Reliever Hector Neris
After splitting 2015 between Triple-A and the majors, Hector Neris spent all of 2016 with the big-league club and was put to the test. He pitched in 79 games and 80.1 innings, serving as Pete Mackanin’s go-to reliever when things got tight. Neris flourished in that role, striking out 11.43 batters per nine innings as he carried a 2.58 ERA.
It isn’t a stretch to say that Neris could be the closer of the future for the Phillies. The position is wide open heading into 2017, and Neris is certainly one of the favorites as we near spring training. Mackanin was hesitant to let Neris usurp Jeanmar Gomez as the closer last season, but his effective fastball-splitter combo could lead to him succeed as the closer.
The only thing that may prevent Neris from getting an extension is if the team decides Vincent Velasquez doesn’t have the efficiency to be a starter and move him to the pen. Velasquez blows away Neris in terms of stuff, so he would likely make a better closer. However, it seems that the coaching staff wants to keep Velasquez in the rotation, so Neris will have the chance to prove himself as the future closer.