Are you interested in knowing who the best MLB closers are right now?
If we have piqued your interest, then stick with us. Today we bring you some of the best MLB closers from the league.
The closers or the closing pitchers are generally the team’s best relievers. They are designated to pitch the last few outs when their team is leading by a margin of three or fewer runs.
Traditionally, MLB measures the closer’s effectiveness based on the saves. But in modern times, closer roles have become one-inning specialists. They are among the highest-paid players on par with the starting pitchers.
So today, we are looking at the players’ rankings and their statistics to help us decide on the best MLB closers. Without wasting more time, let us get straight into our list.
12 Best MLB Closers in the World
We have taken ESPN.com as a reference for compiling our list. But before the details, let us take a quick look at the rankings first.
Players Name | Team | Saves 2022 |
12. Tanner Rainey | Washington Nationals | 3 |
11. Camilo Doval | San Francisco Giants | 3 |
10. Corey Knebel | Philadelphia Phillies | 3 |
9. Giovanny Gallegos | St. Louis Cardinals | 4 |
8. Aroldis Chapman | New York Yankees | 4 |
7. Kenley Jansen | Atlanta Braves | 4 |
6. Liam Hendriks | Chicago White Sox | 4 |
5. David Robertson | Chicago Cubs | 4 |
4. Jorge Lopez | Baltimore Orioles | 4 |
3. Taylor Rogers | San Diego Padres | 5 |
2. Daniel Bard | Colorado Rockies | 5 |
1. Josh Hader | Milwaukee Brewers | 8 |
12. Tanner Rainey
We have the Washington Nationals, Tanner Rainey, on number 12 of the best MLB closers. The Cincinnati Reds chose him in the second round of the 2015 MLB draft.
Rainey attended Southeastern Louisiana University and the University of West Alabama, where he played college baseball. Tanner played as a pitcher and first baseman.
After the Reds drafted him, he made his MLB debut in 2018 against the Philadelphia Phillies. In December of the same year, the Reds traded Rainey to the Nationals. The following year, he won the World Series champion 2019.
Rainey has recorded MLB statistics with a Win-loss record of 4-7, earned run average of 5.77, and 159 strikeouts through April 23, 2022.
11. Camilo Doval
Camilo Doval made his MLB debut on April 18, 2021. He is a Dominican professional player currently playing with the San Francisco Giants.
In 2015, the Giants signed him as an international free agent. At the time, Doval was 18 years old, and he was signed for a signing bonus of $100,000.
He played in the Dominican Summer League’s rookie-level team (2015), the Giants, called the DSL Giants. Similarly, he also played for other various minor league teams before making his MLB debut.
After Doval’s debut, he became the youngest pitcher in the franchise. Similarly, his fastball has also been recorded as 104.5 miles per hour (168.2 km/h).
As of April 25, 2022, he recorded a Win-loss record of 5-1, earned a run average of 3.06, and had 46 strikeouts. Everyone has high hopes for this young player.
10. Corey Knebel
On number 10, we have the Philadelphia Phillies, Corey Knebel. The Detroit Tigers drafted him as the 39th pick in the 2013 MLB draft.
During his high school year, Knebel was named the district MVP in baseball. Similarly, in his college year, Collegiate Baseball Magazine named him the NCBWA Stopper of the Year and the NBCWA Freshman of the year.
After the 2013 draft, Knebel made his MLB debut with the Tigers against the Texas Rangers in 2014. In July of the same year, the Tigers traded him to the Rangers. In 2015, the Rangers traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers.
From the 2015 to 2018 and 2020 seasons, Knebel played for the Brewers. Again in 2020, he was traded. The Brewers traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The baseball player signed a one-year contract with the Phillies on December 21, 2020.
Knebel holds the MLB record for 45 consecutive games with a strikeout by a relief pitcher. In 2017, he was named an All-Star. He recorded a Win-loss record of 10-11, a 3.16 earned run average, 372 strikeouts, and 63 saves through 22, 2022.
9. Giovanny Gallegos
The next best MLB closer is Mexican professional baseball player Giovanny Gallegos. The New York Yankees signed him as an international free agent in 2012.
Gallegos debuted with the Gulf Coast League Yankees of the minor league the same year he was signed. He played with many minor league teams before making his debut in 2017.
Similarly, in 2017, he was also part of the baseball team that played in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. In 2018, the Yankees traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Gallegos played a crucial part in the Cardinal’s bullpen in 2021. He has posted a Win-loss of 11-10, earned run average of 3.00, and 248 strikeouts through April 22, 2022.
8. Aroldis Chapman
On our number 8 of the best MLB closers globally, we have the Cuban-born American baseball player, Aroldis Chapman of the New York Yankees. In 2010, the Cincinnati Reds signed him to a six-year contract.
Chapman defected from Cuba in 2009. After being signed by the Reds, he made his MLB debut the same year. From 2010 to 2015, he was with the team before being traded to the Yankees.
In 2016, the Yankees traded Chapman to the Chicago Cubs. But the same year, he signed a five-year contract worth $86 million to return with the Yankees.
Over the years, he has earned nicknames like the “Cuban Missile” or the “Cuban Flame Thrower.” He holds the MLB record for the fastest pitch of 105.1 miles per hour (169.1 km/hr) in MLB history.
The record is also recorded in the Guinness World Record. As of April 22, 2022, Chapman has recorded a Win-loss record of 40-31, earned run average of 2.33, 1,011 strikeouts, and 310 saves.
MLB has seen many great relief pitchers over the years. So, who are the best relief pitchers of all time in MLB History? Read more!
