| Héctor Neris | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Neris with the Phillies in 2019 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1989-06-14)June 14, 1989 (age 36) Villa Altagracia,San Cristóbal,Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 5, 2014, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 46–43 |
| Earned run average | 3.47 |
| Strikeouts | 775 |
| Saves | 107 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Héctor Neris (born June 14, 1989) is a Dominican professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for thePhiladelphia Phillies,Houston Astros,Chicago Cubs,Atlanta Braves, andLos Angeles Angels. He signed with the Phillies as an internationalfree agent in 2010, and made his MLB debut with them in 2014.
Héctor Neris was born inVilla Altagracia, in theDominican Republic.[1] He played volleyball, basketball, and chess at the Colegio José Francisco Peña Gómez, graduating in 2008.[2]
Neris signed as afree agent by thePhiladelphia Phillies on May 28, 2010.[3] He pitched for theDominican Summer League Phillies and had a 1–1win–loss record with fivesaves and a 3.24earned run average (ERA) with 34strikeouts in41+2⁄3innings pitched, holding batters to a .199batting average against.[2][4]
In 2011, Neris split the season between the Low–AWilliamsport Crosscutters and the Single–ALakewood BlueClaws.[2][4] Neris was a combined 3–2 with a 2.75 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 59 innings, averaging 11.0 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.[4]
In 2012, Neris pitched for the High–AClearwater Threshers.[4] He was 4–2 with six saves, a 3.55 ERA, and 94 strikeouts in78+2⁄3 innings, averaging 10.8 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.[4]
In 2013, Neris pitched for the Double–AReading Fightin Phils. He was 6–4 with a 4.55 earned run average and 93 strikeouts in 97 innings. In 2014 in the minors Neris split his time between Reading and the Triple–ALehigh Valley IronPigs. He was a combined 6–3 with two saves, a 3.61 earned run average and 70 strikeouts in77+1⁄3 innings.[4]
Neris was called up to the majors for the first time on August 3,2014.[5] He made his major league debut on August 5 versus theHouston Astros, pitching a scoreless top of the 15th inning; the Phillies scored in the bottom of the inning, earning Neris his first major league victory.[6] However, after the game, he was optioned back to Lehigh Valley to open a roster spot for the next night's starting pitcher,David Buchanan.[7] In 2014 with the Phillies he pitched in only that one game.[1]
He split time in 2015 between the Triple–A Lehigh Valley and the Phillies bullpen, appearing in 35 games. Neris finished 2–2 for the Phillies with a 3.79 earned run average with 41 strikeouts in40+1⁄3 innings, averaging 9.2 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.[1] With Lehigh Valley, he was 1–3 with one save, a 3.62 earned run average and 35 strikeouts in37+2⁄3 innings.[1]
In 2016, Neris served as a setup man in the Phillies bullpen, with a record of 4–4, 2 saves, 28holds (tied for 4th in the NL), and posting an earned run average of 2.58 in 79 games (3rd in the National League).[1][8] In80+1⁄3 innings, he struck out 102 batters (2nd-most ever by a Phillies reliever, behindDick Selma in 1970, and 31.1% of the batters he faced), averaging 11.4 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.[1][2]
He pitched for theDominican Republic national baseball team in the2017 World Baseball Classic.[2]
In 2017, Neris served as the Philliescloser. He was 4–5 with a 3.01 earned run average and had 26 saves (8th in the league) in 29 opportunities, and pitched in 74 games (5th in the NL).[1] He struck out 86 batters in74+2⁄3 innings, averaging 10.4 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.[1] He threw a splitter 51.3% of the time, tops in the major leagues.[9]
