The Philadelphia Phillies’ season may not have ended the way they had hoped, but the organization was well represented in the 2025 award races and annual recognitions. Closer Jhoan Duran was the latest to receive accolades when the 2025 All-MLB Teams were announced on Thursday.
Kyle Schwarber and Cristopher Sánchez were the runner-ups in the National League MVP and Cy Young races, respectively, and manager Rob Thomson finished third in Manager of the Year voting. Trea Turner and Sánchez even received MVP votes for this past season.
When the 2025 All-MLB Teams were revealed, the Phillies had four players recognized. Schwarber, Sánchez and Zack Wheeler were named to the second team, while Duran was the lone representative named to the first team.
Phillies’ Jhoan Duran trade deadline move looks even better after All-MLB Team honor
It wasn’t a secret that the Phillies’ bullpen was a major weakness throughout the 2025 season. The bullpen had the seventh-highest batting average against (.249) and tied with the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers for the 10th-worst ERA (4.27) in the majors during the regular season.
The Phillies needed a significant change to the bullpen if they wanted any chance of making a deep playoff run. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and the front office addressed the need in a major way by acquiring Duran from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline.
The Phillies’ bullpen saw significant improvement in the final months of the season with more defined roles for the relievers. Duran slotted in as the team’s closer, which ended the previous approach of a platoon-type closer situation.
Duran was an instant fan favorite after the trade. The right-hander won over Phillies fans with his ability to reach triple digits and pure dominance on the mound.
Duran’s first appearance with the Phillies was a four-pitch save against the Detroit Tigers. The 27-year-old was a perfect 6-for-6 in save situations with five strikeouts and just two hits allowed in his first seven appearances with the team before blowing his first save against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 22.
Jhoan Duran locks down the save on just FOUR pitches in his @Phillies debut! 🔔 pic.twitter.com/aZzzaDH70z
— MLB (@MLB) August 2, 2025
Although he wasn’t perfect, Duran provided the Phillies and their fans with something they hadn’t had in quite some time – a legitimate closer. He had 16 saves in 19 opportunities with the Phillies and owned a 2.18 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings pitched. Impressively, Duran walked only one batter in 23 appearances with the Phillies during the regular season.
Duran finished the 2025 season with a 2.06 ERA, 80 strikeouts and 32 saves in 37 opportunities between the Twins and the Phillies. His electric entrance from the bullpen to close out games took the major leagues by storm, and he cemented himself as one of the game’s top closers.
The price of Mick Abel, who had become expendable, and 19-year-old top catching prospect Eduardo Tait was well worth it to acquire Duran, who won’t be a free agent until 2028.