Former Cubs closer wins prestigious pitching award

Former Chicago Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman, who is currently a member of the New York Yankees, won a prestigious pitching award. (Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports)

Cole Little · Senior Writer · Saturday, October 26 2019

NEW YORK — New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman earned one of two 2019 Major League Baseball Reliever of the Year Awards on Saturday. More specifically, Chapman won the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award, while Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader won the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award. The awards were voted on by a panel of retired relief pitchers, and Chapman garnered the honor after recording 37 saves in the regular season.

Chapman took home the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award, which is named after another Yankees great, for the first major award of his big-league career. The former Cubs closer recently gave up a walkoff home run in the ALCS that ended the Yankees' season, but that should not overshadow the great regular season that he produced. The fireballer collected 37 saves out of 42 save opportunities, racked up 85 strikeouts and finished with a 2.21 ERA. Additionally, Chapman finished second in the American League in saves, just one behind Houston Astros closer Roberto Osuna for the league lead.