Baker and Miller each claimed MLB’s top reliever honor, with the Rays’ closer and the Padres’ flame-thrower taking the awards

Major League Baseball’s top relief awards went to two All-Star closers on Wednesday night, with Bryan Baker earning the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year honor and Mason Miller capturing the National League’s top recognition across two separate awards.

Baker, in his age-31 season as a full-time closer for the Rays and a first-time All-Star, finished with 41 saves, tying the Guardians’ Cade Smith for the most saves in the majors. He posted a 1.44 ERA and a 295 ERA+ over 65 appearances and 62 1/3 innings, and limited hitters to a.161 batting average.

Baker’s profile was built on run-prevention and strike-throwing efficiency. In the postseason, the Rays reliever went unscored upon in nine playoff appearances, adding five saves as Tampa Bay advanced to win the AL pennant.

Miller, the Padres’ All-Star right-hander, also became a repeat-winning centerpiece of the night. He won the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s inaugural NL Reliever of the Year Award, and the Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year Award as well.

According to the MLB announcement, Miller led qualified NL relievers with a 1.67 ERA (246 ERA+) and struck out 129 batters across 70 innings. Among qualified pitchers, he generated a 47.4% strikeout rate, the highest such mark since Edwin Díaz in 2022, and he averaged 101.4 mph on his fastball, throwing 518 pitches at 100.0 mph or higher.