BREAKING: Closer Raisel Iglesias to start season on injured list
Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias is suffering from "low-grade" shoulder inflammation and will start the season on the injured list, multiple sources have reported. Iglesias will be shut down from throwing for seven days and then re-evaluated by Braves medical staff.
Iglesias, 33, signed a four-year, $58M contract with the Angels in December 2021 and was acquired by Atlanta at the 2022 deadline for pitchers Tucker Davidson and Jesse Chavez. Iglesias appeared in 28 games for the Braves after the trade and was exceptional, recording a 0.34 ERA in 26.1 inning pitched with 30 strikeouts to only five walks.
After closer Kenley Jansen left as a free agent, it was expected that Iglesias would serve as the primary closer - a role he filled in Los Angeles - with lefty AJ Minter and righty Joe Jiménez serving as primary setup men. The Braves have not announced a temporary closer, but all signs point to AJ Minter as the "next man up" with Jiménez still coming back into form after offseason back surgery, a move that preempted him from participating in the World Baseball Classic as a precaution.
This does allow the team to add another reliever before Opening Day - both Nick Anderson and Jackson Stephens were sent to AAA Gwinnett earlier in camp and one of them could be recalled to temporarily fill the slot vacated by Iglesias.
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