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Braves Raisel Iglesias Quietly Joins Exclusive MLB Club with Career Milestone

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Lockett | Last updated Apr 13, 2025 12:59 PM ET

Raisel Iglesias may not grab headlines like some of MLB’s flashier closers, but his consistency and dominance have quietly placed him among the league’s elite. The 35-year-old right-hander reached a major milestone this weekend, officially logging 10 years of Major League service time—a rare accomplishment for any player, but especially impressive for a reliever.

Even more noteworthy: Iglesias now ranks fourth among all active pitchers in career saves. He trails only Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel, and Edwin Díaz—names synonymous with late-inning dominance. Yet Iglesias, with his calm mound presence and devastating changeup-slider combo, continues to put up numbers that deserve far more national attention.

Since arriving in Atlanta midway through 2022, Iglesias has been one of baseball’s most effective closers. He’s posted a 2.06 ERA and 70 saves with the Braves while converting the vast majority of his save chances and maintaining elite underlying numbers. His strikeout-to-walk ratio remains among the best in baseball, and his ability to limit hard contact has made him a steady anchor at the back end of the bullpen.

Across a decade-long career that began with the Reds, Iglesias has now topped 226 saves and shows no signs of slowing down. In an era where bullpen roles are constantly shifting and injuries derail careers at an alarming rate, Iglesias has been a model of both health and excellence.

He may not be the loudest name in the sport, but Raisel Iglesias’ milestone serves as a reminder: some of the game’s best closers do their work quietly—and brilliantly.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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