It was anticipated that veteran left-handed reliever Josh Hader, who signed a five-year, $95 million contract with the Houston Astros earlier this offseason, would serve as the team’s closer beginning in 2024. After all, Hader is a superb reliever who, since 2019, has played closer for two different clubs. In fact, Hader will start the season as the Astros’ primary beneficiary of save opportunities, as first-year Astros manager Joe Espada stated on Wednesday.

However, when Espada informed Ryan Pressly of the role change, Pressly appeared somewhat taken aback by the news. Pressly reportedly stated on Thursday, “Yeah, it was a surprise, but he makes our team better,” as reported by the AP. Without a doubt, he is among the top relievers in the game. It was anticipated that veteran left-handed reliever Josh Hader, who signed a five-year, $95 million contract with the Houston Astros earlier this offseason, would serve as the team’s closer beginning in 2024. After all, Hader is a superb reliever who, since 2019, has played closer for two different clubs. In fact, Hader will start the season as the Astros’ primary beneficiary of save opportunities, as first-year Astros manager Joe Espada stated on Wednesday.

However, when Espada informed Ryan Pressly of the role change, Pressly appeared somewhat taken aback by the news. Pressly reportedly stated on Thursday, “Yeah, it was a surprise, but he makes our team better,” as reported by the AP. Without a doubt, he is among the top relievers in the game.

Pressly, 35, has been the main closer for Houston since the 2020 COVID-19 short season. In 198 ⅔ innings thrown, he recorded a 2.99 ERA, 249 strikeouts, and 102 of 118 regular-season save opportunities were converted. Pressly is 14 for 14 in postseason save opportunities. He’s currently in position to take over as Hader’s main right-handed setup guy.