Neris began the 2018 season as the team's closer, but was demoted from the role a month into the season, and on June 18 was optioned to Triple–A. He was recalled just three days later.[10] On June 29 he was optioned to Triple–A for a second stint, after giving up fiveearned runs in a 17–7 loss to theWashington Nationals.[11] Neris returned to the major leagues on August 14.[12] He was named NL Reliever of the Month for August, after striking out 20 of the 32 batters he faced that month (62.5%).[13] In 2018 with the Phillies, he was 1–2 with 11 saves, a 5.10 earned run average, and 76 strike outs in47+2⁄3 innings, averaging 14.3 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.[1] The only NL pitcher with a higher strikeout rate than Neris in 2018 wasJosh Hader.[14] He threw afour-seam fastball that averaged 95 miles per hour.[15] He also threw a splitter 49.1% of the time, tops in the major leagues.[16] In 2018 with Triple–A Lehigh Valley, he was 2–0 with one save, a 1.15 earned run average, and 31 strikeouts in18+2⁄3 innings, averaging 14.9 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.[4]
In 2019 with the Phillies, Neris was 3–6 with 28 saves (7th in the National League) and a 2.93 earned run average in 68 relief appearances, with 89 strike outs in67+2⁄3 innings (averaging 11.8 strikeouts per 9 innings).[17] In 2020 for Philadelphia, Neris pitched to a 2–2 record with 5 saves and a 4.57 earned run average to go along with 27 strikeouts across21+2⁄3 innings pitched in 24 games.[18] In 2021, Neris went 4–7 with 12 saves in 19 chances, recording a 3.63 earned run average and 98 strikeouts in74+1⁄3 innings.[17]
On November 30, 2021, Neris signed a two-year contract worth $17 million with theHouston Astros.[19] On April 12, 2022, atChase Field, he struck out two in a perfect eighth inning versus theArizona Diamondbacks to earn his first win in an Astros uniform in a 2–1 score.[20] On June 7, 2022, Neris was suspended 4 games for throwing at the head of theSeattle Mariners third basemenEugenio Suárez.[21]
He pitched the eighth inning of a combinedno-hitter and 3–0 win over theNew York Yankees on June 25, 2022. The 14th no-hitter in Astros' history,Cristian Javier started the game andRyan Pressly closed it for a save.[22] Neris struck out two on July 3 in a 4–2 victory over theLos Angeles Angels[23] in which Astros pitchers struck out 20 batters to establish a franchise record in a nine inning contest.[24] Contributing were starterFramber Valdez (first six innings), Neris (7th),Rafael Montero (8th) and Pressly (9th).[a][23]
Neris earned his second save of the season on August 12, 2022, by throwing a scoreless ninth in a 7–5 win over theOakland Athletics.[25] On September 19, Neris closed out the final inning of a 4–0 defeat of theTampa Bay Rays and clinch a fifthAmerican League West division title for the Astros over the previous six seasons.[26] On October 4, 2022, Neris made his first career appearance versus thePhillies and induced two perfect outs in an on-going no-hitter that Houston pitching maintained until the ninth inning.[27]
For the 2022 regular season, Neris made 70 appearances, ranking fifth in the AL among pitchers,[1] and had 25 holds, which tied for third and led the Astros.[28] He produced a 3.72 ERA, 6–4 W–L, three saves, 2.35Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), 79 strikeouts, 17 bases on balls, and three home runs allowed over65+1⁄3 IP for ratios of 10.9strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9), 4.65strikeouts to walks (K/BB), and 0.4home runs per nine innings (HR/9).[1]
In his first careerpostseason appearance, Neris induced a two-out, bases-loaded groundout fromCal Raleigh in the sixth inning in Game 2 of theAmerican League Division Series {ALDS} versus theSeattle Mariners, and was the winning pitcher.[29] He allowed a go-ahead home run in Game 4 of theAmerican League Championship Series (ALCS) versus the Yankees, but the Astros rallied the followinginning to win the game, making him the pitcher of note as the Astros won thepennant in four games. The Astros again faced the Phillies in theWorld Series and defeated them in six games to give Neris his firstWorld Seriestitle, and he pitched a scoreless seventh inning in the Game 6 clincher.[30] He went 2–0 in the postseason, allowing two hits and one run over eight appearances and six innings (1.50 ERA). He struck out nine, allowed no walks, and this performance netted a 9.9% championshipwin probability added (cWPA).[1]
