Emmanuel Clase has 'huge breakout potential'
NBC Sports EDGE's D.J. Short explains why fantasy managers should be excited about Emmanuel Clase's breakout potential.
Video Transcript
DJ SHORT: Indians reliever James Karinchak was a favorite pick to emerge as an elite fantasy closer in drafts this spring, and for good reason. He had a 2.51 ERA between 2019 and 2020, with 61 strikeouts in 32 and 2/3 innings. Just ridiculous numbers.
However, Indians manager Terry Francona didn't commit to a specific close are coming out of the spring and didn't want to lock Karinchak into a specific game situation. That's where Emmanuel Clase comes in. Acquired from the Rangers in the Corey Kluber trade, the 23-year-old didn't pitch last season due to a lat strain and a PED suspension, but he's back throwing straight gas this season.
He's averaging 100 miles-per-hour on his cutter, for goodness sake. Good luck hitting that. Clase already has a couple of saves under his belt, and while he took the loss against the White Sox on April 12, it happened under some strange circumstances.
Don't hold it against him. The hierarchy in this bullpen has come into focus, and Clase has serious breakout potential if he can keep the job and avoid hiccups.
