Raisel Iglesias
Raisel Enrique Iglesias is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also played for the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels. Born on January 4, 1990, on Isla de la Juventud, Cuba, he bats and throws right-handed.
Iglesias played in Cuba for the Piratas de Isla de la Juventud and for the Cuban national team, appearing in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and the 2013 World Port Tournament. In September 2013 he attempted to defect from Cuba, hiding in the mountains of Isla de la Juventud and getting detained. He successfully defected in November 2013, lived in Haiti, and later held an open tryout in Mexico in December 2013.
He signed with the Cincinnati Reds on June 27, 2014, a seven-year contract worth $27 million. He joined the Reds’ 40-man roster on August 12, 2014, and made his MLB debut on April 12, 2015. That first season he appeared in 18 games (16 starts) with a 3–7 record and 104 strikeouts. After starting the 2016 season in the rotation, he moved to the bullpen as a setup man and closer. In 2019 he became the Reds’ closer again, posting 34 saves and a 4.16 ERA.
On August 8, 2020, Iglesias earned his 100th career save. He was traded to the Angels on December 7, 2020. In 2021 he was named American League Reliever of the Month for July and finished the season with a 2.57 ERA, 103 strikeouts, and 34 saves. He re-signed with the Angels on December 1, 2021, for four years and $58 million.
On June 26, 2022, Iglesias was involved in a brawl incident and was ejected for the first time in his career after throwing sunflower seeds and gum onto the infield. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves on August 2, 2022, for Jesse Chavez and Tucker Davidson. With the Braves that year he posted a 0.34 ERA with 30 strikeouts and one save in 26+1/3 innings.
In 2023 he went 5-4 with a 2.75 ERA, 68 strikeouts, and 33 saves in 58 relief appearances. In 2024 he worked 66 relief outings, going 6-2 with a 1.95 ERA, 68 strikeouts, and 34 saves in 69+1/3 innings. On September 16, 2025, he earned his 250th save as the Braves beat the Nationals 6-3. In 2025 he had 29 saves in 67+1/3 innings with a 3.21 ERA and 73 strikeouts over 70 appearances.
Iglesias became a free agent after the 2025 season and re-signed with the Braves on November 19, 2025, on a one-year, $16 million contract. He has a son born in 2018.
Career MLB stats (through 2025): 42–55 win-loss record, 2.90 ERA, 869 strikeouts, 253 saves. Teams: Cincinnati Reds (2015–2020), Los Angeles Angels (2021–2022), Atlanta Braves (2022–present).
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 04:53 (CET).