Reliever Roundup & Bullpen Bonanza — 2024 Bullpen Awards
Welcome to the year-end Reliever Roundup and Bullpen Bonanza for 2024! In this installment, we will announce the Bullpen Awards. Specifically, we will announce the Sport Relay Reliever of the Year and Bullpen of the Year Award winners.
Statistics are for all games in 2024 and exclude position pitchers. To qualify for the leaderboards, a pitcher must have at least 30 relief appearances.
We have created a convenient glossary page. If a stat name is linked, click/tap it to see, in a new tab, the definition of that stat.
Click/tap here to see the ranking method.
League averages for 2024:
AL — 4.01 ERA, 1.264 WHIP, 2.8 HR%, 14.2 K–BB%, 72.1 ScOtg% (ER), 3.1 GE/BE, 4.6 GE, 31.9 IS%.
NL — 4.13 ERA, 1.282 WHIP, 2.6 HR%, 14.9 K–BB%, 72.1 ScOtg% (ER), 3.1 GE/BE, 4.5 GE, 34.0 IS%.
Sport Relay Team Reliever and Bullpen Monthly Awards, 2024
|
|
August | |||||
| Relief Corps, AL |
OAK |
CLE |
LAA |
CLE |
MIN |
DET |
| Shakiest Relief Corps, AL |
LAA |
TEX |
OAK |
CHW |
CHW |
TOR |
| Relief Corps, NL |
NYM |
ATL |
LAD |
NYM |
SF |
LAD |
| Shakiest Relief Corps, NL |
MIA |
COL |
SD |
LAD |
PIT |
ARI |
Sport Relay Team Reliever and Bullpen of the Year Awards, 2024
Relief Corps of the Year (AL)
Cleveland Guardians
6.3 GE/BE (133–21), 79.4 ScOtg%, 26.0 IS%, 67 ERA–, 1.053 WHIP, 2.1 HR%, 18.0 K–BB%
Shakiest Relief Corps of the Year (AL)
Chicago White Sox
1.6 GE/BE (87–53), 65.2 ScOtg%, 33.6 IS%, 119 ERA–, 1.527 WHIP, 2.9 HR%, 11.1 K–BB%
Relief Corps of the Year (NL)
Milwaukee Brewers
3.5 GE/BE (134–38), 73.8 ScOtg%, 28.3 IS%, 81 ERA–, 1.147 WHIP, 2.7 HR%, 15.8 K–BB%
Shakiest Relief Corps of the Year (NL)
Colorado Rockies
2.6 GE/BE (106–41), 64.8 ScOtg%, 33.5 IS%, 125 ERA–, 1.551 WHIP, 3.0 HR%, 9.5 K–BB%
Sport Relay Individual Reliever and Bullpen Monthly Awards, 2024
| March/April | May | June | July | August | September | |
| AL Middle Man | Justin Slaten (BOS) | Cade Smith (CLE) | Zack Kelly (BOS) | Cole Sands (MIN) | Brock Burke (LAA only) | Angel Zerpa (KC) |
| NL Middle Man | Reed Garrett (NYM) | Jeremiah Estrada (SD) | Daysbel Hernandez (ATL) | A.J. Puk (MIA/ARI) | Dylan Lee (ATL) | Joel Payamps (MIL) |
| AL Setup Man | Brock Stewart (MIN) | Hunter Gaddis (CLE) | John Brebbia (CHW) | David Robertson (TEX) | Griffin Jax (MIN) | Tyler Holton (DET) |
| NL Setup Man | JoJo Romero (STL) | Hunter Harvey (WSN) | Bryan Hudson (MIL) | Jeff Hoffman (PHL) | Joel Payamps (MIL) | Dennis Santana (PIT) |
| AL Closer | Kirby Yates (TEX) | Emmanuel Clase (CLE) | Carlos Estevez (LAA) | Emmanuel Clase (CLE) | Josh Hader (HOU) | Emmanuel Clase (CLE) |
| NL Closer | Kyle Finnegan (WSN) | Tanner Scott (MIA) | Tanner Scott (MIA) | Tanner Scott (MIA) | Ryan Walker (SF) | Devin Williams (MIL) |
| AL Most Improved | Mason Miller (OAK) | Pete Fairbanks (TB) | John Brebbia (CHW) | Yennier Cano (BAL) | Jason Foley (DET) | Taylor Saucedo (SEA) |
| AL Biggest Plunge | None | Gabe Speier (SEA) | Garrett Cleavinger (TB) | John Brebbia (CHW) | Tayler Saucedo (SEA) | Griffin Jax (MIN) |
| NL Most Improved | None | Tanner Scott (MIA) | Trevor Megill (MIL) | Tyler Kinley (COL) | Ryan Walker (SF) | Alexis Diaz (CIN) |
| NL Biggest Plunge | David Bednar (PIT) | Jorge Lopez (NYM) | Lucas Sims (CIN) | Evan Phillips (LAD) | Edwin Diaz (NYM) | Justin Martinez (ARI) |
* “Most Improved” and “Biggest Plunge” were called “Biggest Positive Surprise and “Biggest Negative Surprise,” respectively, for March/April.
