Héctor Neris

Héctor Neris

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 227 lb.

• Debut August 5, 2014

• Born June 14, 1989 in Villa Altagracia, San Cristobal D.R.

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Héctor Neris was originally signed by Philadelphia Phillies scout Koby Perez. He reeached the majors with the Phillies in 2014 and was a winner in his major league debut on August 5th, pitching one scoreless inning of relief in what was his only big league appearance of the year. He spent 8 seasons with the Phillies, exclusively as a reliever, making 405 appearances from 2014 to 2021. He held the closer's job at various times during that stretch, but also lost it at other times due to some poor performances. He did save 26 games in 2017 and 28 in 2019, but also put up an ERA of 5.10 in 2018 and 4.57 in 2020. Altogether, he saved 84 games in his time in Philly.

In 2022 he joined the Houston Astros as a free agent and was installed as the set-up man for closer Ryan Pressly. On June 25th, he was part of a historic game as he took over for starter Cristian Javier who had kept the New York Yankees hitless through the first 7 innings. He issued a pair of walks, but got out of the inning without allowing a hit, and then turned the ball over to Pressly who completed the combined no-hitter with a perfect 9th inning. It was the first time the Yankees had been no-hit since June 11, 2003, when the Astros had also turned the trick, using six pitchers to do so. He went 6-4, 3.72 in 70 games for the Astros, with 3 saves and 79 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings. He was a contributor to the Astros' conquest of a World Series title by going 2-0, 1.50 in 8 postseason appearances - the first ones of his career. The two wins came in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners on October 13th, when he pitched a third of an inning in relief of Framber Valdez before the Astros scored twice in the bottom of the 6th inning. He also won Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees on October 23rd in spite of giving up his only run of the postseason in that game.

He returned to the Astros in 2023 and had an even better season, finishing at 6-3, 1.71 in 71 game, with 2 saves. In 68 1/3 innings, he allowed just 41 hits, walked 31 batters, and registered 77 strikeouts. he returned to the postseason but was roughed up for 4 runs in 2 innings by the Minnesota Twins in the Division Series. He did better in the hard-fought ALCS against the Texas Rangers, which went the distance, appearing in 5 of the 7 games while allowing 2 runs in 6 1/3 innings. He did not have any decisions - win, loss or save - in the two series. Following the season, he became a free agent after declining to exercise a contract option that could have given him a third season with Houston and on January 27, 2024, it was reported that he had signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs for $9 million; that contract also came with an option for a second season.

Notable Achievements

• Won one World Series with the Houston Astros in 2022

Further Reading

• Brian McTaggart: "Javier (13 K's) leads Houston's 'shocking' combined no-hitter vs. Yanks", mlb.com, June 25, 2022. [1]
• Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru: "Cubs add reliever Neris on one-year deal", mlb.com, January 27, 2024. [2]

Related Sites

• Hector Neris at mlb.com