Abner Uribe was, in a word, unbelievable for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. The 25-year-old flamethrower posted a 1.67 ERA and 1.04 WHIP 75.1 innings. He allowed just 51 hits while recording 10.8 strikeouts per nine. Once Trevor Megill went down with an elbow injury in late August, Uribe stepped up from a set-up role to replace Megill as closer. He held onto that role in the postseason even when Megill returned.
Uribe’s dynamite season earned him a justified spot in Buster Olney’s top 10 reliever rankings for 2026.
Brewers bullpen has one of the best in Uribe
On a list heavily populated by established closers, Uribe clocks in at No. 7. Will he take Megill’s job to become a full-time closer himself this season? That remains to be seen, but certainly he looks like the Brewers’ ninth-inning coffin-nailer of the future.
Olney writes, “Uribe had an ERA+ of 249 in his first full season in the big leagues, and the right-hander’s funky delivery and breaking stuff make him a nightmare for hitters. Last year, righties batted .211 against him, with a .268 on-base percentage, but lefties fared even worse as he allowed just one homer and a .171 average in 132 plate appearances against them.”
Those reverse splits while being dominant versus either side made Uribe all but untouchable. His 2.7 WAR ranked seventh among all relievers last season and he finished third in pitching WAR on the Brewers’ staff including starters (Freddy Peralta and Quinn Priester). Good luck overestimating his value to the team.
Uribe’s company in the top 10 only highlights his own underrated stock as one of the game’s elite weapons. Mason Miller, Edwin Diaz, Jhoan Duran, Aroldis Chapman, Cade Smith, Andres Munoz. Those are the names ahead of him. Uribe came out ahead versus the likes of Robert Suarez, Devin Williams, and Josh Hader.
Regardless of his role, hitters can count on getting another dose of nasty heat and dirt-biting breakers from Uribe this season.
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