Ryan Pressly

Pressly didn't record his first save until late-April, but he still managed to finish with 30-plus saves for the second consecutive year. The veteran remained healthy for the most part, avoiding the IL entirely while missing only a few games due to illness and soreness. However, signs of a potential decline were evident, as Pressly posted career-worst marks with a 43.5% hard-hit rate and fourth percentile average exit velocity (91.3 mph). The right-hander's 27.6% strikeout rate -- while still well above average -- dipped by 8.3 percentage points and was his lowest since 2017. Pressly remained dominant at times, including a 16-game stretch early in the season with a 1.13 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 16:1 K:BB over 16 innings. However, he will likely move down in the bullpen hierarchy this season with the Astros' addition of Josh Hader in free agency.

Pressly was seventh in the league with a career high 33 saves in 2022, which was impressive considering he was limited to just 50 appearances and 48.1 innings for the Astros. The veteran required an early trip to the injured list due to knee inflammation, then neck spasms put him on the shelf again later in the year. Neither injury was particulary lengthy, but prohibited Pressly from challenging for the league's saves lead. Those injuries and age (34) may deter some for 2023 drafts, but Pressly is coming off a season during which he posted career best marks in multiple categories, including WHIP (0.89), strikeout rate (35.7%) and K-BB percentage (28.6%). He was also dominant in the 2022 postseason with 13 strikeouts over 11 scoreless frames. What Pressly may lack compared to other top-end closers is innings volume, but he has been extremely consistent and should be drafted with confidence as one of the top five or six closers off the board again.

Pressly was fantastic for the fourth straight season after delivering a 2.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 26 saves in 28 chances for Houston. His 27.2 K-BB% ranked eighth among qualified relievers, while the spin rates on his curveball (100th percentile) and fastball (97th percentile) were elite. He also posted a career-best 55.5 GB% and 5.2 BB%. Since Pressly appeared in 64 games for the Astros, his contract vested to a fully guaranteed $10 million deal for 2022. He was one of only seven relievers in baseball who had a greater than 76% share of his team's total saves, but Houston was in the bottom half of the league in saves overall (34) since they won plenty of blowouts and had the fourth-best run differential (+205) in the league. However, Pressly is firmly entrenched as the Astros' closer and will be among the top 10 options drafted.

Pressly entered the 2020 season with only six career saves across seven campaigns. However, with Roberto Osuna sidelined by an elbow injury that cost him the entire season, Pressly was pressed into closing duties. He got off to a rocky start in the role, taking a loss and blowing two saves in his first nine appearances. He returned to the form expected of him from there on, logging nine saves and 20 strikeouts to go along with a 2.03 ERA across the final month of the regular season. Since the end of the campaign, the Astros have parted ways with Osuna, leaving the door open for Pressly to slot into the closer role once again in 2021. Though he should be considered the favorite to pick up the majority of the saves, the team has other internal options, the most notable of which is Enoli Paredes.

Pressly cemented his status as one of the best setup men in the game, though his second half was marred by a pair of IL visits, the first for a bruised right knee and the second for arthroscopic surgery on the same knee. While his performance suffered a bit as he tried to work through the soreness before being shelved, Pressly still notched 31 holds, tied for most in the league. He also scooped three saves. Pressly continued to sport 97th percentile spin on his fastball and 100th percentile on his curve with pinpoint control. The result was a dominating 28.4 K-BB%. Pressly incurred knee soreness in the playoffs but it was attributed to tearing scar tissue after August surgery and he is expected to be pain free in the spring. He'll return to setting up Roberto Osuna, in play in not only holds leagues, but all formats where a dominant reliever to stabilize ratios is useful.

Of course it was the Astros, the team that led the spin-rate revolution, who acquired Pressly from the Twins prior to the trade deadline. After Houston got their hands on Pressly, he became one of the most dominant pitchers in the game, posting a 0.77 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 32:3 K:BB with the Astros in 23.1 innings over the remainder of the regular season. The incredible spin on his breaking pitches helped Pressly to a top-five swinging-strike rate overall among qualified relievers (17.7%). He can also pump in his fastball at over 95 mph on average -- the total package with Pressly is close to elite. It looks like Pressly will open the year as the Astros' top setup man in front of closer Roberto Osuna. He is good enough to hold value in all formats in a setup role and could be a top-10 closer if given the opportunity to handle the ninth.

Pressly struggled at the start of last season with a 9.50 ERA before he was sent to the minors in June. While he throws hard (95.8 mph average fastball), he was too wild and gave up too much contact. He had an 11.5 K/9 but allowed a 4.0 BB/9, five home runs and 21 hits in his first 18 innings. Pressly turned his season around when called back up in July as he had a 2.75 ERA with a 8.1 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 thereafter. If he can reduce his walks and keep the ball in the park, he has enough velocity to be a key setup man and possible closer.

Pressly had a productive season in the Minnesota bullpen while sneaking in high-leverage appearances. He features a plus fastball (95.1 mph average last year) with decent dominance (8.0 K/9) and control (2.75 BB/9). He should be a mainstay of Minnesota's setup corps, but overuse may be a worry after he was tied for fourth in the AL with 72 appearances. The Twins' closer depth chart also remains messy, and he's not guaranteed a chance if opportunities arise.

Pressly showed promise as an impact arm in the bullpen with a 94.2 average mph fastball and a decent 7.1 K/9 last season. He began the season at Triple-A but posted a 2.93 ERA in a setup role before a season-ending strained right lat muscle injury in early August. His 10.0 K/9 at Triple-A over the past two seasons show he could be a sorely needed strikeout pitcher in Minnesota's bullpen if given a more prominent role.

Pressly spent all of 2013 on the major league roster as a Rule 5 pick and was productive with a 3.56 ERA, but was surprisingly sent to the minors in spring training. He responded well with a 2.98 ERA and 9.4 K/9 at Triple-A, which earned him a trip to the majors in July and he posted a 2.68 ERA. He had just a 4.5 K/9 and a 4.54 FIP in the majors, so his peripheral numbers didn't support his major league success. Still, his Triple-A strikeout rate was encouraging and he did hold his own as a rookie in the majors in 2013. He'll have a strong chance to win a middle relief role in spring training as a result.

Pressly struggled a bit in the second half with a 4.91 ERA (compared to 3.09 ERA in the first half), but his season was still a success as the Rule 5 pick stayed on the big league roster all season and was productive (0.3 fWAR). He had a 3.87 ERA overall, but just a 5.8 K/9 IP and 3.2 BB/9 IP. However, he has a decent groundball rate (43.8 percent) and was tough on right-handed batters (.614 OPS allowed). He should win a middle-relief role again with the Twins this spring.

Pressly made the bullpen as a Rule 5 pick out of Boston's farm system. He'll likely have a low-profile role, but the Twins may keep him on the roster all season in order to avoid losing him.