7. Kenley Jansen
Kenley Jansen is a Curaçaoan professional baseball player for Atlanta Braves and the seventh-best MLB closer on the list. The Los Angeles Dodger signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
Before his minor league debut, Jansen played as a catcher. Later he started playing as a relief pitcher. He made his MLB debut in 2010 with the Dodgers.
Jansen spent 11 years with the franchise before entering a free agency. On March 18, 2022, he signed one year contract worth $16 million with the Braves.
His achievement to date include All-Star three times, World Series champion, All-MLB Second Team, two times NL Reliever of the Year, NL saves leader. Jansen became the 30th pitcher to join the 300 saves record in 2019.
He has recorded a Win-loss of 37-26, earned run average of 2.39, 1,030 strikeouts, and 354 saves through April 22, 2022.
6. Liam Hendriks
Nicknamed “Slydah,” the Australian professional baseball player Liam Hendriks is number 6 among the best MLB closers. In 2011, he made his debut with the Minnesota Twins.
The West Coast Eagles of the Australian Football League (AFL) drafted him. However, Hendriks decided to sign with the Twins instead of pursuing his career in football.
Since his debut in MLB, he played with other MLB franchises like the Toronto Blur Jays, Kansas City Royals, and Oakland Athletics. In 2021, Chicago White Sox signed him on a three-year contract worth $54 million.
Hendriks’s career highlight wins include two times All-Star, two times All-MLB First Team, ll-MLB Second Team, AL saves leader, and two times AL Reliever of the Year.
Through April 24, 2022, his MLB statistics read the Win-loss record of 27-32, earned run average of 3.93, 651 strikeouts, and 82 saves.
5. David Robertson
The Chicago Cubs’ David Robertson made his debut in MLB in 2008. The New York Yankees drafted him in the 17th round of the 2006 MLB draft.
Robertson debuted with the Yankees and played for the team until 2014. In 2015, David became a free agent and later signed a four-year contract worth $46 million with the Chicago White Sox.
However, in 2017, the Sox traded back him to the Yankees. Over the years, Robertson has played for other MLB franchises like the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays before signing with the Cubs in 2021.
Similarly, Robertson was part of the United States national baseball team that played in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. The team earned the gold medal in the tournament.
Robertson was named 2009 World Series champion and 2011 All-Star. As of April 21, 2022, his record states a Win-loss record of 53-33, 2.90 earned run average, 902 strikeouts, and 141 saves.
4. Jorge Lopez
We have Jorge Lopez, a Puerto Rican professional baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles. Jorge debuted in MLB in 2015 with Milwaukee Brewers.
During the second round of the 2011 MLB draft, the Brewers drafted Lopez out of the Caguas Military Academy in Puerto Rico. He played with numerous minor league teams before his debut.
Similarly, he also played for the Brewers in the 2017-2018 season before the team traded him to the Kansas City Royals. From 2018 to 2020, Lopez was with the City Royals.
On August 9, 2020, the Orioles claimed him off waivers. Other than MLB, Lopez also played for the Puerto Rican national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Through April 23, 2022, his MLB statistics read a Win-loss record of 13-32, earned run average of 5.94, and 310 strikeouts.
3. Taylor Rogers
We are down to the three best MLB closers in the world. On our number 3, we have a professional baseball player for the San Diego Padres, Taylor Rogers. He made his MLB debut in 2016.
The Baltimore Orioles drafted Rogers in the 37th round of the 2009 MLB draft out of his high school. However, he opted to attend Kentucky University instead of signing with the franchise.
After his junior year in the college, the Minnesota Twins drafted him in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB draft. This time, he signed with the team.
From 2016 to 2021, Rogers played with the Twins. Similarly, in 2021, he was named an All-Star. After the 2021 season, the Twins traded him to the Padres on April 22, 2022.
Rogers’s MLB statistics through April 18, 2022, read he has a Win-loss record of 17-18, earned run average of 3.10, 366 strikeouts, and 55 saves.
2. Daniel Bard
Playing for the Colorado Rockies, we have Daniel Bard on our second-best MLB closers. Bard made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2009.
During his college junior year, Bard was named the top freshman pitcher in the U.S. by Baseball America. Similarly, he was also given the Freshman All-America honors.
The Red Sox drafted him in the first round at 28th overall of the 2006 MLB draft, and Bard was selected as a compensation pick from the New York Yankees. From 2009 to 2013, he played with the Red Sox.
Over the years, he has been part of various franchises like the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Mets. In 2020, Bard was signed by the Rockies.
The same year, he was named NL Comeback Player of the Year. On March 22, 2022, the Rockies signed him on a $4.4 million contract. He has a Win-loss record of 22-29, earned run average of 3.94, 366 strikeouts, and 36 saves through April 19, 2022.
1. Josh Hader
The number 1 MLB closer in the world goes to Josh Hader of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Baltimore Orioles drafted him in the 19th round of the 2012 MLB draft.
After the draft, Hader signed with the Orioles for a $40,000 signing bonus instead of going to college. However, in 2013, the player was traded to the Houston Astros on the day of the MLB trade deadline.
Again before he could make his MLB debut, the Astros traded Hader to Brewers in 2015. He made his MLB debut in 2017.
He holds the MLB records for the most consecutive outs via strikeout, most consecutive hitless appearances, and fastest player to reach 400 strikeouts.
Similarly, his wins include three times All-Star, two times All-MLB First team, three times NL Reliever of the Year, NL saves leader, etc. Hader has a Win-loss record of 16-13, earned run average of 2.21, 492 strikeouts, and 103 saves through April 23, 2022.
Conclusion
These players are undoubtedly the best MLB closers in the world. Their statistics back up this claim, and they deserve all the praises.
We are halfway into the 2022 season, and we are excited to see which closer will finish this season on the top. Looking at the rankings, we cannot help but expect great play from these players.
Thank you for sticking with us!