New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman and Milwaukee Brewers standout Josh Hader were named Major League Baseball’s Relief Pitchers of the Year on Saturday.
Aroldis Chapman of the New York Yankees is presented with reliever of the year award prior to Game Four of the 2019 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 26, 2019 in Washington, DC ( Will Newton / Getty Images / AFP)
Chapman, a 31-year-old Cuban-born US left-hander, won the American League award and Hader, a lanky two-time All-Star, took the National League award for a second consecutive year in voting from a nine-member panel of retired Hall of Fame relievers.
Chapman made 37 saves this season, his seventh time in eight seasons with 30 or more, and struck out 85 batters in 57 innings with a 2.21 earned-run average (ERA).
He became the second Yankee to win the award after Andrew Miller in 2015, allowing opponents only a .185 batting average.
Hader became only the second player to win in back-to-back years after Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen in 2016 and 2017.
As Milwaukee’s primary closer once ace Corey Knebel underwent Tommy John tendon replacement surgery, Hader made 37 saves with a 2.62 ERA, allowing foes only a .155 batting average and leading all major league relievers with 138 strikeouts.
American League runners-up were Oakland’s Liam Hendriks and Houston’s Roberto Osuna. National League runners-up were San Diego’s Kirby Yates and San Francisco’s Will Smith.