto at last year’s Trade Deadline, to the 'pen just a few weeks ago and it’s looked very good so far. He’s always had good fastball characteristics and all of his stuff has played up, increasing his overall miss rate from 26 percent over his first four starts to 38 percent in five relief outings. He’s yet to give up a run, using a fastball that’s averaged 96 mph and touched 99 out of the 'pen while missing even more bats with his slider and changeup.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
Brewers: Craig Yoho, RHP (No. 18)
Jacob Misiorowski remains in the starting camp for now, and while we recognize Yoho’s first taste of the Majors didn’t go plan (6 ER, 6 BB in 5⅔ IP), there’s still closer-level ceiling here. The 25-year-old right-hander has an elite 76-78 mph changeup in terms of movement and differential off his low-90s fastball, but he’ll need to command the heater better to throw Major Leaguers off the cambio’s scent. It was the first humbling of the 25-year-old’s early career, so a return to Triple-A with a specific assignment could get him back to dominance in short order.
Cardinals: Luis Gastelum, RHP (No. 30)
Gastelum is the owner of another plus-plus changeup, one he’s thrown 53 percent of the time for Double-A Springfield this season, per Synergy. It’s easy to see why, the fade and movement on the pitch is downright elite and elicits tons of whiffs. Texas League batters have jumped on his fastball and slider instead, leading to some rough numbers (7.84 ERA, .295 average-against in eight appearances), but he's still a righty with a 34.0 percent K rate in his first taste of Double-A. Expect better numbers to follow.
Cubs: Nazier Mulé, RHP (No. 26)
Mulé features one of the best arms in the Cubs' system, producing fastballs capable of reaching 98 mph and sharp mid-80s sliders. Signed for an over-slot $1 million as a 2022 fourth-rounder from a New Jersey high school, he'll still raw on the mound after being a two-way player in high school and losing a season to Tommy John surgery in 2023. Chicago is committed to developing him as a starter and encouraged by the beginning to his 2025 season (2.25 ERA, .141 average-against, 22 strikeouts in 20 innings at Single-A), but his stuff could make him a closer if needed.
Pirates: David Matoma, RHP (No. 30)
This is a super-deep projection since the Ugandan right-hander is just 19 and is experiencing full-season ball for the first time. He has just 43 career innings under his belt since signing for $20,000 in January 2023, but he doesn’t seem afraid of the spotlight and has the kind of slow heartbeat you like to see in a back-end reliever. Oh, and he also has a fastball that has touched triple digits in the past that he’s leaned on heavily so far this year. He misses bats and gets ground-ball outs with the heater and a gyro-like slider.
Reds: Luis Mey, RHP (No. 20)
We’re going to be honest here. Ever since watching Mey crank triple-digit sinking fastballs and wipeout upper-80s sliders en route to saving six games in the Arizona Fall League last year and earning a spot on the Reds’ 40-man roster, we’ve been waiting for this story so we could talk about him. Mey's up in the big leagues now and has six K’s over his first three innings while walking only one -- the thing to watch in terms of what role he can fill. Emilio Pagán has been solid as the Reds’ closer so far, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Mey gets some save opportunities in the future.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
D-backs: Yordin Chalas, RHP (No. 17)
The D-backs are giving the 21-year-old an extended look in their High-A rotation this spring, but with a plus-plus fastball, above-average slider and longer history in the bullpen, Chalas still has a likely future in the bullpen. He’s even worked on adding a splinker in the hopes of developing a third pitch that could help against lefties. The fastball-slider would work fine themselves in short spurs, especially if he’s used more against same-side bats.
Dodgers: Hyun-Seok Jang, RHP (No. 15)
Signed for $900,000 out of Korea in 2023, Jang has overpowering stuff (mid-90s fastball, mid-80s slider, upper-80s changeup) but still is learning to harness it. The Dodgers hope to turn him into a starter, but he also could end up as a high-leverage reliever. He has struck out 90 in 56 1/3 pro innings over two seasons, and he has logged a 4.12 ERA while continuing to battle the strike zone at Single-A this spring.
Giants: Trent Harris, RHP (No. 11)
A $10,000 steal as a nondrafted free agent from NCAA Division II UNC Pembroke in 2023, Harris features a dynamic mid-90s fastball to go along with a plus 79-82 mph curveball and a solid 83-85 mph slider. The son of former big leaguer Greg W. Harris, he hasn't allowed a run in seven Double-A appearances while limiting opponents to a .103 average with a 10/1 K/BB ratio in 8 2/3 innings.
Padres: Tyson Neighbors, RHP (No. 15)
Considered the best relief prospect in the 2024 Draft, the fourth-rounder hasn’t disappointed in the early going with High-A Fort Wayne, striking out 22 of his 47 batters faced so far. He throws a mid-90s fastball with impressive induced vertical break out of a high arm slot, and he’s gotten plenty of swing-and-miss with his slider and cutter in pro ball. It’s not out of the question that the aggressive Padres push him to San Diego by the end of the summer, given the results and quality of stuff.
Rockies: Zach Agnos, RHP (No. 26)
Maybe this is too much of a layup because Agnos looks like he might be the “now” closer for the Rockies. He’s yet to give up a run over his first seven outings, and while he’s only struck out one, he also hasn’t walked anyone while picking up a pair of saves. He has a short attention span and loves going right after hitters with a fastball up to 98 mph and a deeper array of secondaries than most closers with a cutter, slider and changeup in his arsenal.