Sport Relay Individual Reliever and Bullpen Awards, 2024
AL Middle Reliever of the Year
Cade Smith, Cleveland Guardians
Smith appeared in 74 games and prevented opponents from scoring an earned run in 63 of them, an 85.1 ScOtg%. Even though it did not factor into his score, given that he’s a middle reliever, it is of note that his GE/BE ratio was 19.0 (19–1 GE–BE). He inherited 36 runners, and he stranded 34 (5.6 IS%). Across 75 1/3 innings, he faced 289 batters. He allowed 16 earned runs on 51 hits (including one homer), striking out 103 and walking 17. This gave him a 0.903 WHIP, a 0.3 HR%, and 29.8 K–BB% (35.6 K%, 5.9 BB%).
NL Middle Reliever of the Year
A.J. Puk, Miami Marlins/Arizona Diamondbacks
Puk appeared in 58 games, 28 with the Marlins and 30 after his July 25 trade to the Diamondbacks. He held opponents without an earned run in 53 of the 58 (91.4 ScOtg%) and added a 26.9 IS% (7-of-26). Puk faced 217 batters in 57 2/3 innings, allowing 11 earned runs on 32 hits (including four homers), striking out 76 and walking 11. He produced a 0.746 WHIP, 1.8 HR%, and 30.0 K–BB% (35.0 K%, 5.1 BB%).
AL Setup Man of the Year
Bryan Abreu, Houston Astros
Abreu tossed 78 1/3 innings across 78 games, holding opponents without an earned run in 61 of them (78.2 ScOtg%). He stranded 20 of the 28 runners he inherited (28.6 IS%) and had 5.0 GE/BE (40–8 GE–BE). Of the 325 batters he faced, he struck out 103 and walked 32. He allowed 27 earned runs on 59 hits, including nine homers. This gave him a 1.162 WHIP, 2.8 HR%, and 21.8 K–BB% (31.7 K%, 9.8 BB%).
NL Setup Man of the Year
Tanner Scott, Miami Marlins/San Diego Padres
Scott was the closer for the Marlins (44 games) and a setup man for the Padres (28 games). Since he ended the season with the Padres, we ranked him as a setup man.
Scott had the same number of innings as games, 72 of each. He held opponents without an earned run in 63 of them (87.5 ScOtg%). Scott stranded all 19 runners he inherited and had 6.7 GE/BE (40–6 GE–BE). Of the 294 batters he faced, he struck out 84 and walked 36. He allowed 14 earned runs on 45 hits, including three homers. This gave him a 1.125 WHIP, 1.0 HR%, and 16.3 K–BB% (28.6 K%, 12.2 BB%).
AL Closer of the Year
Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians
Clase had one of the most dominant regular seasons by a closer in recent memory. Pitching 74 1/3 innings in 74 games, he held opponents without an earned run in 68 (91.9 ScOtg%) and tallied an incredible 43.0 GE/BE (43–1 GE–BE). He faced 271 batters, striking out 66, walking 10, and allowing five earned runs on 39 hits, including two homers. Clase had a 0.659 WHIP, 0.7 HR%, and 20.7 K–BB% (24.4 K%, 3.7 BB%).
NL Closer of the Year
Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals
It is odd that the NL Closer of the Year did not win NL Closer of the Month at any point in 2024, but Helsley takes the honor nonetheless. Helsley held opponents without an earned run in 56 of his 65 appearances (86.2 ScOtg%), stranded the lone runner he inherited, and had 8.5 GE/BE (34–4 GE–BE). He tossed 66 1/3 innings and faced 266 batters, striking out 78, walking 23, and allowing 15 earned runs on 50 hits, three of which were homers. This gave him a 1.101 WHIP, 1.1 HR%, and 20.7 K–BB% (29.3 K%, 8.6 BB%).
