Colin Poche

Poche continues to excel as Tampa Bay's top lefty setup man when his number is called during the 7th and 8th innings. The 29-year-old led all relievers with 12 wins last season to go along with a team-leading 22 holds and excellent ratios. Poche did so by ditching his curveball and focusing on only two pitches, a low-90's fastball that he threw 65 percent of the time and a slider that batters often chased down in the zone. The southpaw didn't strike many batters out (24.8%), but continued to be among the best in the league at limiting hard contact. His hard-hit percentage was a 93rd percentile ranking or better for the second straight year and this was reflected in his career-best home run rate (0.59 HR/9). Continue to target Poche in leagues that count holds, as he should be one of the Rays top setup men again in 2024.

Poche returned to the majors for the first time since 2019, having missed two seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The southpaw opened the year in the minors, but was called up in late April and was firmly in the high-leverage mix, tallying four wins, seven saves and 23 holds in 65 appearances. Poche posted 94th percentile rankings in hard hit percentage (31%) and exit velocity allowed (86.0 mph) with a low-90's fastball that he threw nearly 78 percent of the time, plus a curveball (22% usage) that he implemented last season. Despite a strong first half (2.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP), the left-hander tumbled down the stretch (5.79 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) and allowed 11 home runs on the year for a 1.69 HR/9 rate that was 6th-worst among qualified relievers. Poche suffered a strained right oblique at the end of the season, but figures to be healthy in time for spring training. He'll be given an opportunity to compete for one of the Rays' top lefty bullpen roles in 2023.

The 28-year-old hasn't pitched in a competitive setting since the 2019 postseason after undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career in July 2020. When he was last healthy during his rookie season in the majors, Poche was one of the top strikeout artists among relievers, whiffing 34.8 percent of the batters he faced. He'll likely need to work his way back at Triple-A for much of the season.

Considered a lock to make the Rays' 2020 roster when spring training was suspended, Poche never ended up taking the hill for Tampa Bay. It was announced shortly before Opening Day that Poche had a torn UCL and would require Tommy John surgery. He had the procedure at the end of July, so while a late-season return in 2021 should not be expected, it's not out of the question.

After dazzling in the minors in 2018, recording a 0.82 ERA between the Diamondbacks' and Rays' farm systems, Poche made his major-league debut in 2019. The 26-year-old experienced some growing pains as he amassed a 4.70 ERA with nine home runs allowed in 51.2 innings pitched in the majors, but he managed a strikeout rate of 34.8% and picked up two saves as the Rays relied on late-game heroics throughout the season. Many of Poche's woes came on the road, where he had an 8.06 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP, along with a 13.5% walk rate. Emilio Pagan seemed to cement his role as the closer last season and Nick Anderson may be next in line, but Poche could be a valuable asset in deep fantasy leagues due to his high strikeout rate, and his value could rise if he can lock down more consistent command and control.

Poche dominated the minors for the second straight season in 2018, recording an incredible 0.82 ERA in 66 innings at the Double-A and Triple-A levels in the Diamondbacks' and Rays' organizations. That followed a campaign in which he posted a 1.25 ERA in 50.1 innings at Low-A and High-A. The success came on the back of a 45.6% strikeout rate, a surprising number given that his fastball sits just 89-92 mph and given that he hasn't had all that much prospect hype. He's also given up just two homers over the last two seasons combined. Poche's fast rise and incredible numbers suggest that it won't be long before he reaches the big leagues, and he should be more than a lefty specialist once he gets there. Once he lands in the major-league bullpen, Poche could rise up the ranks quickly thanks to his high strikeout totals.