2025 has the chance to be a breakout year for young Jose A Ferrer
If the Nationals make the risky decision of not bringing in a veteran closer, Jose A Ferrer should get the first crack at the ninth inning. The 25 year old left hander has sky high potential and looks poised for a breakout in 2025.
After being signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2017, Ferrer worked his way through the Minor League system, making his debut towards the end of the 2023 season. He was expected to make the opening day roster in 2024, but a shoulder injury sidelined him for the first half of the season.
When he came back, he looked better than ever. His velocity had gone from averaging 95.5 MPH to averaging 98 MPH. Ferrer had also turned his 4-seam fastball into a heavy sinker that produced ground balls at an exceptional rate. He produced ground balls at a 57.3% clip, which is elite. Hitters had an average launch angle of only 2 degrees against Ferrer’s sinker. They simply couldn’t lift the pitch because of its heavy sink.
While the sinker is the pitch Ferrer relies on, throwing it 58.8% of the time, he also has a very good changeup. It is a huge weapon for him against right handed hitters, and makes him more than just a lefty specialist. His changeup generated a 39.6% whiff rate. While he doesn’t strike out a ton of batters, relying more on grounders, his changeup and a 4-seamer he mixed in were good at putting hitters away with two strikes.
Ferrer also made massive strides with his control. He only walked 4.7% of batters in 2024. With that kind of stuff and his ability to avoid free passes, Ferrer has all the ingredients to be a high end reliever in the mold of a Zack Britton. He might not get strikeouts like a prime Craig Kimbrel, but keeping the ball on the ground with a 98 MPH sinker is a pretty nice thing to be able to do.
While a veteran option with closer experience like Jorge Lopez is probably the favorite to close entering spring, I would give the job to Ferrer if he has a good camp. Lopez is a 32 year old on a one year deal. Personally, I would rather see Ferrer get the closing reps instead. It would be good for his development, and he might already be better than Lopez.
Ideally, the Nats could bring in a proven veteran closer like a Kenley Jansen or David Robertson who can show Ferrer the ropes. Regardless of what the Nats do from here, Ferrer will be pitching in high leverage innings. At just 25 years old at the start of the season, Jose A Ferrer is the both the present and future of the Nationals bullpen.