Braves Bullpen Rotation

When it comes to winning baseball games, the late innings are often where championships are won and lost. The 2025 Atlanta Braves have assembled one of the most formidable bullpen trios in baseball to lock down those crucial final frames. Our interactive bullpen progression widget below gives you an inside look at the pitchers who handle the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings for the Braves this season. Click on each inning to learn about the pitcher's role, arsenal, and projected stats as Atlanta's relief corps works to shut down opponents and secure victories. From Dylan Lee bridging the gap in the 7th, to Pierce Johnson's setup mastery in the 8th, to Raisel Iglesias slamming the door in the 9th, explore the arms that make the Braves' endgame so dominant.

Braves 2025 Bullpen Progression

Click on an inning to see who takes the mound in key late-game situations

7th Inning Bridge Reliever 8th Inning Setup Man 9th Inning Closer

Dylan Lee

7th Inning Specialist Left-Handed Pitcher | #52 3.45 Projected ERA 1.18 Projected WHIP 9.2 K/9 65 Projected Games

Dylan Lee has developed into a reliable bridge reliever for the Braves. His deceptive delivery and improved command make him ideal for handling the critical 7th inning, often facing the middle of opposing lineups. Lee can work multiple innings when needed, providing valuable flexibility to the bullpen.

Pitch Arsenal

Fastball 92-94 MPH Changeup 84-86 MPH Slider 82-84 MPH

Pierce Johnson

Setup Man Right-Handed Pitcher | #37 2.85 Projected ERA 1.05 Projected WHIP 11.4 K/9 72 Projected Games

Pierce Johnson has evolved into one of the most reliable setup men in baseball. His high-spin curveball has become his signature pitch, making him particularly effective in high-leverage situations where strikeouts are crucial. Johnson's ability to handle both right-handed and left-handed batters gives manager Brian Snitker flexibility in late-game matchups.

Pitch Arsenal

Fastball 94-96 MPH Curveball 82-84 MPH Cutter 90-92 MPH

Raisel Iglesias

Closer Right-Handed Pitcher | #26 2.40 Projected ERA 0.92 Projected WHIP 38 Save Opportunities 12.1 K/9

Raisel Iglesias continues to anchor the Braves bullpen as their veteran closer. The Cuban right-hander brings an impressive three-pitch mix to the ninth inning that keeps hitters off-balance. What separates Iglesias from many closers is his remarkable consistency in performance metrics, making him one of the most reliable closers in baseball.

Pitch Arsenal

Fastball 95-97 MPH Slider 84-86 MPH Changeup 88-90 MPH

The Atlanta Braves have consistently built one of baseball's most effective bullpens in recent years, and their 2025 assembly of relievers continues this tradition. With a mix of veteran presence and emerging talent, the Braves' relief corps looks poised to be a significant strength for the team this season. Let's examine the key pieces that make up this bullpen and what we might expect from them in 2025.

The Anchors: Pierce Johnson and Raisel Iglesias

Pierce Johnson: The Setup Man

Pierce Johnson has evolved into one of the most reliable setup men in baseball. After bouncing between MLB and the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan), Johnson found his groove with consistent late-inning work.

Johnson's arsenal typically features a high-spin curveball that has become his signature pitch, complemented by a mid-90s fastball. His ability to generate swings and misses has made him particularly valuable in high-leverage situations where strikeouts are crucial.

What makes Johnson especially effective is his versatility in role and matchups. He's shown the ability to handle both right-handed and left-handed batters, making him deployment-flexible for manager Brian Snitker.

Raisel Iglesias: The Veteran Closer

At the back end of the bullpen, Raisel Iglesias continues to anchor the relief corps as the team's closer. The Cuban right-hander has been one of the most consistent closers in baseball since joining the Braves.

Iglesias brings an impressive three-pitch mix to the ninth inning: a mid-to-high 90s fastball, a devastating slider, and a changeup that keeps hitters off-balance. This repertoire allows him to handle batters from both sides of the plate effectively.

What separates Iglesias from many closers is his durability and consistency. While many relievers experience significant year-to-year volatility, Iglesias has maintained remarkable stability in his performance metrics, making him one of the more reliable closers in the game.

The Middle Relief Corps

Aaron Bummer: The Lefty Specialist

Aaron Bummer brings a valuable left-handed presence to the Braves' bullpen. His sinker-slider combination generates a significant number of ground balls, making him particularly effective when the team needs a double play.

Bummer's ability to keep the ball in the park has been one of his greatest strengths throughout his career. In an era where home runs have become increasingly common, Bummer's ground ball tendency provides a different look in the bullpen and gives Snitker another tactical option.

