Héctor Neris

Héctor Neris (born June 14, 1989) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, and Los Angeles Angels. He signed with the Phillies as an international free agent in 2010, and made his MLB debut with them in 2014.

Early life Héctor Neris was born in Villa Altagracia, in the Dominican Republic. He played volleyball, basketball, and chess at the Colegio José Francisco Peña Gómez, graduating in 2008.

Career Philadelphia Phillies 2010–12 Neris signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies on May 28, 2010. He pitched for the Dominican Summer League Phillies and had a 1–1 win–loss record with five saves and a 3.24 earned run average (ERA) with 34 strikeouts in innings pitched, holding batters to a .199 batting average against.

In 2011, Neris split the season between the Low–A Williamsport Crosscutters and the Single–A Lakewood BlueClaws. He made his major league debut on August 5 versus the Houston Astros, pitching a scoreless top of the 15th inning; the Phillies scored in the bottom of the inning, earning Neris his first major league victory. However, after the game, he was optioned back to Lehigh Valley to open a roster spot for the next night's starting pitcher, David Buchanan. In 2014 with the Phillies he pitched in only that one game. In innings, he struck out 102 batters (2nd-most ever by a Phillies reliever, behind Dick Selma in 1970, and 31.1% of the batters he faced), averaging 11.4 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.

Neris began the 2018 season as the team's closer, but was demoted from the role a month into the season, and on June 18 was optioned to Triple–A. He was recalled just three days later. On June 29 he was optioned to Triple–A for a second stint, after giving up five earned runs in a 17–7 loss to the Washington Nationals. Neris returned to the major leagues on August 14. He was named NL Reliever of the Month for August, after striking out 20 of the 32 batters he faced that month (62.5%). In 2018 with the Phillies, he was 1–2 with 11 saves, a 5.10 earned run average, and 76 strike outs in innings, averaging 14.3 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. He threw a four-seam fastball that averaged 95 miles per hour. He also threw a splitter 49.1% of the time, tops in the major leagues. In 2018 with Triple–A Lehigh Valley, he was 2–0 with one save, a 1.15 earned run average, and 31 strikeouts in innings, averaging 14.9 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. In 2020 for Philadelphia, Neris pitched to a 2–2 record with 5 saves and a 4.57 earned run average to go along with 27 strikeouts across innings pitched in 24 games. In 2021, Neris went 4–7 with 12 saves in 19 chances, recording a 3.63 earned run average and 98 strikeouts in innings. On April 12, 2022, at Chase Field, he struck out two in a perfect eighth inning versus the Arizona Diamondbacks to earn his first win in an Astros uniform in a 2–1 score. On June 7, 2022, Neris was suspended 4 games for throwing at the head of the Seattle Mariners third basemen Eugenio Suárez.

He pitched the eighth inning of a combined no-hitter and 3–0 win over the New York Yankees on June 25, 2022. The 14th no-hitter in Astros' history, Cristian Javier started the game and Ryan Pressly closed it for a save. Neris struck out two on July 3 in a 4–2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in which Astros pitchers struck out 20 batters to establish a franchise record in a nine inning contest. Contributing were starter Framber Valdez (first six innings), Neris (7th), Rafael Montero (8th) and Pressly (9th). (In the series with Los Angeles, Astros pitching recorded 48 strikeouts to establish a major league record for strikeouts over a three-game played without extra innings.) On September 19, Neris closed out the final inning of a 4–0 defeat of the Tampa Bay Rays and clinch a fifth American League West division title for the Astros over the previous six seasons. On October 4, 2022, Neris made his first career appearance versus the Phillies and induced two perfect outs in an on-going no-hitter that Houston pitching maintained until the ninth inning.

