Just a few months ago, Raisel Iglesias was struggling so badly that he actually lost the closer’s role with the Atlanta Braves. Fast forward to today and he’s not only reclaimed it — he’s been named the National League Reliever of the Month for August. It’s the third straight year he’s won the award in August. Talk about owning the late summer spotlight.
Iglesias Rediscovers His Edge For the Braves
At nearly 36 years old, Iglesias is pitching like he’s in his prime. In August, he was virtually unhittable, boasting a 0.69 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, 10 saves, no walks, and 13 strikeouts in 13 innings across 12 appearances. That’s dominance in every sense of the word. Nearly half of his 23 saves this season came in the span of a single month.
Since June 9th, he’s been on a tear, posting a 1.65 ERA in 34 outings. The biggest difference? He solved the long-ball problem. Early in the year, Iglesias was serving up home runs like appetizers — six of his eight total allowed came off his slider, which just wasn’t biting. Since May 23rd, he’s only given up one homer, and that was way back in July.
The fix? A shift in pitch mix. Iglesias dialed back the slider and leaned into the four-seamer and sinker, and the results speak volumes. Opponents are slugging just .194 off the heater and .222 off the sinker. Suddenly, he looks like the shutdown force Braves fans expected all along.
From Doubt to Leverage
Not long ago, the conversation around Iglesias was whether he’d even land a big-league deal this winter. A 6.75 ERA and a lost closer job had him staring down the possibility of a minor-league contract or worse, retirement talk. Now? He’s positioned himself as one of the most intriguing bullpen arms on the upcoming free-agent market.
The Braves have a decision to make. Iglesias has been earning $16 million a year, and while he’s earned every penny lately, it’s unlikely Atlanta wants to commit that kind of money long-term to a 36-year-old reliever. Spotrac pegs his market value at $8.7 million, but after this resurgence — and another shiny award for the mantle — he’ll have plenty of leverage to push for more.
From being nearly written off to once again closing games with authority, Iglesias has flipped his season — and his future — on its head. The Braves wanted stability in the ninth inning, and they’ve got it. Now, the only question is whether they’ll pay to keep it going in 2026.
