Padres’ Mason Miller unanimously wins the first NL Reliever of the Year Award

Courtesy San Diego Padres

November 11, 2026

San Diego Padres’ closer Mason Miller was a unanimous selection in the inaugural vote for the NL Reliever of the Year Award.

This BBWAA’s Reliever of the Year Award will be given annually to honor the best pitcher from each league whose contributions to his team are primarily in a bullpen role. The first  new award introduced by the BBWAA since 1983 reflects the growing prominence of bullpen usage in the game.

Miller was the only reliever named to every ballot. Prior to this year, he never received a Cy Young Award vote. In fact, of the 12 relievers who got votes in this election only one ever received a Cy Young Award vote before this year. Raisel Iglesias, who finished fifth in the voting, placed 11th in the National League Cy Young Award balloting in 2021.Ballots were cast prior to postseason play.

They are tabulated on a system that rewards seven points for first place, four points for second place, three points for third place, two votes for fourth place and one point for fifth place.

2026 NL Reliever of the Year

1st2nd3rd4th5thPoints
Mason Miller, Padres30210
Jhoan Duran, Phillies2441110
Trevor Megill, Brewers21111366
Adrián Morejón, Padres4123664
Raisel Iglesias, Braves24317
Mason Montgomery, Pirates3511
Didier Fuentes, Braves3410
Tanner Scott, Dodgers168
Aaron Ashby, Brewers1116
Dylan Lee, Braves113
Brandyn Garcia, Diamondbacks12
Abner Uribe, Brewers12
Emilio Pagan, Reds11

Below is a breakdown of the 30 individual ballots, submitted by two writers representing each city in the National League. For more information on the voting, see our Voting FAQ.

NameAffiliationChapter1st2nd3rd4th5th
Mark BowmanMLB.comATLMillerMorejónDuranMegillFuentes
Charles OdumThe Associated PressATLMillerDuranMegillIglesiasMontgomery
Jesse SanchezMLB.comAZMillerDuranIglesiasMegillMorejón
Barry M. BloomChicago Sun-TimesAZMillerDuranMorejónMegillScott
Patrick MooneyThe AthleticCHIMillerDuranMorejónMegillIglesias
Katsushi NagaoKyodo NewsCHIMillerDuranMegillIglesiasScott
Matt SnyderCBS SportsCINMillerDuranMorejónMegillMontgomery
Dan SzymborskiFanGraphsCINMillerMorejónDuranMegillScott
Manny RandhawaMLB.comCOLMillerDuranMegillScottMorejón
Kevin HenryDenver GazetteCOLMillerDuranMegillIglesiasMorejón
Eric StephenSB NationLAMillerDuranMorejónMegillScott
Nobuhiro SaitoNikkan Sports NewsLAMillerDuranAshbyMorejónLee
Jorge Ebrowww.serebroenlosdeportes.comMIAMillerMegillDuranUribeIglesias
Aram LeightonJust BaseballMIAMillerDuranMorejónFuentesMontgomery
Todd RosiakMilwaukee Journal SentinelMILMillerMegillMorejónDuranFuentes
Curt HoggMilwaukee Journal SentinelMILMillerDuranMorejónFuentesMegill
Max GoodmanNJ.comNYMillerDuranMorejónMegillFuentes
Abbey MastraccoNew York Daily NewsNYMillerDuranMorejónFuentesMontgomery
Dan GelstonThe Associated PressPHIMillerDuranMegillMorejónScott
Mike McGarryPress of Atlantic CityPHIMillerDuranMegillIglesiasPagan
José NegronDK Pittsburgh SportsPITMillerDuranIglesiasMontgomeryMegill
Danny DemilioPittsburgh Baseball NowPITMillerDuranMegillAshbyMorejón
Kevin AceeSan Diego Union-TribuneSDMillerMorejónMegillLeeAshby
Dennis LinThe AthleticSDMillerMorejónDuranMegillMontgomery
John SheaSan Francisco StandardSFMillerDuranMegillGarciaMorejón
Maria GuardadoMLB.comSFMillerDuranMorejónMegillFuentes
Derrick GooldSt. Louis Post-DispatchSTLMillerDuranMorejónMontgomeryMegill
Rob RainsSTLSportsPage.comSTLMillerDuranMegillMontgomeryMorejón
Jessica CameratoMLB.comWASMillerDuranMorejónMegillIglesias
Andrew GoldenThe BannerWASMillerDuranMegillMorejónScott

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