Houston Astros closer Hector Rondon has to be feeling a bit of deja vu with the acquisition of Roberto Osuna from the Blue Jays.
2018 is not the first time that Hector Rondon has been a closer on a team with World Series aspirations. The current Houston Astros closer had taken over the role with the Chicago Cubs in 2014, notching a combined 59 saves in two seasons. However, come the 2016 trade deadline, the Cubs wanted to upgrade their bullpen. They did just that, landing Aroldis Chapman to take over those ninth inning duties, a key part in the Cubs winning the World Series for the first time since 1908.
One could forgive Rondon if he is feeling a bit of deja vu. After the spectacular Ken Giles implosion, Rondon was given a chance to close once again. He once again performed admirably, helping to solidify the ninth inning for Houston. And yet, the Astros remained in the market for a closer.
Once again, Rondon found his job usurped, this time by Roberto Osuna. The Blue Jays took on Giles, who may well need a change of scenery to get back on track, as well as faded prospect David Paulino and the intriguing Hector Perez. At that cost, Osuna will be taking on the ninth inning duties once he is eligible to return from his suspension.
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This time, Rondon has a little longer in the role, as Osuna will not return until next week. In that time, he could well further himself as a potential closer, albeit on another team. Heading into Tuesday’s slate of action, Rondon has posted an excellent 2.41 ERA and a 1.152 WHiP with nine saves. In his 37.1 innings, he has struck out 47 batters with just 11 walks.
Osuna had been solid this season prior to his suspension, notching nine saves of his own while posting a 2.93 ERA and a 1.109 WHiP. In his 15.1 innings of work, Osuna had struck out 13 batters while issuing only one walk. However, he has had his stumbles before, as he blew ten saves in 2017, finishing with a mere 79.6% success rate in closing the door. He has been better this year, with just one blown save, but his track record is not exactly dominant.
At this point, Osuna has the Certified Proven Closer label, although that may be premature. However, as he is the youngest pitcher to record 100 saves in major league history, and was an All Star closer in 2017, the job is likely his when he is reinstated. Once again, Rondon is relegated to the ninth inning, a fallback option in case the worst should happen.
Of course, if the same scenario plays out for Hector Rondon, and the Houston Astros win the World Series this season, then maybe his feelings of deja vu won’t be so bad after all.