"Over the weekend the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced it has established a Relief Pitcher of the Year award - one in each league - beginning in 2026. It will become the fifth honor doled out by the BBWAA each year, joining the Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year awards."
"Stark pointed out that since Oakland Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley won the American League Cy Young Award and MVP in 1992 when he notched 51 saves, only one reliever has won a Cy Young Award and no reliever has finished even in the top three in MVP voting. That one Cy Young winner? Dodgers fans can only wish for a current closer as dominant as Eric Gagne was in 2003 when his performance - admittedly illegally enhanced - resulted in 55 saves and a 1.20 earned-run average."
Relief pitching has transformed from a fallback role into a specialized, vital part of modern baseball, often staffed by the hardest throwers. Quality bullpens have become decisive components of team success, as recent Dodgers performances illustrate. The Baseball Writers' Association of America will introduce a Relief Pitcher of the Year award, one in each league, beginning in 2026, joining existing BBWAA honors. Historical context includes saves becoming an official statistic in 1969 and standout seasons such as Dennis Eckersley's 1992 Cy Young and MVP and Eric Gagn e9's dominant 2003 campaign, though relievers remain underrecognized in MVP and Cy Young voting.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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