David Bednar of the Pittsburgh Pirates has been voted the National League Reliever of the Month for May, and Clay Holmes of the New York Yankees has been voted the American League Reliever of the Month for May.
Bednar earned his first career NL Reliever of the Month Award and is Pittsburgh’s first winner in August 2019. Holmes similarly claimed his first career AL Reliever of the Month Award and is the first Yankees recipient since August 2019.
David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates (@david_bednar)
· Made 12 appearances for the Pirates, converting each of his seven save opportunities to go along with a 2-1 record. Logged a 1.65 ERA with a 21:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 16.1 innings pitched.
· The Pennsylvania native registered a streak of eight scoreless games from May 11th-28th, notching 10 punchouts while allowing just four hits and one walk across 10.1 innings.
· Tallied at least one punchout in 11-of-12 May outings. His lone appearance on May 15th without a strikeout represents his only such game on the season, covering 21 total outings.
· The 27-year-old became the second pitcher in franchise history to notch at least seven saves and 21 strikeouts without allowing more than two free passes in a calendar month, joining Jason Grilli in May 2013.
Clay Holmes, New York Yankees (@clayholmes21)
· Delivered 12 scoreless appearances for the Yankees while converting each of his four save opportunities. Went a perfect 3-0 to go along with 15 punchouts while not allowing a free pass and permitting eight hits across 14.0 innings of work.
· Became the second pitcher in franchise history to not allow a single run or walk while registering at least 15 strikeouts in a month, joining Andrew Miller (April 2016).
· Did not walk a batter in 17 consecutive appearances from April 20th – May 27th, the longest streak by a Yankees pitcher since Boone Logan’s 17-game run in 2013.
· Since allowing a run in his first appearance of the season on April 8th, enters play today having not allowed a run in his last 23 games, spanning 25.0 innings. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it is the longest single-season scoreless streak by a Yankees hurler since Phil Hughes’ 25.0-inning streak in 2009.
Others receiving votes for NL Reliever of the Month included last month’s winner and All-Star Josh Hader (8 G, 8 SV, 0.00 ERA, 11 SO) of the Milwaukee Brewers; rookie Alexis Díaz (13 G, 2-0, 1.20 ERA, 15.0 IP) of the Cincinnati Reds; Ryan Helsley (10 G, 2-0, 0.73 ERA, 16 SO) of the St. Louis Cardinals; A.J. Minter (14 G, 0.00 ERA, 18 SO, 2 BB) and rookie Spencer Strider (6 G, 1.54 ERA, 21 SO, 2 BB) of the Atlanta Braves; All-Star Taylor Rogers (13 G, 9 SV, 2.70 ERA, 18 SO) of the San Diego Padres; and Joe Mantiply (14 G, 0.75 ERA, 14 SO, 0 BB) of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Others receiving votes for AL Reliever of the Month included All-Star Liam Hendriks (13 G, 10 SV, 2.03 ERA, 21 SO) of the Chicago White Sox; Scott Barlow (11 G, 8 SV, 0.82 ERA, 6 H) of the Kansas City Royals; J.P Feyereisen (12 G, 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 14 SO) and Jason Adam (13 G, 0.71 ERA, 18 SO, 2 BB) of the Tampa Bay Rays; Brock Burke (7 G, 0.00 ERA, 13.0 IP, 11 SO) of the Texas Rangers; and Eli Morgan (7 G, 0.75 ERA, 15 SO, 1 BB) of the Cleveland Guardians.
