Padres may feature an early frontrunner for MLB’s brand-new award in 2026

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America has officially added a brand-new trophy to the sport’s growing list of honors. Beginning in 2026, writers will vote on a Relief Pitcher of the Year award in both leagues, finally giving bullpen dominance the spotlight it deserves. And if you’re a San Diego Padres fan, you couldn’t have asked for better timing.

Let’s be honest, this almost feels like the award was built for the Padres.

San Diego has spent the 2025 season rolling out the most intimidating bullpen in baseball, and the scary part is that it may only get better. The Padres have featured Robert Suárez as their closer, and he's been steady as ever with a 3.09 ERA and 34 saves. But the real intrigue lies in the newest weapon, Mason Miller.

Padres reliever Mason Miller is built for MLB’s newest honor in 2026

Miller arrived at the trade deadline and immediately gave the Padres a power arm capable of blowing hitters away with triple-digit fastballs and a slider that borders on unfair. He’s not just a “future closer,” he’s a pitcher who looks like the prototype for what this new award is meant to celebrate.

For now, the Padres are leaning on Suárez in the ninth, which makes sense given his experience. But there’s no hiding from the reality: Mason Miller is coming. Whether he takes the closer’s role outright in spring training or the team clears the path with a Suárez trade this winter, the transition feels inevitable.

That's where things get exciting. The National League already boasts some of the fiercest late-inning arms in the game in Jhoan Duran and Edwin Díaz. But Miller has the stuff to meet them, and even surpass them, especially now that he’s in a winning environment. With the Athletics, his opportunities to lock down meaningful games were limited. In San Diego, every save chance comes under the bright lights of a playoff push.

No one is guaranteeing Miller the inaugural award. But what fans can feel confident about is that the Padres have the kind of bullpen ace who could walk into the conversation immediately. If Miller’s first full season in 2026 looks anything like the flashes he’s shown since landing in San Diego, he won’t just be competing for the new award, he might define it.

The Padres have been searching for their next signature closer. With Mason Miller, they may have found one just in time for MLB to hand out a piece of hardware.

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