The Reliever of the Month Award was first given by Major League Baseball in 2017, to the reliever / setup-up man who statistically stood out from all the rest during the month.
The Hartford, the Official Business Insurance & Employee Benefits Sponsor of MLB, has presented baseball's annual Relievers of the Year Awards since 2015. The Relievers of the Year, also presented by The Hartford, are announced during the World Series.
"From the first pitch coming in, you have to be ready to go. You have to have that killer instinct. You have to have that aggressive mindset." - Sean Doolittle (Newman, Mark. Press Release: Chapman, Doolittle win Relievers of the Month. 2 October 2017.)
Reliever of the Month AwardIn Chronological Order |
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Year | Month | American League (Team) | POS | National League (Team) | POS |
2017 | April | Cody Allen (Indians) | RHP | Greg Holland (Rockies) | RHP |
May | Craig Kimbrel (Red Sox) | RHP | Greg Holland (Rockies) | RHP | |
June | Roberto Osuna (Blue Jays) | RHP | Kenley Jansen (Dodgers) | RHP | |
July | Edwin Díaz (Mariners) | RHP | Brad Hand (Padres) | LHP | |
August | Alex Colome (Rays) | RHP | Corey Knebel (Brewers) | RHP | |
September | Aroldis Chapman (Yankees) | LHP | Sean Doolittle (Rockies) | LHP | |
2018 | April | Edwin Díaz (Mariners) | RHP | Josh Hader (Brewers) | LHP |
May | Blake Treinen (Athletics) | RHP | Brad Hand (Padres) | LHP | |
June | Edwin Díaz (Mariners) | RHP | Kyle Barraclough (Marlins) | RHP | |
July | Edwin Díaz (Mariners) | RHP | Felipe Vazquez (Pirates) | LHP | |
August | Edwin Díaz (Mariners) | RHP | Hector Neris (Phillies) | RHP | |
September | Blake Treinen (Athletics) | RHP | Corey Knebel (Brewers) | RHP | |
2019 | March & April | Shane Greene (Tigers) | RHP | Kirby Yates (Padres) | RHP |
May | Aroldis Chapman (Yankees) | LHP | Josh Hader (Brewers) | LHP | |
June | Liam Hendriks (Athletics) | RHP | Josh Hader (Brewers) | LHP | |
July | Tommy Kahnle (Yankees) | RHP | Seth Lugo (Mets) | RHP | |
August | Aroldis Chapman (Yankees) | LHP | Felipe Vazquez (Pirates) | LHP | |
September | Brandon Workman (Red Sox) | RHP | Brent Suter (Brewers) | LHP | |
2020 | April | Not Awarded (COVID-19) | -- | Not Awarded (COVID-19) | -- |
May | Not Awarded (COVID-19) | -- | Not Awarded (COVID-19) | -- | |
June | Not Awarded (COVID-19) | -- | Not Awarded (COVID-19) | -- | |
July-August | Liam Hendriks (Athletics) | RHP | Kenley Jansen (Dodgers) | RHP | |
September | Mike Mayers (Angels) | RHP | Devin Williams (Brewers) | RHP | |
2021 | April | Matt Barnes (Red Sox) | RHP | Mark Melancon (Padres) | RHP |
May | Liam Hendriks (White Sox) | RHP | Ryan Tepera (Cubs) | RHP | |
June | Lou Trivino (Athletics) | RHP | Josh Hader (Brewers) | LHP | |
July | Raisel Iglesias (Angels) | RHP | Jake McGee (Giants) | LHP | |
August | Emmanuel Clase (Indians) | RHP | Devin Williams (Brewers) | RHP | |
September | Liam Hendriks (White Sox) | RHP | Camilo Doval (Giants) | RHP | |
2022 | April | Jordan Romano (Blue Jays) | RHP | Josh Hader (Brewers) | LHP |
May | Clay Holmes (Yankees) | RHP | David Bednar (Pirates) | RHP | |
June | Emmanuel Clase (Guardians) | RHP | Edwin Díaz (Mets) | RHP | |
July | Jordan Romano (Blue Jays) | RHP | Edwin Díaz (Mets) | RHP | |
August | Emmanuel Clase (Guardians) | RHP | Edwin Díaz (Mets) | RHP | |
September | Emmanuel Clase (Guardians) | RHP | Camilo Doval (Giants) | RHP | |
2023 | April | Félix Bautista (Orioles) | RHP | Josh Hader (Padres) | LHP |
May | Alex Lange (Tigers) | RHP | Camilo Doval (Giants) | RHP | |
June | Félix Bautista (Orioles) | RHP | Craig Kimbrel (Phillies) | RHP | |
July | Félix Bautista (Orioles) | RHP | Devin Williams (Brewers) | RHP | |
August | Andrés Muñoz (Mariners) | RHP | Raisel Iglesias (Braves) | RHP | |
September | Clay Holmes (Yankees) | RHP | Tanner Scott (Marlins) | LHP | |
2024 | April | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- |
May | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- | |
June | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- | |
July | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- | |
August | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- | |
September | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- | Not Yet Announced (x) | -- | |
Year | Month | American League (Team) | POS | National League (Team) | POS |
Reliever of the Month | Bold = Reliever of the Year | Baseball Awards |
Nominees for the Reliever of the Month Award are determined by on-field statistical criteria. From 2005, through 2013, Major League Baseball — in association with DHL — awarded a Delivery Man of the Month Award.
Reliever of the Month trivia: First American League Reliever of the Month = Cody Allen (April 2017). First National League Reliever of the Month = Greg Holland (April 2017). First lefty, from either league, to win Reliever of the Month = Brad Hand (July 2017).
Do you agree with the choices? Disagree? Is the "setup guy" now the most important member of a bullpen? Tell us your thoughts on our Baseball Almanac Facebook Group, on Baseball Almanac Twitter, via Baseball Almanac Messenger, or our baseball forum — Baseball Fever.