Baseball Writers create annual award for relievers

The game’s often overlooked position to get own honor by Assn. starting in 2026.

- By STEVE HENSON

Associated Press MIKE MARSHALL was the first reliever to win the Cy Young Award, making 106 appearances in 1974.

No role in baseball has undergone more of a transformation than that of a relief pitcher.

What once was something a hurler became because he wasn’t good enough to be a starter is now a vital role manned by a succession of the hardest throwers.

Over the weekend the Baseball Writers’ Assn. 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.

Why did the BBWAA decide to create another award?

As Hall of Fame baseball writer and relief pitcher award advocate Jayson Stark wrote in the Athletic, “It’s about time.”

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 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.