Atlanta Braves receive unforeseen injury update on star reliever

The Atlanta Braves will open defense of their National League East title without their closer after it was revealed on Thursday that Raisel Iglesias will begin the year on the injured list.

Iglesias, who came over to Atlanta from the Los Angeles Angels last season at the MLB trade deadline, registered just one save with the Braves after logging 16 in Anaheim. Kenley Jansen was Atlanta’s closer in 2022, logging 41 saves, but has moved on this season to the Boston Red Sox, leaving the opening for Iglesias to once again take over the role he held with the Angels.

However, those plans changed on Thursday.

Atlanta Braves will change closer role in absence of Raisel Iglesias

With Iglesias not throwing for the next seven days, that leaves an unclear timeline on when he could ramp back up to game shape and be ready to step into the bullpen. The Braves are hopeful that Iglesias will need just the 15 days he will need to spend on the injured list to alleviate the inflammation. During that time, look for A.J. Minter to start the season in Atlanta’s closing role. He picked up five saves for the Braves last season, so the 28-year-old southpaw certainly has the capability of finishing games.

The Atlanta bullpen will certainly have a different look to start the season with Jansen in Boston, and Tyler Matzek, who underwent Tommy John surgery in October and will miss the entire 2023 campaign, and Iglesias on the injured list. However, the Braves are expecting more contributions this season from former closer Kirby Yates, who has thrown just 11.1 innings over the last three seasons while working his way back from Tommy John surgery. In 2019, however, he registered 41 saves for the San Diego Padres during an All-Star season.