The Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award winners were announced by Major League Baseball on October 29, 2016. Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton and Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen were the winners, respectively, of the awards.
2016 Major League Baseball Relievers of the Year
Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year
Previous winners: Greg Holland (2014 Kansas City Royals), Andrew Miller (2015 New York Yankees)
Named after Yankees legendary closer Mariano Rivera, the American League Reliever of the Year after his retirement in 2013, the award has been handed out simultaneously with the National League Trevor Hoffman Award.
Winner: Britton was named the winner for 2016 after a historic season. He pitched to the tune of a 0.54 ERA and converted all 47 of his save opportunities, which led the American League. In 69 games, he went 2-1, surrendering 38 hits in 67 innings, including a lone home run. He led the AL in games finished as well, with 63. He allowed seven runs (four earned), walked 18, and struck out 74, while also making his second straight All-Star team. Opposing batters managed a weak .162 average against, and his 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings was his second-highest career mark.
Britton also helped lead the Orioles to the Wild Card game. He became only the third pitcher in history to have a sub-1.00 ERA and at least 40 saves in a season.
Runner-Up: Miller finished second in the voting after winning last year’s award. He spent 2016 with the Yankees and Cleveland Indians, going 10-1 with a 1.45 ERA in 70 combined games. He had 12 saves and a whopping 123 strikeouts in 74.1 innings. He was an All-Star and helped lead the Indians to the World Series.
Runner-Up: Roberto Osuna finished third in the voting for the 2016 season, going 4-3 with a 2.68 ERA in only his second season in the big leagues. In 72 games, he pitched 74 innings, striking out 82 and walking 14, while saving 36 games and helping the Toronto Blue Jays to the ALCS.
Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year
Previous Winners: Craig Kimbrel (2014 Atlanta Braves), Mark Melancon (2015 Pittsburgh Pirates)
Named after legendary closer Trevor Hoffman, who spent the entirety of his career in the National League.
Winner: Jansen went 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA, pitching in 71 games. He struck out 104 batters in 68.2 innings, and had 47 saves, good for second in the National League. His 0.67 WHIP was tops in the Major Leagues. Opposing batters hit only .150 off him, and he allowed just 35 hits and 14 earned runs, along with a measly 11 walks, while making the NL All-Star team for the first time in his career. He also had 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
Jansen recorded his 189th career save this season, a Dodgers franchise record. He helped the Dodgers win the NL West and make it to the NLCS.
Runner-Up: Melancon finished second in the voting after winning last year’s award. He spent the year with the Pirates before a trade to the Washington Nationals, and combined he went 2-2 with a 1.64 ERA. His 47 combined saves was good for second in the National League (tied with Jansen), and he struck out 65 in 71.1 innings while leading the NL with 67 games finished.
Melancon made his second-straight NL All-Star team and third overall, while also helping the Nationals to the NLDS.
Runner-Up: Jeurys Familia finished third in the voting for the 2016 season after leading the National League in saves with 51. The New York Mets closer also tied Melancon with 67 games finished. Familia pitched in 78 games and went 3-4 with a 2.55 ERA. He struck out 84 batters in 77.2 innings, while allowing 63 hits and 31 walks. His 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings was the second-highest of his career.
The first-time All-Star helped to lead the Mets to the NL Wild Card game.
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