In the run-up to Game 4 of the World Series in the Minute Maid Park of Houston/Texas, the MLB has awarded the Reliever of the Year Awards for the best substitution pitchers of the respective leagues. Craig Kimbrel of the Boston Red Sox won in the American League, while World Series participant Kenley Jansen of the Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League award.
Jansen, who collected 41 saves this season and led all the Relievers with a 1.32 ERA over 68 1/3 innings, was the first to win the Hoffman Award – named after National League All-Time Savings leader Trevor Hoffman – twice in a row.
Kimbrel, on the other hand, won the Reliever of the Year Award in both leagues with his 1.43 ERA and the 35 Saves as the first relief ever. The winner of the American League will receive the Rivera Award, named after Mariano Rivera, the Major League All-Time Savings Leader. However, the two awards have only been around for four years.
The award ceremony was hosted by Rob Manfred, MLB commissioner, and Doug Elliot, president of The Hartford, the sponsor of the awards. The namesakes of the prizes were also present.
The election for the awards was conducted by a group of seven former top-relievers. Besides Rivera and Hoffman, these were the Hall-of-Famer Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers and Bruce Sutter as well as John Franco and Billy Wagner, who were also successful relief pitcher for a long time.
This article was published without prior view by the Major League Baseball.