Héctor Neris


Héctor Neris is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. He was signed as a free agent by the Phillies in 2010. Neris made his major league debut in 2014.

Early life

Neris was born in Villa Altagracia, in the Dominican Republic. He played volleyball, basketball, and chess at the Colegio José Francisco Peña Gómez, graduating in 2008.

Career

Philadelphia Phillies

2010-12

Neris was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies on May 28, 2010. He pitched for the Dominican Summer League Phillies and was 1-1 with five saves and a 3.24 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 41.2 innings, holding batters to a.199 batting average.
In 2011 he split the season between the Class A- Williamsport Crosscutters and the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. 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.
In 2012 Neris pitched for the Class A+ Clearwater Threshers. He was 4-2 with six saves and a 3.55 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 78.2 innings, averaging 10.8 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.

2013-15

In 2013 he pitched for the Class AA Reading Fightin Phils. Neris was 6-4 with a 4.55 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 97 innings.
In 2014 in the minors Neris split his time between Reading and the Class AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He was a combined 6-3 with two saves and a 3.61 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 77.1 innings.
Neris was called up to the majors for the first time on August 3, 2014. He made his debut on August 5, pitching a scoreless top of the 15th inning; the Phillies scored in the bottom of the inning earning Neris his first major league victory. 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. In 2014 with the Phillies he pitched in only that one game.
He split time in 2015 between the AAA Lehigh Valley and the Phillies bullpen, appearing in 35 games. Neris finished 2-2 for the Phillies with a 3.79 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 40.1 innings, averaging 9.2 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. With Lehigh Valley, he was 1-3 with one save and a 3.62 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 37.2 innings.

2016-present

In 2016, Neris served as a setup man in the Phillies bullpen, with a record of 4-4, 2 saves, and 28 holds, and posting an ERA of 2.58 in 79 games. In innings, he struck out 102 batters, averaging 11.4 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.
He pitched for the Dominican Republic national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
In 2017, Neris served as the Phillies closer. He was 4-5 with a 3.01 ERA and had 26 saves in 29 opportunities, and pitched in 74 games. He struck out 86 batters in 74.2 innings, averaging 10.4 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. He threw a splitter 51.3% of the time, tops in MLB.
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 AAA. He was recalled just three days later. On June 29 he was optioned to AAA for a second stint, after giving up five earned runs in a 17–7 loss to the Washington Nationals. Neris returned to the major leagues on August 14. He was named NL Reliever of the Month for August, after striking out 20 of the 32 batters he faced that month. In 2018 with the Phillies, he was 1-2 with 11 saves and a 5.10 ERA and struck out 76 batters in 47.2 innings, averaging 14.3 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. The only NL pitcher with a higher strikeout rate than Neris in 2018 was Josh Hader. He threw a four-seam fastball that averaged 95 miles per hour. He also threw a splitter 49.1% of the time, tops in MLB. In 2018 with AAA Lehigh Valley, he was 2-0 with one save and a 1.15 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 18.2 innings, averaging 14.9 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.
In 2019 with the Phillies, Neris was 3-6 with 28 saves and a 2.93 ERA, as in 68 relief appearances in 67.2 innings he struck out 89 batters.