Raisel Iglesias Bio
Raisel Enrique Iglesias (born January 4, 1990) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels. He signed with the Reds as an international free agent in 2014 after defecting from Cuba, and he has built a reputation as one of the most reliable late-inning relief pitchers in the league.
Across his MLB career, Iglesias has served primarily as a closer, using a sharp breaking ball and a calm demeanor on the mound. He re-signed with the Atlanta Braves in November 2025 and continues to anchor the back end of one of the National League’s most competitive bullpens.
Early Life and Background
Raisel Enrique Iglesias grew up in Cuba and developed his pitching skills within the country’s strong amateur baseball system. He played for the Piratas de Isla de la Juventud in the Cuban National Series, competing against experienced professional hitters from a young age. His performance in Cuba drew attention from international scouts and helped establish him as a top prospect.
Iglesias also represented Cuba on the international stage. He appeared in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and the 2013 World Port Tournament in Rotterdam, where he earned a medal as part of the Cuban national team. These tournaments gave him valuable experience against high-level competition and raised his profile among Major League clubs.
In September 2013, Iglesias attempted to defect from Cuba. He hid in the mountains of Isla de la Juventud but was initially caught and detained. In November of that same year, he successfully defected, established residency in Haiti, and held an open tryout in Mexico in December 2013. His journey to professional baseball in the United States officially began with this transition.
Path to Major League Baseball
Following his successful defection, Iglesias signed with the Cincinnati Reds on June 27, 2014, agreeing to a seven-year contract worth $27 million. The Reds formally added him to their 40-man roster when he arrived in the United States on August 12, marking the start of his Major League career path.
Cincinnati evaluated Iglesias as a starting pitcher during spring training in 2015, and he broke into the Majors that April. Although early injuries limited his innings, his mid-90s fastball and swing-and-miss breaking ball quickly drew league-wide attention. Within a few seasons, the Reds shifted him to the bullpen, a move that ultimately unlocked his value as a late-inning reliever.
Raisel Iglesias Career
Early Career with the Cincinnati Reds (2015–2020)
Iglesias made his MLB debut on April 12, 2015, starting that season in the Reds’ Opening Day rotation. He pitched in 18 games, including 16 starts, finishing with a 3–7 record and 104 strikeouts despite spending time on the disabled list. The following season, after beginning in the rotation, he was moved to the bullpen, where he became the Reds’ setup man and closer, recording six saves in 37 games.
By 2019, Iglesias had firmly established himself as Cincinnati’s closer, finishing the year with career highs of 34 saves and 68 appearances alongside a 4.16 ERA. On August 8, 2020, he recorded his 100th MLB career save against the Milwaukee Brewers. In the shortened 2020 season, he posted a 4–3 record and a 2.74 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 23 innings, cementing his status as one of the National League’s most dependable closers before being traded.
Los Angeles Angels Tenure (2021–2022)
On December 7, 2020, Iglesias was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Noé Ramirez and Leo Rivas. In his first season with the Angels, he was named American League Reliever of the Month for July 2021. He finished 2021 with a 2.57 ERA, 103 strikeouts, and 34 saves, tying his career high in saves and coming one strikeout short of his career-best 104.
On December 1, 2021, Iglesias re-signed with the Angels on a four-year, $58 million contract. His tenure with Los Angeles was notable on and off the field. On June 26, 2022, after a brawl between the Angels and the Seattle Mariners, he threw a tub of sunflower seeds and a bucket of gum onto the infield, an incident that resulted in the first ejection of his career. Shortly afterward, he was dealt to Atlanta.
Atlanta Braves Era (2022–Present)
The Angels traded Iglesias to the Atlanta Braves for Jesse Chavez and Tucker Davidson on August 2, 2022. He made 28 appearances down the stretch for Atlanta, recording a 0.34 ERA with 30 strikeouts and one save across 26 and one-third innings, giving the Braves a proven arm for tight late-game situations.
In 2023, Iglesias posted a 5–4 record with a 2.75 ERA, 68 strikeouts, and 33 saves in just over 55 innings across 58 relief appearances. In 2024, he made 66 relief outings, accumulating a 6–2 record with a 1.95 ERA, 68 strikeouts, and 34 saves in 69 and one-third innings, re-establishing himself among the National League’s elite closers.
On September 16, 2025, Iglesias recorded his 250th career save as the Braves defeated the Washington Nationals 6–3. In 70 appearances out of the bullpen for Atlanta, he compiled a 4–6 record and a 3.21 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 29 saves across 67 and one-third innings pitched. He became a free agent at the end of the season before re-signing with the Braves on November 19, 2025, on a one-year, $16 million contract.
Driving Style and Strengths
Iglesias relies on a power repertoire built around a mid-90s fastball and a sharp, diving breaking ball that generates swings and misses in any count. He shows composure in high-leverage innings, attacking hitters rather than nibbling at the edges of the strike zone. His ability to bounce back from heavy use, combined with consistent mechanics, has allowed him to log back-to-back 30-plus save seasons with Atlanta.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Iglesias’s signature milestones are his 100th career save in 2020, his career-high 34 saves in both 2019 and 2024, and his 250th career save on September 16, 2025. He has also represented Cuba internationally and earned American League Reliever of the Month honors in July 2021, underlining his consistency at the highest level of the sport.
Raisel Iglesias Career Highlights
Raisel Iglesias has built a reputation as one of the steadiest closers of his generation, ranking among the active MLB leaders in saves. From his first full closing season in Cincinnati to his dominant stretch with the Braves, he has regularly converted high-pressure opportunities and delivered postseason-caliber innings for contending clubs.
Major League Highlights
Iglesias recorded his first significant closing duties with the Reds in 2016, saved a career-high 34 games in 2019, and reached his 100th career save in August 2020. With the Angels, he matched his 34-save high in 2021 and earned American League Reliever of the Month honors in July of that year. Since joining the Braves in 2022, he has added 33 saves in 2023 and 34 saves in 2024, reinforcing his place among the National League’s top late-inning arms.
International and Other Performances
Before reaching the Majors, Iglesias represented Cuba in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and the 2013 World Port Tournament in Rotterdam, where he helped the Cuban national team earn a medal. His early international exposure against elite hitters prepared him for the jump to MLB and helped shape his aggressive pitching identity.
Raisel Iglesias Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Raisel Enrique Iglesias was raised in Cuba, where baseball is deeply embedded in daily life. His journey from the Cuban National Series to MLB required leaving his home country, establishing residency abroad, and rebuilding his career in a new league. His perseverance through that process has shaped his grounded approach to the game.
Personal Life
Iglesias had a son, Lenox, during the 2018 season, while he was still pitching for the Cincinnati Reds. Fatherhood coincided with one of the most productive stretches of his career, including his 34-save season in 2019. He has generally kept his family life private, focusing public attention on his work on the mound.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a milestone year for Iglesias with the Atlanta Braves. He appeared in 70 games out of the bullpen, compiling a 4–6 record and a 3.21 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 29 saves across 67 and one-third innings pitched. His most celebrated moment came on September 16, 2025, when he recorded his 250th career save in a 6–3 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Even as his overall save total dipped slightly from 34 in 2024, Iglesias remained a trusted high-leverage option for the Braves, regularly entrusted with the ninth inning in close games. His consistency helped stabilize the Atlanta bullpen through the grind of a long season and reinforced his value as a veteran presence in the clubhouse.
After becoming a free agent at season’s end, Iglesias re-signed with the Braves on November 19, 2025, on a one-year, $16 million contract, signaling that the organization views him as a central piece of its bullpen plans heading into the next campaign. His return provides continuity for Atlanta as it targets another deep postseason run.
