Tom Wilhelmsen: Late-Draft Sleeper Closer in 2016

The Seattle Mariners closer job was a revolving door throughout the 2015 season. There were three closers that recorded at least 13 saves. One of them, however, is going to be the closer at the beginning of next season. That man is Tom Wilhelmsen. He took over the role at the end of July and will likely be the closer in 2016, which makes him a nice late-draft pick.

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The Mariners began the season with Fernando Rodney as their closer. In 54 games, he recorded 16 saves with an outrageous 5.68 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. He was then removed in favor of Carson Smith. Smith had 13 saves in 70 games with a 2.31 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. He became a little sloppy with his pitches as his ERA rose over one run in about a month.

Enter Tom Wilhelmsen.

Wilhelmsen had closer experience before. He had 53 combined saves in 2012 and 2013. He was then relegated to a set-up role when Rodney joined the team in 2014.

In the first three months of the season, 20 games, Wilhelmsen had a 1-2 record with three holds, 4.70 ERA and 1.78 WHIP. In the final three months, 33 games, he had a 1-0 record, 13 saves in 15 opportunities and five holds with a 2.31 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.

Once taking over the closer role, Tom Wilhelmsen settled down and became the closer Seattle needed all season. Rodney got saves, but gave up a lot of runs in the process. Smith was good at first, but he began letting up some runs as well.

Because of the little playing time, Wilhelmsen was the 73rd relief pitcher on the Player Rater. Of the three Mariners closers, he had the second-highest ERA and WHIP. If he was the closer for the full season, he would have posted similar numbers to his 2012 season (2.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 29 saves).