Mason Miller Unanimously Wins NL Reliever of the Year, Louis Varland Takes AL Award

San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller and Toronto Blue Jays reliever Louis Varland were named the inaugural winners of the BBWAA Reliever of the Year awards. Miller was a unanimous selection in the National League after converting 38 of 41 save chances with a 1.67 ERA, while Varland earned the American League honor by compiling a league-best 1.27 ERA and 35 saves over 78 innings.

Varland's breakout campaign garnered 16 first-place votes, edging out Cleveland’s Cade Smith and Tampa Bay’s Bryan Baker, who each recorded 41 saves. In the National League, Miller delivered a historic season by striking out 47.4% of opposing hitters and limiting opponents to a 57% contact rate on swings, leaving Philadelphia’s Jhoan Duran to finish in second place.

Major League Baseball also revealed several additional honors alongside the bullpen awards. Yordan Alvarez and Pete Crow-Armstrong won their respective leagues' Hank Aaron Awards as top offensive players. Alvarez was also named AL Comeback Player of the Year after returning from a broken hand, while Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler earned NL Comeback Player of the Year following his recovery from thoracic outlet surgery.

What to watch next: With the main regular season awards now handed out, attention shifts toward the upcoming winter meetings and off-season roster adjustments across Major League Baseball.