San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller has unanimously won the 2026 NL Reliever of the Year Award.
This is the first time the BBWAA has voted on this award, and it differs from the Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year Award.
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Miller made 66 appearances for San Diego this season. He recorded a 1.67 ERA and 0.900 WHIP. He converted 38 of 41 save opportunities, with only three blown saves. Before 2026, Miller’s season-high was 28 saves in 2024, when he was still with the Athletics. His 38 saves in 2026 tied for the NL lead with St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien.
The San Diego closer was a finalist for the award along with Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Megill and Philadelphia Phillies closer Jhoan Duran.
Early in the 2026 season, Miller set the Padres’ scoreless-innings record by throwing 34 2/3 consecutive innings without giving up a run, dating to the end of last season. That broke the record of 33 2/3 scoreless innings set by Cla Meredith during the 2006 season.
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The Athletics drafted Miller in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft. His rise to the majors was meteoric. The right-hander began the 2023 season with the franchise’s Double-A affiliate. Miller started one game and was called up to Triple-A, where he made one start before moving on to the bigs.
In his first MLB season, the right-hander pitched in 10 games, starting six. Those are the only big-league games he has ever started, as Miller has come out of the bullpen ever since.
Over four seasons, Miller has pitched in 191 games with a 2.47 ERA. The closer has converted 88 saves out of 98 save attempts.
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Miller was named an All-Star for the first time in 2024 and again in 2026. This is the first time he has led the league in saves, and this is his first personal award.
The 28-year-old has three more years of arbitration before he hits free agency.
