Did David Bednar Just Defy the Odds with the Longest Closer Leash in MLB History?
Imagine a pitcher who racks up saves but also allows runs at an alarming rate. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? Well, that’s exactly what happened last summer with David Bednar and Camilo Doval, two closers whose performances were so historically unusual that they caught my attention. Their stats—20+ saves paired with an ERA 20% below league average—had only been seen 17 times since 1871. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite their struggles, both were given remarkably long leashes by their teams. And this is the part most people miss: Bednar’s leash might just be the longest in MLB history.
Let’s rewind to 2024, a year that could be dubbed the Golden Age of Bad Closers. Bednar and Doval weren’t alone; Craig Kimbrel’s September meltdown for the Orioles earned him a spot on this dubious list, making 2024 the first year ever with three closers achieving this rare combination of saves and runs allowed. But why were they allowed to stay in their roles for so long? The answer lies in the evolving mindset of MLB teams.
Teams today understand that the ninth inning, while nerve-wracking, isn’t always the most critical. They also recognize the value of consistency in roles, even if it means sacrificing marginal gains. Creative closer roles, once trendy, often led to friction with players—like when Josh Hader’s lack of saves cost him in arbitration. So, most teams now stick with a designated closer, unless their bullpen is either catastrophically bad or so good that no single reliever stands out. Take the Tigers, for example, who demoted Jason Foley to Triple-A only after a chaotic postseason and a shaky spring.
Modern teams are also savvy with advanced metrics. They know that a few blown saves don’t necessarily spell doom if the underlying data—pitch shapes, velocity, BABIP—looks solid. This is why Bednar, despite a dreadful spring in 2024, kept his closer role. But here’s the catch: while teams are patient, they’re not blind. Eventually, they’ll prioritize what they see on the field over advanced stats like FIP or spin rates. This delicate balance defines the closer leash—a concept that’s both lengthening and shortening, depending on whom you ask.
By the end of 2024, it seemed like Bednar’s time was up. He was replaced by Aroldis Chapman in September, and Doval and Kimbrel had already been demoted. But then, something bizarre happened. The Pirates announced before Spring Training even began that Bednar would reclaim the closer role. It was as if he’d been resurrected—only to falter again in 2025, lasting just four days before being sent to Triple-A. Was this the longest leash in MLB history? I believe so, and I’m here to prove it.
To do that, I’ll analyze all 20 entrants on the lots-of-saves, lots-of-runs-allowed list, exploring why they held their roles for so long and whether they ever regained them. Closers, as we know them, have only existed for 40 to 50 years, and the first player to achieve this dubious feat was in 1997. But before diving into the other 19, let’s focus on Bednar.
David Bednar, 2024, Pirates: 23 saves, 5.77 ERA, 73 ERA+
Bednar’s journey isn’t all struggles. He broke out in 2021 with a 2.23 ERA and 2.69 FIP, thanks to increased velocity and opportunity with the Pirates. Models like StuffPro predicted his rise, and he backed it up with 39 saves in 2023. But 2024 was a different story. Despite throwing harder and maintaining pitch shapes, his walk rate spiked, his strikeout rate plummeted, and batters figured out how to pull the ball against him. His 5.77 ERA was 27% worse than league average, yet he remained the closer—until he didn’t.
The Pirates’ decision to reinstate him in 2025, despite a shaky spring, raises questions. Was it blind faith? Or did they see something others didn’t? His regular season start was disastrous, with three appearances resulting in two walk-offs and a nervy save. Bad luck played a role—like the wild pitch with a 93% block probability—but luck has never saved a closer before. So, why Bednar?
The Pirates’ move suggests an unprecedented level of patience, one that might make Bednar’s leash the longest in MLB history. But is this a new trend, or an outlier? And what does it say about the future of the closer role? Let’s explore the other 19 cases in Part II, but for now, one thing is clear: Bednar’s story is a fascinating—and controversial—chapter in baseball’s evolving narrative.
What do you think? Is Bednar’s leash the longest in history, or just a fluke? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your take!
