Last year’s MLB postseason made a bearded hero out of San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson.
This year the role of emerging scruff sensation goes to Jason Motte, the St. Louis Cardinals’ hirsute ninth inning specialist.
While Motte’s beard may lack Wilsonian majesty, the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers are discovering his fastball is just as powerful.
It seems every year a handful of relievers emerge from obscurity to dominate big league hitters, and all of it happening before we can learn their names.
The guys on this list won’t grace your Wheaties box anytime soon. They will, however, help your team win some ball games.