SF Giants closer dubbed 'stealth reliever' who can get anyone out

The SF Giants may have discovered a diamond in the rough last season with the emergence of reliever Ryan Walker as the team's closer. The Athletic recently dubbed him a "stealth reliever" who no one has heard of but is still elite (subscription required).

Giants fans are certainly familiar with Walker, but it is probably fair to assume that fans of most other teams have not heard of him. That could change if he keeps pitching the way he has the last two seasons.

In 2023, Walker basically came out of nowhere and established himself as a solid, reliable right-handed arm in the bullpen. In 61 and 1/3 innings pitched he had an ERA of 3.23 and struck out 78 batters.

SF Giants reliever Ryan Walker may not be slept on any longer

He followed that up with an even better 2024 season, pitching 80 innings with a 1.91 ERA and punching out 99 batters. He was also the unquestioned closer by the end of the season after Camilo Doval's struggles opened the door for him.

It is remarkable that the Giants have gotten so much value out of a 31st round draft selection. The article in The Athletic details how Walker has transformed himself since he was drafted in 2018. He added his deceptive cross step delivery and also gained several miles per hour on his fastball which, along with his sweeping slider, has turned him into a filthy pitcher that opponents are not eager to face.

Now, Walker enters 2025 as the clear closer for the Giants. We know that things can change very quickly for relievers. Just ask Doval who was an All-Star in 2023 and then spent some time in the minor leagues in 2024 because of his struggles. It is incredibly tough to remain a consistently dominant reliever.

But if Walker continues to pitch the way he has in his first two big league seasons, he will no longer be a "stealth" reliever. He may end up being a guy who gets All-Star attention and who fans of other teams will groan at the sight of when they see him coming in to shut the door in the 9th inning. He is already receiving praise from opposing players who are impressed with his stuff.

The Giants are going to need a strong bullpen in 2025 if they are going to have success. They are likely going to be in a lot of close games so having an elite closer like Walker will be essential if they want to have any chance at the playoffs.