Mason Miller Named Inaugural NL Reliever of the Year by BBWAA

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San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller won the inaugural National League Reliever of the Year Award via a unanimous vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), according to a report from the Padres on Wednesday.

The BBWAA introduced this award to recognize the top pitcher in each league whose primary contributions occur within a bullpen role. It represents the first new award added by the organization since 1983, a move that acknowledges how much the strategic use of relief pitchers has transformed the modern game.

Mason Miller accepts his 2026 NL Reliever of the Year Award — MLB Network

Miller’s dominance was absolute in the voting process. He was the only reliever to appear on every single ballot submitted by the writers. Before this season, Miller had never received a vote for the Cy Young Award.

The voting structure rewarded top-tier performance through a point system where a first-place vote earned seven points, second place earned four, third place earned three, fourth place earned two, and fifth place earned one. Ballots were finalized before the start of the postseason.

The 2026 National League Reliever voting results

While Miller swept the top spot, the voting highlighted a highly competitive field of specialists. Jhoan Duran of the Phillies secured second place with 24 points, followed by Trevor Megill of the Brewers in third with 21 points. The results reflect how much value teams place on high-impact bullpen arms compared to traditional starting rotations.

The distinction between the fourth and fifth-place finishers is notable. Although Adrián Morejón of the Padres earned 16 points, Raisel Iglesias of the Braves finished fifth in the total points tally with 17 points, according to the BBWAA breakdown. Iglesias, a veteran presence in the league, had previously placed 11th in the National League Cy Young Award balloting in 2021.

Philadelphia phillies pitcher jhoan duran in action during a baseball game tuesday march in philadelphia photomatt rourke

The scarcity of decorated relief talent in the voting is striking. Of the 12 relievers who received votes in this inaugural election, only one had ever received a Cy Young Award vote prior to this year.

The voting was conducted by two writers representing each city across the National League. The 30 individual ballots showed widespread consensus for Miller, with writers from markets ranging from San Diego and San Francisco to New York and Atlanta all placing him at the top of their respective lists.

The inclusion of this award addresses a long-standing debate regarding the specialized nature of relief pitching. For years, many analysts argued that the sheer volume of innings and the specific high-stress environments faced by closers and setup men deserved a distinct category of recognition, separate from the workload-heavy requirements of starting pitchers.

Mason Montgomery of the Pirates earned three points, placing fifth on several ballots, while Tanner Scott of the Dodgers finished with 1 point.

Mason Miller is the Unanimous 2026 NL Reliever OF THE YEAR AWARD (Career-HIGH 129 strikeouts!) — MLB

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MLB Network Breaks DOWN Mason Miller and Louis Varland's 2026 Reliever of the Year Award seasons — MLB and MLB Network

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