Cincinnati Reds: Five players looking to bounce back in the 2020 season

4. Raisel Iglesias, Right-handed pitcher

No one on the Reds roster needs a shot at redemption more than Raisel Iglesias. The Cincinnati closer set a dubious mark in 2019, losing 12 games, the most ever by a Reds reliever. Iglesias seemed to balk at the idea of altering his role on last year’s team. Perhaps this season will offer better results.

Iglesias had been the Cincinnati Reds closer for two years prior to last season. While he earned a career-high (34) in saves last season, Iggy’s role was changed a bit. Rather than being used exclusively as Cincinnati’s closer, the right-hander found himself in several non-save situations.

Raisel Iglesias knew before the season began that his role was going to change. Reds manager David Bell was very outspoken before Opening Day last year that he planned to Raisel as the team’s go-to reliever, regardless of whether or not a save was in play.

Iglesias spoke out against his new role during the middle of the 2019 season, voicing displeasure over the way he was being utilized. The losses were piling up, and Iggy was feeling the heat. While his frustration is understandable, at the end of the day, his job is to get the opposing batter out, regardless of if it’s the fifth inning or the ninth inning.

The addition of Pedro Strop and the ascension of Michael Lorenzen and Robert Stephenson may cloud the role of Iglesias heading into the 2020 season. However, having an improved bullpen may lessen the pressure and allow Iggy to just go out and pitch. Let’s hope Raisel Iglesias returns to form in 2020.