Dylan Lee: The Homegrown Arm

Dylan Lee represents the Braves' ability to develop bullpen talent internally. After making a surprising postseason debut with Atlanta a few years back, Lee has steadily increased his role in the bullpen.

Lee's deceptive delivery and ability to change speeds make him effective despite not having overpowering velocity. His command and control have improved markedly over the years, reducing walk rates that previously limited his ceiling.

The left-hander's ability to work multiple innings also adds valuable flexibility to the bullpen, allowing Snitker to bridge gaps when starters exit games early.

The New Wave

Enyel De Los Santos: The Power Arm

Enyel De Los Santos brings a power element to the Braves' bullpen with a fastball that can touch the upper 90s. After showing flashes of dominance earlier in his career, De Los Santos has worked to harness his considerable raw stuff.

His slider has developed into a weapon against right-handed hitters, while his changeup gives him a fighting chance against lefties. If De Los Santos can maintain consistent command, he could emerge as one of the highest-leverage options in this bullpen as the season progresses.

Daysbel Hernandez: The X-Factor

Perhaps the most intriguing arm in the Braves' bullpen is Daysbel Hernandez. Another product of the organization's international scouting presence in Cuba, Hernandez brings electric stuff to the middle innings.

His fastball-slider combination can be utterly dominant when he's commanding both pitches. The challenge for Hernandez has been consistency, but the raw ability suggests a reliever with significant upside.

If Hernandez can harness his command and control, the Braves may have another high-leverage reliever to deploy ahead of Johnson and Iglesias, giving them one of the deepest bullpens in baseball.

Tactical Flexibility

What makes this bullpen particularly impressive is the varied looks it can present to opposing lineups. From Iglesias's three-pitch mix to Johnson's curveball-heavy approach to Bummer's ground ball generation, hitters face different challenges in the late innings.

This diversity in pitching styles allows Snitker to play matchups based not just on handedness but on hitter tendencies and weaknesses. A fly ball hitter might see Bummer, while a hitter vulnerable to breaking balls might face Johnson.

Workload Management

One challenge for the 2025 Braves will be managing the workload of their key relievers. Both Iglesias and Johnson have carried heavy loads in previous seasons, and keeping them fresh for another potential October run will be crucial.

This is where the depth provided by Lee, De Los Santos, and Hernandez becomes especially valuable. If these pitchers can handle middle-inning situations effectively, it reduces the need to call on the high-leverage arms in less critical situations.

The Analytical Edge

The Braves' front office has been at the forefront of bullpen construction, using advanced metrics to identify undervalued relief pitchers and then deploying them in optimal situations.

The 2025 bullpen continues this tradition, with each pitcher having clearly defined strengths that match specific game situations. This analytical approach extends to in-game decisions, where the Braves leverage data to determine the highest-leverage situations rather than rigidly adhering to traditional inning-based roles.

Extended Braves Bullpen

For the purposes of brevity, we'll refer to the following players as the 'extended' Braves Bullpen. Those players who we all thought would be on the Braves roster (likely in the bullpen) come opening day, only to be told they'd be spending more time in the minors when the final roster was set. Nevertheless, we expect to see the following players on the big league club at some point this year.

• Huascar Ynoa: Huascar dazzled Braves fans with his 100 mph fastball, his sweeping slider and his capacity for hitting grandslams. That all came to a head when, after a rough inning, he punched a brick wall in the dugout (a pitcher's worst friend) shattering his hand and derailing his career. He looked good in the spring and promises to come back to the majors this year. 
• Daysbel Hernández: has been a notable figure within the Braves organization, primarily for his intimidating fastball and a curveball that seems to defy physics. However, his journey took a turn when inconsistency at the mound led to an unexpected detour to the minors. Known for his resilience and a fiery competitive spirit, Hernández has spent the offseason refining his control and pitch selection. His performances in spring training hinted at a newfound maturity and effectiveness. With his eyes set on redemption, Daysbel is determined to carve out a significant role in the majors soon.
• Allan Winans: a right-handed pitcher with a lean frame, has been quietly making waves in the Braves' farm system. His arsenal, featuring a precise fastball and a deceptive changeup, has made him a pitcher to watch. Despite this, his progression was slowed by minor injuries and a need for consistency in higher-pressure situations. Spring training saw a more focused and determined Winans, showcasing improvements that could not be ignored. His journey through the minors is marked by steady growth, and he's poised to make an impactful return to the big league.
• Dylan Dodd: Dylan, well, Dylan fell in love with the 60s and no one ever heard from him again.