Oakland Athletics closer Blake Treinen has been voted May's American League Reliever of the Month Presented by The Hartford, and San Diego Padres closer Brad Hand has been voted the National League Reliever of the Month Presented by The Hartford for the second month of the 2018 season. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.
Treinen pitched in 14 games for the Athletics in May, registering a save in each of his 10 opportunities to go along with 19 strikeouts. Over 15.1 innings of work, the right-handed pitcher issued five free passes, while surrendering eight hits and not giving up a home run. During an impressive four-game stretch from May 18th24th, the Wichita, Kansas native logged multi-strikeout outings in each appearance, while permitting just one hit and two walks to help lead Oakland to a 3-1 record. Over the course of his award-winning month, the South Dakota State University product delivered at least one strikeout in all but four of his 14 outings. With his final save of the month on May 31st against the Tampa Bay Rays, Treinen matched Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley (1992) for the Club record for saves in the month of May. Overall, the 29-year-old became just the fourth relief pitcher in franchise history to tally at least 10 saves in a calendar month, joining Huston Street (June 2006), Billy Koch (August 2002) and Eckersley (May 1992 and August 1989). In addition, Treinen is the first reliever in team history to notch 10 saves with 19 strikeouts in one month. Across the Majors this season, only AllStar Craig Kimbrel (May), NL Reliever of the Month presented by the Hartford Brad Hand (May) and April's AL Reliever of the Month presented by the Hartford Edwin Díaz have posted such months. Over the course of his dominant month on the mound, Oakland's seventh round selection in the 2011 MLB Draft was called upon to record more than three outs in four appearances. Treinen enters play today in the midst of a career year, compiling a 2-1 record to go along with 33 strikeouts, eight walks and a 0.99 ERA across 27.1 innings pitched and 22 appearances.
Others receiving votes for AL Reliever of the Month included Joe Kelly (3-0, 0.63 ERA, 14.1 IP, 17 SO) of the Boston Red Sox; Ryan Yarbrough (2-0, 1.88 ERA, 24.0 IP, 25 SO) of the Rays; Warwick Saupold (3-1, 1.84 ERA, 15 G, 14.2 IP) of the Detroit Tigers; Alex Colomé (12 G, 1.54 ERA, 7 SV, 12 SO) of the Seattle Mariners; Alex Claudio (4-1, 1.17 ERA, 15.1 IP) of the Texas Rangers; and Boston's Kimbrel (14 G, 11 SV, 3.38 ERA, 19 SO).
Hand appeared in 13 games for the Padres, converting each of his 11 save opportunities. Across 14.2 innings pitched, the left-handed pitcher recorded 22 strikeouts, seven walks and a 0.61 ERA, while permitting just one home run and six hits to claim his second career NL Reliever of the Month Award, previously winning last season for the month of July. In his final appearance in the month of May on Thursday night against the Miami Marlins, the 28-year-old recorded his 17th save of the season and his 11th in the month of May. Hand became just the fourth relief pitcher in franchise history to tally 11 saves in a single month, joining Kimbrel (July 2015), Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman (May 2007, September 2006, May 2005, July 2004, July 1998) and Mark Davis (September 1989, April 1989). Additionally, he is the first reliever in team history to record that many saves with more than 20 strikeouts. During a sevengame stretch from May 5th-18th, the 2017 NL All-Star recorded at least two strikeouts in each outing, while registering three punchouts in a pair of appearances from May 5th-6th. Hand joined Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader and Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle as the only relievers to post a streak of at least seven appearances this season. Entering play today, the eight-year-veteran ranks second in the NL in saves (17) to go along with a 1.91 ERA and 43 strikeouts across 26 appearances.
Others receiving votes for NL Reliever of the Month included last month's NL Reliever of the Month presented by the Hartford Hader (2-0, 1.20 ERA, 15.0 IP, 27 SO) and Jeremy Jeffress (3-0, 0.60 ERA, 3 SV, 13 SO) of the Milwaukee Brewers; Seranthony Dominguez (1- 0, 0.00 ERA, 15 SO, 0 BB) of the Philadelphia Phillies; All-Star Kenley Jansen (14 G, 9 SV, 0.60 ERA, 16 SO) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Adam Ottavino (12 G, 1.46 ERA, 1 SV, 15 SO) of the Colorado Rockies; Seth Lugo (11 G, 1.47 ERA, 18.1 IP, 21 SO) of the New York Mets; and Washington's Doolittle (2-1, 1.46 ERA, 8 SV, 16 SO).
The American League Reliever of the Month presented by The Hartford, Blake Treinen, and the National League Reliever of the Month presented by The Hartford, Brad Hand, will each receive a specially designed plaque, suitably engraved, for their accomplishments. The Hartford, the Official Business Insurance & Employee Benefits Sponsor of MLB, has presented baseball's annual Relievers of the Year Awards since 2015. The Hartford Presents the 2018 Relievers of the Year, named in honor of Mariano Rivera (American League) and Trevor Hoffman (National League), will again be presented during the World Series.