Abner Uribe Deserves to Close Out More Games

By Eric Katz

For most of the season, Abner Uribe had established himself as the most effective setup man in
the league. His quiet dominance helped make closer Trevor Megill’s job a lot easier last season.
However, in late August, Megill suffered a right flexor strain that would keep him out for most
of September. While the Brewers initially used a “closer by committee” approach, it was Uribe
who emerged as the primary closer. The 25-year-old did an admirable job successfully
converting all five of his save opportunities. He was even trusted enough to close out the fifth
and final game of the NLDS, helping Milwaukee advance to the NLCS. I believe Abner Uribe
deserves more opportunities to close out games next season.
After a challenging 2024 season, Abner Uribe bounced back in a big way in 2025. For most of
this season, Uribe established himself as the best setup man in baseball and led the league in
holds with 37. Uribe was such an effective bridgeman that it helped net closer Megill get his
first All-Star selection. Both Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill formed one of the most formidable
backends of the bullpen in baseball.
However, in late August, Megill would be placed on the injured list with a flexor strain injury.
Not only did Megill’s injury force him to miss most of September, but his postseason availability
was now in question. The Milwaukee Brewers were also forced to rethink the ninth inning.
Initially, the Brewers went with a “closer by committee approach. Besides Uribe, other relievers
like Aaron Ashby, Shelby Miller, Nick Mears, and Jared Koening all had opportunities to close.
It didn’t take long for the Milwaukee Brewers to settle on the 25-year-old as their primary
closer. Abner Uribe thrived while filling in for Trevor Megill. During that stretch, the fireballer
posted a 1.38 ERA and picked up five saves. Despite Megill returning at the end of the regular
season, Milwaukee opted to have Uribe remain as the primary closer heading into the
postseason.
This decision paid immediate dividends. The fireballer appeared in two games in the NLDS
against the Chicago Cubs and didn’t allow a hit or run. Arguably, the biggest and best moment
of his career came in game five. In that game, he would be asked to pick up a two-inning save,
something he had never done during the regular season. Before this game, the last time Uribe
pitched more than an inning was his rookie year in 2023. However, Abner Uribe rose to the
occasion and didn’t allow a hit while walking only one batter. Not only did it help the Brewers
reach the NLCS for the first time since 2018, but it ultimately sent Cubs fans home crying about
Milwaukee flashing the “L flag.”
Besides Trevor Megill being an All-Star last season, the biggest argument against Uribe closing
more is his control issues. While pitching in a career-high 75.1 innings, Abner Uribe had a just-
above-MLB-average walk rate of 9.1%. However, having an All-Star caliber closer who struggles
with walks is nothing new to the Brewers. Josh Hader struggled with limiting the free passes at

times during his career in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, from 2021-2024, Devin Williams had an
above-average walk rate of 12.4%. Given how they both had success in Milwaukee, using
Uribe’s control issues as a reason to not use him more in save situations is silly! If Hader and
Williams can have success despite having high walk rates, so can Uribe.
One thing that cannot be denied is that Abner Uribe has the stuff to be an All-Star closer. How
hard he throws his fastball is borderline unfair as it averaged 98.8 MPH. However, he rarely
threw that pitch and mostly relied on his slider and sinker. Those pitches averaged 87.3 MPH
and 98.7 MPH, respectively. This helped him post a strikeout rate of 30.2% and opponents hit
groundballs 54.4% of the time when he pitched. With the kind of stuff he possesses and the
amount of success Uribe had in 2025, on any other team, he would be pitching regularly in save
situations.
Allowing Uribe to close games alongside Trevor Megill would give the Brewers a big advantage.
Opposing hitters wouldn’t be able to prepare for just one pitcher, since both have different
pitching styles. This would create more matchup flexibility for Manager Pat Murphy, as Abner
Uribe dominates righties, while Megill is more effective against lefties. When it comes to the
postseason, a Uribe-Megill combo gives Milwaukee two high-leverage arms who can close,
pitch multiple innings, or handle the middle of the lineup late in the game. This is similar to how
the Atlanta Braves used Tyler Matzek and Will Smith during their 2021 World Series run.
If one of them hits a cold streak or has a minor injury, the other can step right in, limiting the
chance of a bullpen collapse, and maintaining mental stability in the ninth inning. This is
something most teams struggle to do. Given how often closers are used throughout the course
of a 162-game season, burnout is common. With Trevor Megill’s recent arm injuries and Abner
Uribe’s youth, alternating save opportunities is a great way to maintain both their health.
For the Brewers front office, this can help limit their salaries during arbitration. While Uribe
won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2028, Megill will have his first hearing this offseason.
Giving Abner Uribe more save opportunities alongside Trevor Megill will help keep both around
for longer while lowering costs. This would be crucial for a small-market team like the Brewers,
given how they operate.
Abner Uribe proved he could close both during the last month of the regular season and in the
playoffs. Heck, despite not pitching more than an inning all season, he managed to notch a two-
inning save in game five of the NLDS. Uribe has the stuff to be a dominant closer and Trevor
Megill was an All-Star last year; this gives a huge advantage during games. The 2021 Atlanta
Braves had the same advantage as the Brewers currently possess and won a World Series. It
could also help the front office when it comes to keeping costs under control and both players