Mason Miller gets rewarded for his dominant start to the season.
Major League Baseball announced Friday that Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller has been named American League Reliever of the Month for April.
Miller has been dominant posting a 1.35 ERA in 13 1⁄3 innings pitched while converting all eight of his save opportunities. Miller has 28 strikeouts over those 13 1⁄3 innings and opponents are hitting just .149 against him.
After struggling with injuries throughout his career as a professional, Miller was moved into a relief role for the 2024 season in an effort to build innings. There is no questioning his stuff. He has three pitches that have been clocked at more than 103 mph and has thrown 94 pitches of more than 100 mph. Combine that with an electric slider and you have one of the best closers in the game. Chicago’s Michael Kopech is the next closest pitcher with 57 pitches of at least 100 mph.
Ryan Helsley took home the award in the National League. Others receiving votes in the American League include Clay Holmes, Kirby Yates, Emmanuel Clase and Gabe Speier.