All-Decade Blue Jays Closer
Roberto Osuna, Closer
- 2015-2018 (3.5 seasons)
- 253 strikeouts; 104 saves
- 2.87 ERA; 5.8 bWAR; 0.919 WHIP
- 221 games
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At 16 years old, Roberto Osuna was signed out of Mexico by the Toronto Blue Jays and would spend three seasons in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut in 2015.
Known for his sharp fastball with a fast-moving slider, 20-year-old Roberto Osuna became the Blue Jays closer when Casey Janssen left the team via free agency the off-season prior.
In his first year of MLB baseball, Osuna would collect 20 saves along with a 2.58 ERA and 75 strikeouts through 69.2 innings of work.
Osuna would continue to be the Blue Jays closer for the next 2 seasons until 2018 when he was charged with domestic assault. The MLB would end up suspending the pitcher for 75 games without pay under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy.
Days before Osuna had almost completed his suspension, the Blue Jays traded him to the Houston Astros for closer Ken Giles and a bundle of pitching prospects. Upon Osuna’s first return to Toronto, the closer was loudly booed by the Blue Jays fans during his appearance on the mound.
Roberto Osuna would later have his charges dropped against in exchange for a peace bond, with the requirements being he could not contact his victim for over one year and must undergo counseling. The prosecution withdrew the charges after the victim would not agree to travel to Toronto to testify during the trial.