Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been named the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year, not that there was every any doubt.
The announcement was officially made Thursday night at the All-MLB Team Show in Las Vegas. It's the second Reliever of the Year Award for Cleveland's late-inning flamethrower, with the first coming in 2022.
"I'm pleased that I'm being recognized for my work, and I'm extremely proud and happy," Clase said at the ceremony through co-host and interpreter Siera Santos.
Chosen by a panel of retired relievers, the voting results from Reliever of the Year are not revealed, but it would be shocking if Clase's selection wasn't unanimous. The 26-year-old leaned on his 100 mph cutter to tally an AL-leading 47 saves (Cleveland's single-season record), a 0.659 WHIP, and a 0.61 ERA, the second-lowest by any pitcher in baseball history to throw at least 70 innings during a season.
A three-time All-Star, Clase is also one of three finalists for the AL Cy Young Award, seeking to become the first reliever in 21 years to take home the league's top pitching honor. On Thursday, he was additionally named to the All-MLB team for the third straight season, and was joined on the first team by Guards teammate and third baseman José Ramírez.
Like Clase, this is Ramírez's third All-MLB selection, but his first time on the first team. The six-time All-Star left no one to question who baseball's best third baseman was in 2024, finishing in the AL's top five in home runs (39), RBIs (118), runs scored (114) stolen bases (41), doubles (39), and total bases (333) while also being named a finalist for a Gold Glove Award.
The All-MLB team is chosen by a combination of fans and a group of experts including former players, baseball officials, and media members. Clase was previously a first-team selection in 2022.
Earlier this week, Ramírez earned the AL Silver Slugger Award at third base for a team-record fifth time. Andrés Giménez and Steven Kwan also earned their third consecutive AL Gold Glove Awards at second base and left field, respectively, while Stephen Vogt is a finalist for AL Manager of the Year in his first season.