Monkey Bytes | March 9

With rosters being trimmed, it’s time to ramp up our coverage of bullpens for the 2025 season. This post will focus on game results from Saturday, March 8.

There will be some changes this year regarding the daily emails. Those interested in daily free updates with links should subscribe to our page at Substack. Subscribers to the former site will not transfer over; readers must register using the new link.

Premium subscribers will be sent a Google Group message, join when provided, and the ad-free content will be shared. Now for Saturday’s recaps.

American League

Baltimore Orioles

  • Summoned for the top of the fourth, Cionel Pérez secured his first spring hold with a scoreless outing, yielding a hit and striking out two. 
  • Yennier Cano issued a walk during a scoreless fifth for his first hold. 
  • Gregory Soto gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless sixth, notching his first hold. 
  • Seranthony Domínguez struggled again. He allowed five hits, five earned runs, and recorded two strikeouts, resulting in a loss and a blown save. He’s given up a home run in his three spring games, four total, and has a 4.00 WHIP, less than optimal.

Projected Hierarchy: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Keegan Akin

Boston Red Sox

  • The good news is that Aroldis Chapman did not issue any walks during his outing in the bottom of the fourth. However, he allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out two on 19 pitches (14 strikes—73.7 Strike%) with five whiffs (26.3 SwStr%). He has recorded six strikeouts against four walks with a 1.91 WHIP through four appearances. This closer competition is nowhere near decided.

Projected Hierarchy: *Liam Hendriks | *Aroldis Chapman | *Justin Slaten

*= closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers

  • Beau Brieske fired a clean seventh on 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) with two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). This represents his first scoreless outing this spring in three tries, but he does have a 4:1 K:BB in them.

Projected Hierarchy: *Beau Brieske | *Will Vest | *Tyler Holton

*= closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals

  • Lucas Erceg retired the side on seven pitches (71.4 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s been scoreless in his last two outings and has a 1.75 WHIP with five strikeouts versus three walks across four innings.

Projected Hierarchy: *Carlos Estévez | *Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey

Minnesota Twins

  • Not only did Jhoan Durán fire a clean top of the fourth and record a strikeout, he hit 100.8 miles per hour as his maximum velocity with his four-seam fastball. He threw seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
  • Cole Sands notched his first hold with a clean fifth, striking out the side on 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) with six whiffs (35.3 SwStr%).
  • Louis Varland also secured a hold, retiring the side in the seventh on 10 pitches (60 Strike%) with one whiff.

Projected Hierarchy: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands

Texas Rangers

  • After allowing a lead-off double, Chris Martin recorded a strikeout and induced two groundouts, resulting in an earned run while he notched his second spring hold. He threw 14 pitches (85.7 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (35.7 SwStr%). He has a 0.50 WHIP with two strikeouts in two outings.

Projected Hierarchy: *Chris Martin | *Robert Garcia | Luke Jackson

The Athletics

  • Making his third spring appearance, Mason Miller retired the side on 10 pitches (50 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s posted a 0.67 WHIP with three strikeouts while securing two holds. 

Projected Hierarchy: Mason Miller | José Leclerc | Michel Otañez

Toronto Blue Jays

  • Jeff Hoffman garnered his first win with a scoreless fifth. He allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout on 18 pitches (13 strikes – 72.2 Strike%) with three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He owns a 0.33 WHIP with five strikeouts over three innings.

Projected Hierarchy: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green

National League

Arizona Diamondbacks

  • A.J. Puk worked a scoreless bottom of the fifth, yielding a hit and striking out two on 17 pitches (13 strikes – 76.5 Strike%) with three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%). He has a 1.00 WHIP with five strikeouts over four scoreless innings.
  • Justin Martinez struggled with his command, issuing two walks, hitting a batter, and allowing a hit, resulting in three earned runs and a loss. He threw 25 pitches (40 Strike%) with two whiffs. This moves his WHIP to 1.80 through 3.1 innings with five strikeouts against three walks.

Projected Hierarchy: *Justin Martinez | *A.J. Puk | *Kevin Ginkel

*= closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves

  • Appearing at the top of the seventh, Raisel Iglesias allowed an infield single and recorded a strikeout. By my count, he threw 15 pitches (80 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He has a 1.00 WHIP with three strikeouts and one walk in three innings.

Projected Hierarchy: Raisel Iglesias | Pierce Johnson | Dylan Lee

Colorado Rockies

  • In order of appearance, Tyler Kinley fired a clean fifth and recorded two strikeouts on nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) with three whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
  • Victor Vodnik gave up two hits, including a two-run home run by JJ Bleday during the top of the sixth. He threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff.
  • Seth Halvorsen navigated around a lead-off single for a scoreless eighth, throwing 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) with two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). 

Projected Hierarchy: *Seth Halvorsen | *Victor Vodnik | *Tyler Kinley

*= closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates

  • Per Jason Mackey on “X,” David Bednar worked a scoreless fourth, giving up a hit and striking out one. He threw 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%) for his second hold. He has a 1.25 WHIP with five strikeouts in four innings.

Projected Hierarchy: David Bednar | Dennis Santana | Colin Holderman

San Diego Padres

  • As the first reliever out of the bullpen, Jason Adam retired the side against the Guardians at the top of the fourth. He threw 10 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He remains scoreless through four games this spring with three strikeouts and no baserunners allowed.
  • Robert Suarez allowed a lead-off single, with the runner erased by a caught stealing, during a scoreless fifth, throwing 11 pitches (54.5 Strike%) with one whiff. He has a 2.40 WHIP this spring with four strikeouts against three walks.

Projected Hierarchy: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada

San Francisco Giants

  • Securing his second hold, Ryan Walker retired the side on 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) with one whiff. He has a 0.785 WHIP with four strikeouts in four innings.

Projected Hierarchy: Ryan Walker | Tyler Rogers | Camilo Doval

Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

BaseballSavant.com