Sport Relay Team Reliever and Bullpen Final Rankings, 2024
Better Take an Early Lead…
1. Cleveland Guardians (46.0, 1st in AL)
76.2 Clutch, 13.6 Run Prevention, 17.9 Baserunners, 26.3 Command
2. Tampa Bay Rays (23.4, 2nd in AL)
40.3 Clutch, 7.1 Run Prevention, 3.4 Baserunners, 7.5 Command
The Very Good
3. Milwaukee Brewers (11.7, 1st in NL)
16.6 Clutch, 6.2 Run Prevention, 8.7 Baserunners, 6.5 Command
4. New York Yankees (9.5, 3rd in AL)
17.3 Clutch, 0.8 Run Prevention, 3.2 Baserunners, 5.5 Command
5. Atlanta Braves (9.4, 2nd in NL)
8.8 Clutch, 8.2 Run Prevention, 7.4 Baserunners, 27.9 Command
6. Los Angeles Angels (9.2, 4th in AL)
20.7 Clutch, 0.0 Run Prevention, –0.8 Baserunners, –21.6 Command
The Good
7. Philadelphia Phillies (8.0, 3rd in NL)
13.4 Clutch, 1.7 Run Prevention, 0.2 Baserunners, 14.0 Command
8. St Louis Cardinals (7.4, 4th in NL)
14.3 Clutch, 0.7 Run Prevention, 3.1 Baserunners, –5.1 Command
9. San Francisco Giants (7.2, 5th in NL)
15.3 Clutch, –2.0 Run Prevention, 0.7 Baserunners, 4.1 Command
10. Los Angeles Dodgers (7.1, 6th in NL)
11.4 Clutch, 2.7 Run Prevention, 5.4 Baserunners, –1.1 Command
Slightly above Average
11. Minnesota Twins (5.1, 5th in AL)
11.7 Clutch, –5.6 Run Prevention, 2.9 Baserunners, 17.4 Command
12. Houston Astros (3.3, 6th in AL)
4.4 Clutch, 1.6 Run Prevention, –0.9 Baserunners, 13.0 Command
13. Detroit Tigers (3.1, 7th in AL)
1.6 Clutch, 3.7 Run Prevention, 9.4 Baserunners, 2.1 Command
14. San Diego Padres (3.0, 7th in NL)
2.4 Clutch, 1.8 Run Prevention, 3.8 Baserunners, 14.9 Command
The Average
15. Oakland Athletics (2.7, 8th in AL)
4.3 Clutch, 1.8 Run Prevention, 2.6 Baserunners, –5.0 Command
16. Miami Marlins (0.3, 8th in NL)
–0.7 Clutch, –0.1 Run Prevention, 5.3 Baserunners, 2.5 Command
Slightly below Average
17. Texas Rangers (–1.1, 9th in AL)
5.8 Clutch, –8.2 Run Prevention, –8.4 Baserunners, –6.8 Command
18. Seattle Mariners (–1.9, 10th in AL)
–6.9 Clutch, –0.1 Run Prevention, 5.4 Baserunners, 20.2 Command
19. New York Mets (–1.9, 9th in NL)
–4.1 Clutch, –1.6 Run Prevention, –0.3 Baserunners, 14.4 Command
20. Chicago Cubs (–3.1, 10th in NL)
–6.9 Clutch, 1.3 Run Prevention, 0.8 Baserunners, –3.3 Command
Lots of Work to Do
21. Pittsburgh Pirates (–5.1, 11th in NL)
–5.1 Clutch, –4.3 Run Prevention, –3.7 Baserunners, –12.7 Command
22. Washington Nationals (–7.0, 12th in NL)
–10.8 Clutch, –2.2 Run Prevention, –2.4 Baserunners, –10.7 Command
23. Cincinnati Reds (–7.7, 13th in NL)
–14.7 Clutch, –1.3 Run Prevention, –3.2 Baserunners, 8.6 Command
24. Boston Red Sox (–7.9, 11th in AL)
–10.8 Clutch, –4.8 Run Prevention, –7.3 Baserunners, –1.8 Command
Stock Up on Tums
25. Baltimore Orioles (–9.9, 12th in AL)
–20.7 Clutch, –0.8 Run Prevention, 3.0 Baserunners, 7.9 Command
26. Kansas City Royals (–10.4, 13th in AL)
–22.2 Clutch, 4.6 Run Prevention, –1.1 Baserunners, –15.5 Command
27. Arizona Diamondbacks (–11.5, 14th in NL)
–16.7 Clutch, –4.9 Run Prevention, –6.3 Baserunners, –15.5 Command
28. Colorado Rockies (–13.3, 15th in NL)
–12.1 Clutch, –9.8 Run Prevention, –19.8 Baserunners, –36.3 Command
Pray for a Blowout Win
29. Toronto Blue Jays (–16.1, 14th in AL)
–23.6 Clutch, –6.0 Run Prevention, –11.2 Baserunners, –21.3 Command
30. Chicago White Sox (–25.6, 15th in AL)
–38.5 Clutch, –9.8 Run Prevention, –18.4 Baserunners, –22.3 Command
Team Category Boards
Sport Relay Individual Reliever and Bullpen Rankings, 2024
Top Ten Lists
Top Five Lists
Full Individual Leaderboards
Also See:
April Awards, Week 9 Rankings, Week 8 Rankings, Week 7 Rankings, Week 5 Individual Rankings, Week 4 Individual Rankings.
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