Romano named American League Reliever of the Month

Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) has been named the American League Reliever of the Month for July. Photo: Amanda Fewer

August 2, 2022

Official Major League Baseball News Release

All-Star closer Edwin Díaz of the New York Mets has been voted the National League Reliever of the Month for the second consecutive month, and All-Star closer Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) of the Toronto Blue Jays has been voted the American League Reliever of the Month for July.

Díaz earned his seventh career Reliever of the Month Award and his second in a row. The last Mets reliever to take home monthly honours other than Edwin was his bullpen-mate Seth Lugo in July 2019. Díaz is the first Major League reliever to win consecutive Reliever of the Month Awards since All-Star Josh Hader in May-June 2019. Romano claimed his second career Reliever of the Month Award and his second of the 2022 campaign (also April). The last Blue Jays hurler other than Romano to win AL Reliever of the Month was B.J. Ryan in May 2008.

Edwin Díaz, New York Mets

• The Puerto Rico native made 11 scoreless appearances for the Mets and converted each of his seven save opportunities. Logged 25 strikeouts while surrendering just one walk and two hits across 11 1/3 innings pitched.

• Enters play today with 30 of his last 39 outs being recorded via the strikeout. Paces Major League relievers with 84 punchouts on the season.

• Overall, has struck out 52.5% of batters faced (84/160), the highest strikeout rate by a relief pitcher through 42 appearances of a season in MLB history.

• The 2018 Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year has not allowed a run in his last 15 outings dating back to June 22nd, covering 14 1/3 innings. Is 1.2 innings shy of his career-high scoreless streak of 16.0 innings.

Jordan Romano, Toronto Blue Jays

• The Markham, Ont., native made 10 appearances for the Blue Jays while logging a 0.84 ERA across 10 2/3 innings of work. Converted each of his seven save opportunities and posted a 12:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio while allowing just four hits.

• On July 17 against the Royals, became the seventh pitcher in franchise history to save his 20th game before the Midsummer Classic.

• The 29-year-old set a new career high by saving his AL-leading 24th game of the season on Sunday against the Tigers (23 saves in 2021).

• Has been particularly dominant at Rogers Centre this season. Across 22 appearances and 23 innings pitched, has allowed just a single earned run (0.39 ERA) while tallying 25 punchouts and yielding just 11 hits and five walks.

Others receiving votes for NL Reliever of the Month included All-Star Ryan Helsley (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 SV, 19 SO) of the St. Louis Cardinals; Daniel Bard (10 G, 1.00 ERA, 7 SV, 8 SO) of the Colorado Rockies; All-Star Devin Williams (10 G, 0.00 ERA, 17 SO, 2 BB) of the Milwaukee Brewers; and rookie Reiver Sanmartin (4-0, 0.79 ERA, 11.1 IP, 7 SO) of the Cincinnati Reds.

Others receiving votes for AL Reliever of the Month included last month’s winner and All-Star Emmanuel Clase (10 G, 0.90 ERA, 5 SV, 9 SO) of the Cleveland Guardians; All-Star Ryan Pressly (2-1, 1.80 ERA, 4 SV, 18 SO) of the Houston Astros; Brock Burke (12 G, 1.06 ERA, 17.0 IP, 18 SO) of the Texas Rangers; Félix Bautista (13 G, 2.03 ERA, 22 SO, 3 BB) of the Baltimore Orioles; Taylor Clarke (11 G, 0.75 ERA, 12.0 IP, 10 SO) of the Kansas City Royals; André Muñoz (11 G, 1.50 ERA, 17 SO, 1 BB) of the Seattle Mariners; Zach Jackson (13 G, 0.84 ERA, 13 SO, 4 BB) of the Oakland Athletics; and Romano’s bullpen-mate Yimi Garcia (8 G, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 1 H).