For the 2022 regular season, Neris made 70 appearances, ranking fifth in the AL among pitchers, He produced a 3.72 ERA, 6–4 W–L, three saves, 2.35 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), 79 strikeouts, 17 bases on balls, and three home runs allowed over IP for ratios of 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9), 4.65 strikeouts to walks (K/BB), and 0.4 home runs per nine innings (HR/9). He allowed a go-ahead home run in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) versus the Yankees, but the Astros rallied the following inning to win the game, making him the pitcher of note as the Astros won the pennant in four games. The Astros again faced the Phillies in the World Series and defeated them in six games to give Neris his first World Series title, and he pitched a scoreless seventh inning in the Game 6 clincher. He went 2–0 in the postseason, allowing two hits and one run over eight appearances and six innings (1.50 ERA). He struck out nine, allowed no walks, and this performance netted a 9.9% championship win probability added (cWPA). In 46 relief outings for Chicago, he compiled an 8–4 record and 3.89 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 17 saves over 44 innings. Neris was released by the Cubs on August 20.

Houston Astros (second stint) On August 24, 2024, Neris re-signed with the Astros on a major league contract. He made 16 appearances as a member of the Astros, with innings and 8 earned runs allowed (4.70 ERA) and 1.043 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP), which was significantly improved. However, he allowed 4 home runs (2.3 per 9 IP), a significant regression. In the AL Wild Card Series (WCS), he made one scoreless appearance versus the Detroit Tigers, getting both outs of inning via strikeout.

Atlanta Braves On March 3, 2025, Neris signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. On March 21, the Braves selected Neris' contract after he made the team's Opening Day roster. In 2 appearances for Atlanta, he allowed 5 runs on 5 hits with 1 strikeout in 1 inning pitched. Neris was designated for assignment following the promotion of Jesse Chavez on March 31. He elected free agency on April 2.

Los Angeles Angels On April 16, 2025, Neris signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He was subsequently assigned to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. On May 6, the Angels selected Neris' contract, adding him to their active roster. In 21 appearances for the Angels, he registered a 3–0 record and 5.14 ERA with 19 strikeouts across 14 innings pitched. Neris was designated for assignment by Los Angeles on June 28. He was released after clearing waivers on July 3.

Houston Astros (third stint) On July 5, 2025, Neris signed a major league contract with the Houston Astros. In 12 appearances for Houston, he posted an 0-1 record and 5.40 ERA with 15 strikeouts across innings pitched. Neris was designated for assignment by the Astros on August 12. He elected free agency after clearing waivers on August 16.

Kansas City Royals On January 26, 2026, Neris signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. He was released on March 22, 2026.

Pitching style As of 2022, the right-hander Neris relies on four pitches in his pitching repertoire, a four-seam fastball averaging 94 miles per hour, a sinker averaging near 95 miles per hour, a splitter averaging 84 miles per hour, and a slider averaging about 88 miles per hour. Neris exclusively relies on throwing his split-fingered fastball to get outs, utilizing it at higher percentage than his four-seam fastball and sinker at 40.6% in the 2021 season and throwing it a career high 65.3% in 2019 which lead to him collecting a career high 28 saves with 57 strikeouts on his splitter alone in 2019. Neris utilizes the splitter especially for swinging strikeouts, since splitters appear to have a typical fastball movement until it drops suddenly as it comes to the plate. This resulted in Neris collecting a 45% whiff percentage on his splitter in the 2021 season. Neris throws his slider the least out of his four pitches, never throwing it for more than 17 percent of all his pitches in every season he utilized it since 2015.

Neris pitches from the set position, starting his delivery after receiving the pitch call by tucking the baseball behind his glove near his hip similarly to former Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon, adding deception. Neris is a very expressive player on the mound, as he often celebrates after getting important outs especially clutch strikeouts on hitters late in games and getting the final out to collect saves. Neris once after getting Justin Turner out on a flyout to collect a save against the Dodgers in 2019, he reportedly shouted expletives towards the Dodgers' dugout while celebrating which Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts stated "To look in our dugout and to taunt in any way, I think it’s unacceptable..."