San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller was voted the National League Reliever of the Year for 2026. He received all 30 first-place votes from the members of the BBWAA. This is the first time the award has been given out. He also won the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award, which is voted on by the relievers in baseball. That honor was also announced on Wednesday.
Miller led all NL relievers with a 1.67 ERA in 66 appearances and 70 innings pitched. He also had the highest strikeout
rate among NL relievers at 47.3%. Miller set new highs for workload in his first full season with the Padres and had one of the most dominant starts to a season ever seen in baseball. He didn’t allow a run until his tenth appearance, and it was unearned. His first earned run didn’t occur until his 14th appearance. During that stretch, he had a 61% strikeout rate.
Miller was somewhat less effective at the end of the season and in the playoffs, probably due to the unprecedented workload. He expressed a desire to be better going forward, stating, “I saw my consistency falter toward the end of the year… just find a way to be even more consistent and put together a complete season.”
Miller overcame significant obstacles during his remarkable season. He missed time with a family illness and bereavement, as well as leaving to attend the birth of his first child during the playoffs.
Padres named to All-MLB First Team
Padres closer Mason Miller and RF/2B Fernando Tatis Jr. were named to the All-MLB First Team on Wednesday. Major League Baseball presents the All-MLB First Team as part of their MLB Awards in Las Vegas. The award recognizes the best player at every position, including five starting pitchers and two relievers.
Miller and Louis Varland of the Toronto Blue Jays were the two relievers honored.
Tatis was named for his work in the outfield, along with Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs and Jackson Chourio of the Brewers.
