While there were a number of disappointing performances from the Atlanta Braves during the 2025 season, few stack up to just how bad Raisel Iglesias was in the first half. After 2.5 seasons with the Braves where he was among the best closers in baseball, Iglesias fell off a cliff before the All-Star break with a 4.42 ERA across 39 appearances including some very notable and complete meltdowns. Iglesias looked like a shadow of his former self and the idea of bringing the pending free agent reliever back for 2026 and beyond looked foolish.
However, Iglesias managed to change the narrative in the second half after pitching much better and being a rare bright spot in what was otherwise a lost season for Atlanta.