Five months earlier and Hector Neris would have crumbled. He would have given up another homer to the next batter. And the next. But not this Hector Neris. This pitcher was different.
Neris underwent a transformation this past season, from a reliever who suffered the worst meltdown of his career to one who guided himself through adversity. The Phillies have money to burn this off-season, and the bullpen is a logical place to spend. But Neris proved over the second half that the closer’s role should be his in 2018.
Neris converted his final 20 save opportunities and registered a 2.