Sam Hentges was Cleveland’s 4th round pick of the 2014 draft out of high school in Minnesota. He made the majors in 2021 and had a rough go of it, going 1-4 with a 6.68 ERA/64 ERA+ as both a starter and relief arm. He was only 24, but it was a rough way to start your big league career.
But in 2022 Cleveland made Hentges a full-time reliever and quickly became a core member of the bullpen. He ended up pitching 62 innings and went 3-2 with a 2.32 ERA/165 ERA+. He only allowed 41 hits while striking out 72. It was a fantastic season, and will be playing a big role for the team for the next couple seasons.