All-Star closer Edwin Díaz of the New York Mets has been voted the National League Reliever of the Month for June, and closer Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians has been voted the American League Reliever of the Month for June.
Díaz earned his sixth career Reliever of the Month Award and his first in the NL, most recently in August 2018 with the Seattle Mariners. Edwin is the first Mets reliever to take home monthly honors since his bullpen-mate Seth Lugo in July 2019. Clase claimed his second career AL Reliever of the Month Award, previously accomplishing the feat in August 2021. The last Cleveland hurler other than Clase to be named AL Reliever of the Month was Cody Allen in April 2017.
Edwin Díaz, New York Mets (@sugardiaz39)
• Made 10 appearances for the Mets while converting each of his five save opportunities. Logged a 0.93 ERA on eight hits with a 21:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 9.2 innings pitched. Did not surrender a home run.
• Tallied at least one punchout in all but one outing, including seven multi-strikeout efforts and a season-best five-strikeout performance on June 12th.
• Became the third pitcher in franchise history to post a month in which he tallied at least 20 strikeouts while not permitting more than a run or walk, joining Alejandro Peña in September 1990 and Hall of Famer Tom Seaver in April 1972.
• Enters play today having fanned 48.8% of batters faced in 2022. Only Jacob deGrom has posted a Mets season in which he struck out at least 45% of batters. Díaz would become just the third pitcher (fourth time) in Baseball history to record a strikeout percentage above 48%, previously done by Aroldis Chapman, Craig Kimbrel (twice) and Carter Capps.
Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians (@emmanuelclase31)
• Delivered 15 scoreless appearances for the Guardians, converting each of his 11 save opportunities. Earned the victory in his lone decision while recording 16 strikeouts and not permitting a single walk across 15.0 innings of work.
• Became the first hurler in Club history to tally at least 16 strikeouts while not permitting a single walk or run in a calendar month. Marks the seventh such month in MLB history and the first since Liam Hendriks last September.
• Has not permitted a walk or run in 16 consecutive appearances dating back to May 30th, the second-longest such streak in franchise history behind Joe Smith’s 18-game run from September 18, 2012 – May 1, 2013.
• Across 29 games and 28.2 innings since April 27th, has delivered a 0.31 ERA and 32:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio while converting 16 save opportunities.
Others receiving votes for NL Reliever of the Month included All-Star Devin Williams (12 G, 0.00 ERA, 15 SO, 5 BB), Brad Boxberger (10 G, 0.87 ERA, 10.1 IP, 8 SO) and Hoby Milner (11 G, 0.82 ERA, 11.0 IP, 12 SO) of the Milwaukee Brewers; Daniel Bard (11 G, 0.73 ERA, 4 SV, 12 SO) and Lucas Gilbreath (10 G, 0.00 ERA, 12 SO, 4 BB) of the Colorado Rockies; rookie Scott Effross (11 G, 1.74 ERA, 15 SO, 3 BB) of the Chicago Cubs; Evan Phillips (11 G, 0.00 ERA, 11.0 IP, 12 SO) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; A.J. Minter (12 G, 4-1, 2.45 ERA, 12 SO) and Jesse Chavez (10 G, 0.00 ERA, 16 SO, 4 BB) of the Atlanta Braves; and Tanner Scott (11 G, 3-1, 2.53 ERA, 6 SV) of the Miami Marlins.
Others receiving votes for AL Reliever of the Month included Ron Marinaccio (9 G, 0.00 ERA, 11.0 IP, 12 SO) of the New York Yankees; Jorge López (11 G, 0.00 ERA, 7 SV, 13.2 IP) and Félix Bautista (12 G, 2-1, 0.00 ERA, 11 SO) of the Baltimore Orioles; John Schreiber (14 G, 0.00 ERA, 15 SO, 4 BB) of the Boston Red Sox; and Diego Castillo (11 G, 4-1, 1.50 ERA, 14 SO) of the Seattle Mariners.
