The way baseball is played today, bullpens aren’t just backup plans—they’re weapons. With starters rarely going deep into games, relievers are more important (and used more creatively) than ever before.
Some guys from the past and present feel like they were made for this moment—high-leverage beasts, multi-inning freaks, and late-inning legends who could thrive in the chaos of modern bullpen strategy. Here are 20 relievers who were absolutely built for today’s bullpen-first baseball world.
20. John Hiller
He threw multiple innings like it was nothing and didn’t blink in pressure situations. In a world of bullpen games and fireman roles, Hiller would’ve been a manager’s dream.
19. Devin Williams
With that baffling changeup and video game movement, he feels engineered in a lab for the modern bullpen. He’s built to enter with two on, no outs, and escape clean.
18. Keith Foulke
Foulke was all about control and deception, which would be even more valuable today. He could easily be a leverage weapon in the seventh or ninth—whatever was needed.
17. Mike Marshall
He pitched so much in one season that his arm should be in the Hall of Fame by itself. Imagine Marshall in a world where managers are obsessed with matchups and innings limits—he’d laugh and ask for another inning.
16. Emmanuel Clase
His cutters might break the pitch-tracking system. If you’re designing a bullpen ace for today, this guy’s the blueprint.
15. Jesse Orosco
Lefty? Check. Clutch? Check. Totally comfortable pitching every other day for 20 years? You better believe it.
14. Eric Gagné
He brought closer energy before closer energy was cool. Give him a short leash, some adrenaline, and a stadium full of chaos—he’s thriving in 2025.
13. Andrew Miller
Miller basically pioneered the multi-inning, high-leverage weapon role in October. Teams are still trying to find the next version of him.
12. Sparky Lyle
Lyle’s mustache was intimidating, and so was his stuff. He racked up innings and handled high-leverage moments like he was sipping coffee.
11. Jonathan Papelbon
Over-the-top intensity and zero patience for failure—he would’ve fit right in with today’s bullpen roles. Just don’t let him handle any postgame celebrations.
10. Rob Dibble
The man threw absolute gas and had no regard for your feelings at the plate. He’s the type of dude you’d call in to shut down a heart of the order with the game on the line.
9. Tom Henke
He was calm, consistent, and quietly dominant. In today’s world of analytics and efficiency, Henke would be a bullpen robot—just punch in the save and go.
8. Josh Hader
Lefty, funky, and built for chaos, Hader doesn’t shy away from high-leverage fire. If you need three outs and don’t care how scary it looks getting there, this is your guy.
7. Rollie Fingers
The original bullpen icon with the most famous mustache in baseball. He’d be a multi-inning monster in modern October baseball.
6. Billy Wagner
He was small, mean, and threw like a lightning bolt. Give him a one-inning leash in the 8th or 9th and get out of his way.
5. Dennis Eckersley
He basically invented the modern closer role, and he’d thrive in today’s ultra-specialized game. Plus, he had the vibe of someone who’d drop a perfect inning and then roast you in the postgame interview.
4. Aroldis Chapman
Fastballs like missiles and just enough unpredictability to keep everyone on edge. Chapman is pure bullpen theater and perfectly built for the drama of late-inning dominance.
3. Goose Gossage
He was throwing 100 before radar guns even believed it. Gossage had the volume, velocity, and vibe to be the ultimate bullpen alpha today.
2. Craig Kimbrel
The weird stance. The massive strikeout totals. He’s been a walking bullpen weapon for a decade and would still get the call in any high-leverage spot.
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1. Mariano Rivera
One pitch. One legend. In today’s bullpen-first world, Mariano wouldn’t just dominate—he’d redefine the word closer all over again.
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