Boston Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey had nothing but positive things to say about one of his star relievers, Justin Slaten. Bailey believes Slaten has the potential to be an All-Star level closer.
“You see he can be a potential All-Star closer... He has the mentality for that. He has the stuff to do that consistently. It’s just, can we continue to get his stuff to be as consistent as possible where he’s shown flashes of being in the upper echelon of the league?”
Bailey also said that they hope to get Slaten a “bigger engine”, so he can maintain his control and speed for the 162 game stretch.
For Slaten, his 2023 season was awesome, and this season was good, but he dealt with some injuries that held him back. This year, he has a 3.04 ERA, a 6-2 record, and 57 punchouts.
If Bailey can find a way this offseason to help Slaten become a go-to guy in the bullpen and try to be always available, Slaten could become one the league’s best closers. All he needs to do is increase his stamina and control, and he could be the best reliever for the Sox for years to come.
Andrew Bailey had some high praise for Justin Slaten earlier in the week:
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) September 20, 2024
“You see he can be a potential All-Star closer... He has the mentality for that. He has the stuff to do that consistently. It’s just, can we continue to get his stuff to be as consistent as possible where… pic.twitter.com/OYDBHjBE1L
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