The Chicago Cubs entered last spring training confident about their late-inning options after acquiring veteran closer Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros. The team had failed to sign free agent closer Tanner Scott that offseason and hoped Pressly would fill that critical role. However, Pressly struggled to meet expectations and was ultimately released, opening the door for Daniel Palencia to step up as the team’s closer.
Palencia, called up in mid-April from Triple-A Iowa, quickly captivated Cubs fans at Wrigley Field with his dominant pitching. By August, the Venezuelan right-hander had posted a stellar 1.40 ERA and pitched with the confidence of an established veteran, securing the ninth-inning job amid a team racing toward postseason contention. Yet, despite this promising start, Palencia’s season would take a troubling turn.
Late-Season Challenges Threaten Palencia’s Momentum
In the final two months of the 2025 season, Palencia’s performance declined sharply. His ERA ballooned to 7.07 over 17 appearances, and he spent time on the injured list following the first week of September. Although he returned for playoff duty, his ERA of 3.52 across six appearances reflected a diminished role and waning trust from Cubs manager Craig Counsell.
Despite this late-season collapse, Counsell reaffirmed Palencia’s position as the top closer option during spring training ahead of 2026—a decision that surprised some given Palencia’s recent struggles.
No one sitting here a year ago thought that he’d be pitching as a closer, pitching huge innings in the middle of the game in the playoffs,
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told media.
He did an amazing job. I think his maturation was obvious to everyone. We’re super excited about him.
Some Optimism Amid Uncertainty for Palencia’s Future
While the later half of Palencia’s 2025 campaign raised concerns, not all analysts are ready to write him off. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report recently identified Palencia as the Cubs’ breakout pitcher for 2026, highlighting the strong early vote of confidence from Counsell and Palencia’s potent pitching arsenal.
The rise from fringe roster candidate to a 22-save season might already look like a breakout, and it was in many respects, but there’s still another gear for a pitcher with the stuff to be one of baseball’s elite closers. A few bumps in the road and a late injury kept Palencia’s 2025 from being a true ascent to elite status, but an early vote of confidence from manager Craig Counsell this spring and a fastball (99.6 mph)/slider (39.4% whiff) combo few can match hint at more to come.
This assessment reflects Palencia’s rapid transformation from a peripheral major league player to a closer with the potential to reach elite status in the MLB bullpen hierarchy.
Critical Crossroads Await Palencia in 2026 Season
Palencia’s talent is undeniable, shown by his ability to earn and sustain the closer role for much of 2025. Yet, his late-season vulnerability raises questions about his mental toughness and ability to perform under high pressure. The Cubs face a pivotal decision in 2026: if Palencia cannot maintain consistency, the closing duties may fall to incoming free agents, or to other pitchers on the roster such as the frequently injured Hunter Harvey or Phil Maton. Alternatively, manager Craig Counsell might employ a closer-by-committee strategy to share the workload.
Palencia himself has expressed a determination to overcome the difficulties that affected him at the end of last season.
I learned that’s a tough situation,
Palencia said. “The game is on the line. Just trying to be calm, be myself. Trust myself.
I always knew I was that guy. I know I’m that guy for that situation.
As the Cubs prepare for a crucial 2026 campaign, all eyes will be on Palencia’s resilience and growth as he seeks to solidify his role. Should he succeed, Chicago gains a formidable closer to anchor their bullpen for the foreseeable future. Failure, however, could force the team into a scramble for reliable late-inning options.
