How prominent a role could Glover have in 2017 bullpen?

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Koda Glover, who surprisingly emerged from the minors as a power-armed reliever.

PLAYER REVIEW: KODA GLOVER

Age on opening day 2017: 23

How acquired: Eighth-round pick, 2015 draft

MLB service time: 51 days

2016 salary: $507,500

Contract status: Under team control in 2017, arbitration-eligible in 2020, free agent in 2023

2016 stats: 2-0, 5.03 ERA, 19 G, 0 SV, 2 BS, 19.2 IP, 15 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 3 HR, 7 BB, 16 SO, 1 HBP, 1.119 WHIP, -0.2 WAR

Quotable: "The main thing that Koda does, he throws strikes. He throws quality strikes. He hasn't walked anybody in big spots, which is big. It's huge. Koda's doing an outstanding job, and we were told when he came here that he was a gamer and he wasn't afraid. And he doesn't seem intimidated by the big stage or by circumstances whenever we put him in a ballgame." - Dusty Baker on Koda Glover

2016 analysis: Few of even die-hard observers of the Nationals knew anything about Koda Glover when the season began. An eighth-round pick in the previous summer's draft, he opened 2016 at Single-A Potomac and didn't figure into the big league club's plans for some time. But the young reliever burst up the organizational depth chart, getting promoted to Double-A Harrisburg after only seven scoreless appearances, then Triple-A Syracuse after only 17 more outings.

And when the Nationals needed a fresh arm in their bullpen in midsummer, they didn't hesitate to give Glover one last promotion. He made his major league debut on July 20 and proceeded to retire the side on four pitches, and he sported a 2.63 ERA through his first 12 appearances, giving the club reason to speculate he might play a big role in the postseason bullpen.

Glover, though, tailed off down the stretch. Hampered by a hip ailment that prevented him from pitching at all during the final week of the regular season, he gave up seven runs over his final six innings. The Nationals left him off their playoff roster.

2017 outlook: There was a point late this summer when it was fair to wonder if Glover would be the Nationals closer by opening day 2017. That seems a long shot at this point, both because of his September struggles and the suggestion that the club prefers an experienced closer and intends to pursue free agents Mark Melancon, Kenley Janson and Aroldis Chapman this winter.

But Glover could still figure prominently into the Nationals' 2017 bullpen plans. He was admittedly rushed to the majors, and perhaps he could still use some refining in the minors. But if he has a strong spring and makes sense to break camp with the club, the Nats won't hesitate to do it.

Glover's combination of power stuff and strong makeup suggests he's got the goods to be a big league closer at some point. That may not happen until a later date, but he very well could find himself pitching in a setup role for a more experienced reliever and maybe even filling in for the ninth inning if the need arises.