On February 1, 2024, Neris signed a one-year, $9 million contract with theChicago Cubs.[31] In 46 relief outings for Chicago, he compiled an 8–4 record and 3.89 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 17 saves over 44 innings. Neris was released by the Cubs on August 20.[32]
On August 24, 2024, Neris re-signed with theAstros on a major league contract.[33] He made 16 appearances as a member of the Astros, with15+1⁄3 innings and 8 earned runs allowed (4.70 ERA) and 1.043walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP), which was significantly improved. However, he allowed 4 home runs (2.3 per 9 IP), a significant regression. In the ALWild Card Series (WCS), he made one scoreless appearance versus theDetroit Tigers, getting both outs of2⁄3 inning via strikeout.[1] Following the season, he elected free agency.[34]
On March 3, 2025, Neris signed a minor league contract with theAtlanta Braves.[35] On March 21, the Braves selected Neris' contract after he made the team'sOpening Day roster.[36] In 2 appearances for Atlanta, he allowed 5 runs on 5 hits with 1 strikeout in 1 inning pitched. Neris wasdesignated for assignment following the promotion ofJesse Chavez on March 31.[37] He elected free agency on April 2.[38]
On April 16, 2025, Neris signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Angels.[39] He was subsequently assigned to the Triple-ASalt Lake Bees. On May 6, the Angels selected Neris' contract, adding him to their active roster.[40] In 21 appearances for the Angels, he registered a 3–0 record and 5.14 ERA with 19 strikeouts across 14 innings pitched. Neris was designated for assignment by Los Angeles on June 28.[41] He was released after clearing waivers on July 3.[42]
On July 5, 2025, Neris signed a major league contract with theHouston Astros.[43] In 12 appearances for Houston, he posted an 0-1 record and 5.40 ERA with 15 strikeouts across11+2⁄3 innings pitched. Neris was designated for assignment by the Astros on August 12.[44] He elected free agency after clearing waivers on August 16.[45]
As of 2022, the right-hander Neris relies on four pitches in his pitching repertoire, afour-seam fastball averaging 94 miles per hour, asinker averaging near 95 miles per hour, asplitter averaging 84 miles per hour, and aslider averaging about 88 miles per hour.[46] Neris exclusively relies on throwing his split-fingered fastball to get outs, utilizing it at higher percentage than his four-seam fastball and sinker at 40.6% in the2021 season and throwing it a career high 65.3% in 2019 which lead to him collecting a career high 28 saves with 57 strikeouts on his splitter alone in 2019. Neris utilizes the splitter especially for swinging strikeouts, since splitters appear to have a typical fastball movement until it drops suddenly as it comes to the plate. This resulted in Neris collecting a 45% whiff percentage on his splitter in the 2021 season.[47] Neris throws his slider the least out of his four pitches, never throwing it for more than 17 percent of all his pitches in every season he utilized it since 2015.
Neris pitches from theset position, starting his delivery after receiving the pitch call by tucking the baseball behind his glove near his hip similarly to former Phillies closerJonathan Papelbon, adding deception. Neris is a very expressive player on the mound, as he often celebrates after getting important outs especially clutch strikeouts on hitters late in games and getting the final out to collect saves.[48] Neris once after gettingJustin Turner out on a flyout to collect a save against the Dodgers in 2019, he reportedly shouted expletives towards the Dodgers' dugout while celebrating which Dodgers' managerDave Roberts stated "To look in our dugout and to taunt in any way, I think it’s unacceptable..."[49]
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | National League Reliever of the Month August 2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher June 25, 2022 (withCristian Javier &Ryan Pressly) | Succeeded by |
