Trusted in key late spots, Solis figures prominently in '17

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Sammy Solis, who wound up as one of the club's most reliable left-handers out of the bullpen.

PLAYER REVIEW: SAMMY SOLIS

Age on opening day 2017: 28

How acquired: Second-round pick, 2010 draft

MLB service time: 1 year, 118 days

2016 salary: $507,500

Contract status: Under team control in 2017, arbitration-eligible in 2019, free agent in 2022

2016 stats: 2-4, 2.41 ERA, 37 G, 0 SV, 1 BS, 41 IP, 31 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 1 HR, 21 BB, 47 SO, 1 HBP, 1.268 WHIP, 1.1 WAR

Quotable: "Honestly, I want to be there. I expect to be there and having my name called in later innings in a close game." - Sammy Solis

2016 analysis: Sammy Solis didn't make the Nationals' opening day roster, but he was the first reliever they summoned from Triple-A Syracuse when they needed someone. And he never warranted a demotion back to the minors the rest of the season.

Called up on April 27, Solis quickly established himself as a pitcher manager Dusty Baker could use in big spots late in games, and not strictly as a left-handed matchup specialist. He pitched a full inning in 26 of his 37 appearances and recorded at least four outs in nine of those.

Solis was equally effective against right-handed hitters (.218 batting average) as left-handed hitters (.200 batting average) thanks to a strong combination of a two-seam fastball that averaged 93.5 mph and a spike curveball that averaged 80.4 mph.

Solis did not, however, make it through the entire season unscathed. He made two stints on the disabled list, a brief one for a sore right knee and then a five-week one for left shoulder inflammation. The Nationals activated him during the final week of the regular season and put him on their postseason roster. He wound up appearing in all five games of the National League Division Series, tossing scoreless ball in his first four appearances before allowing a run during the tumultuous seventh inning of Game 5.

2017 outlook: The Nationals believe in Solis, as evidenced by their willingness to trade fellow left-hander Felipe Rivero in the Mark Melancon deal in late July, and as evidenced by their heavy usage of him in big spots in the postseason.

There's no reason to think they won't continue to view Solis that way next year, counting on him to be perhaps their top lefty out of the bullpen all season. Because he's equally effective against left-handed and right-handed batters, he's quite a valuable weapon for Baker, someone who can be asked to pitch full innings (or more) on a regular basis.

The Nationals do have to be somewhat careful about Solis' workload, though. He didn't reach the big leagues until he was 26 because of significant injuries to both his shoulder and elbow while he was in the minors. And he has only been a reliever for two years now and is still learning how to handle the daily workload of that role. The shoulder injury during the second half of this season was a bit worrisome, though the fact he returned strong in October does provide reason to be optimistic heading into 2017.