Emmanuel Clase Made Must-See MLB History

Before the 2020 season, the Texas Rangers traded Emmanuel Clase and Delino DeShields Jr. to the Cleveland Guardians for Corey Kluber.

Kluber was still a top pitcher who happened to be injured for most of the year in 2019, which is why some people criticized the return the Guardians got for him.

It’s safe to say that, even if Kluber is still a good starter and proved it this year with the Tampa Bay Rays, it’s a trade that Cleveland does not regret in the slightest.

Clase has been magnificent for the Guardians: he had a 1.29 ERA in 2021 and a 1.36 ERA in 2022.

Yes: two consecutive seasons with a sub-1.50 ERA are, for the lack of a better word, legendary.

Clase Is A Unicorn

Many pitchers who can comfortably throw 100 mph suffer from control issues: commanding such a fast pitch is not easy.

It’s not something that affects Clase, a master of throwing strikes despite bringing the gas every time he takes the mound.

“Over 75% of Emmanuel Clase’s pitches this year were strikes! It’s the highest strike percentage of any MLB pitcher in the 35 years that they have been tracking pitches and it’s totally insane!” Codify Baseball tweeted.

Over 75% of Emmanuel Clase’s pitches this year were strikes! 😮 It’s the highest strike percentage of any MLB pitcher in the 35 years that they have been tracking pitches and it’s totally insane!
cc: @CleGuardians https://t.co/HE9tucFpzn

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) October 19, 2022

For a pitcher who throws mainly 100-mph cutters that move like sliders, having such a high strike percentage is nuts.

Absolutely nuts.

Having a pitcher like Clase is a luxury that few, if any, teams in MLB have.

He is as automatic as they get, and is a true weapon in the postseason.

He showed in the series against the New York Yankees that he can pitch multiple innings without losing effectiveness.

He truly was one of the most valuable Guardians of the season.