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MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players under 25

By Joshua Sadlock

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 26: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on June 26, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 26: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on June 26, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JULY 05: Roberto Osuna #54 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 5, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 05: Roberto Osuna #54 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 5, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

19. Roberto Osuna

Roberto Osuna is the best young closer in baseball, and was the youngest closer in MLB history to record 75 saves. Since recording that 75th save, however, Osuna has revealed that he is battling an anxiety disorder. He has not saved a game since June 21, although that is also a function of the Toronto Blue Jays not playing very well.

Anxiety aside, Osuna has been on an absolute tear this season. Over his past 28 appearances, the 22-year-old right-hander has a 1.04 ERA and is holding opponents to a .133 batting average and .200 slugging percentage. Osuna has not blown a save since the middle of April.

Osuna had come up through the Blue Jays system as a starter before making the team as a reliever out of Spring Training in 2015. His minor-league numbers did not necessarily predict this type of dominance, but he always had excellent strikeout numbers while pitching against men three or four years older than him.

The 2017 season has seen Osuna take his dominance up to another level. His 1.49 FIP is the definition of dominance, and he has increased his strikeout rate each season. One of the things that makes him so good is that he maintains a starter’s arsenal, throwing five quality pitches.

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