What Makes Abner Uribe So Dangerous?

[Cory Sparks]

Image courtesy of © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

 

Abner Uribe is one of the most dynamic closers in modern day baseball, and this lightning rod of energy belongs to the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching staff. Whether it’s his electric sinker or the mannerisms that follow a key out, this is someone who has the baseball world’s attention. But if you look into his advanced analytics, you’ll find something even more notable. Let’s dive in.

Background
Uribe is a 25-year-old, hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who is originally from the Dominican Republic. The Brewers’ reliever has four seasons of major league experience under his belt, amounting to over 140 innings of work and north of 160 strikeouts in his big league career. He’s not only someone who has been quite productive for Milwaukee over his first few years, but this is somebody who logged a sub-2 earned run average over the course of 75 appearances. 

Think about that; the Brewers utilized him every other night and he proved to be one of the most impactful hurlers in the game. Let’s take a further look at what makes Uribe so dominant and how he’s at the heart of plenty of wins for a ball club that continues to prove the naysayers wrong.

Strengths
In 2026, you need to throw hard. There are a few, finesse-driven examples out there, but the name of the game, especially for relievers, is having top-end velocity that speeds up the clock of a hitter and makes their job that much more difficult. The flame-throwing closer passes that test with flying colors, as he clocks in with an average fastball velocity of 98.3 miles per hour (95th percentile). 

While harder-thrown pitches can come right back and have more zip on them when they come off the bat, Uribe has been an expert at avoiding quality contact. His 3.2% barrel percentage (93rd percentile) is one of the best rates among MLB pitchers, directly correlating to a 33.3% hard-hit percentage (77th percentile). Above all else, this is someone who can consistently force opposing hitters to beat the ball into the ground. Look no further than his 49.2% ground ball rate, a mark well above average at the 78th percentile.

Pitch Mix
Unlike starting pitchers, the quality of pitches really outweighs the variance of a relief pitcher’s arsenal. In Uribe’s case, his bread and butter has been a 1-2 punch that has worked for the last four seasons. His sinker, which he utilizes 65% of the time, can saw off the swing of opposing right-handed hitters or chase away from lefties at that 98.3 mph average. 

Uribe’s slider, which he uses on 35% of pitches, couldn’t be more stark in its differences from the sinker. Not only does it buzz in at 86.6 mph, almost a 12 mph difference, but it bites gloveside in the exact opposite direction. Opposing batters are hitting just .200 at it through the first third of the season. 

Weakness
One fallback to lock in on is the righty’s wavering command. While both of his options can bend between 12-18 inches in opposite directions, his 9.5% walk rate (40th percentile) is below the league average. He’s relying more on the sinker now than in years past, as its faring better (.236 BAA vs. .248 BAA last year), but if one of his pitches isn’t on, he’s essentially pigeon-holed between sticking it out or pivoting to his only other option. 

Outlook
Can Abner Uribe keep a firm hold on the team’s closer role? With Trevor McGill serving as the squad’s main form of competition for the spot, the hurler’s arsenal and velocity plays well with arbitration taking effect starting in 2028. 

 

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[Team Canada]

Uribe is not the closer right now, so saying he has a "firm hold on the team's closer role" feels like it was written weeks ago.

[Matthew Trueblood]

56 minutes ago, Team Canada said:

Uribe is not the closer right now, so saying he has a "firm hold on the team's closer role" feels like it was written weeks ago.

??

"Uribe isn't and won't be the team's sole closer any time soon. He's sharing that role with Trevor Megill, and indeed, Megill is getting more of the save chances lately. "