The Atlanta Braves right-hander, Raisel Iglesias, has just been named the National League’s Reliever of the Month for August, and trust me, folks, this is no ordinary accomplishment. When you hear about what he’s been doing on the mound, you’ll see why he’s turning heads.
Iglesias had a month to remember. Picture this: 13 1/3 innings pitched, 14 strikeouts, and not a single earned run. Zero. Zilch. He also snagged six saves during that stretch, helping the Braves lock down crucial games. But here’s the kicker—he didn’t just dominate; he was practically untouchable. From August 1st to the 27th, he didn’t allow a single baserunner. That’s 38 straight batters without a hit, a walk, or a mistake. The man was as close to perfect as you can get, stringing together the equivalent of 12 2/3 perfect innings!
Josh Hader: 13.1 IP, 17 K, 0.68 ERA, 8 saves
Raisel Iglesias: 13.1 IP, 14 K, 0.00 ERA, 6 savesYour AL and NL Relievers of the Month for August! pic.twitter.com/1MZcLiWo3r
— MLB (@MLB) September 3, 2024
But wait, it gets better. This isn’t just a hot streak—it’s been the story of his season. Over 56 innings pitched in 53 appearances, Iglesias has maintained a dazzling 1.29 ERA and a WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) of just 0.607. That’s a number any pitcher would dream of. And since June 2, he’s somehow been even better, boasting a microscopic 0.52 ERA and allowing just 12 baserunners in 34 2/3 innings. Hitters are barely touching him, managing a sad .071/.121/.128 slash line. That’s beyond dominance, folks.
Now, if you’re wondering what’s fueling this incredible run, it all comes down to Iglesias’ approach. He’s attacking hitters head-on, throwing 68% of his pitches for strikes, and forcing a ton of weak contact. And when batters do manage to connect, only 20% of those hits are line drives. He’s got a 27% strikeout rate to boot, showing he’s not just relying on finesse but also overpowering hitters when needed.
With numbers like these, Iglesias is making a strong case for something even bigger: the National League’s Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year Award. His command, consistency, and sheer dominance have made him a force to be reckoned with, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
