In a town that knows an out-of-nowhere bullpen success story when it sees one, there’s plenty to enjoy about the Orioles making a closer out of journeyman changeup artist César Valdez.
His emergence, though, has somewhat consumed another similar breakout story that three weeks into last season seemed like it would have staying power: Cole Sulser.
Like Valdez, Sulser was an off-the-radar closer candidate when he started getting the ball late in leading situations for manager Brandon Hyde in 2020.
He had five saves in the Orioles’ first 20 games, and like Valdez, his journey to Camden Yards was a long time coming.