SEATTLE, Wash. – Seattle Mariners right-handed pitcher Edwin Díaz has been named the Hartford Presents American League Reliever of the Month for April. It is the second such honor in his career, he won his last in July 2017.
Major League Baseball made the announcement Wednesday morning.
Díaz converted 12-of-12 save opportunities while posting a 0.63 ERA (1 ER, 14.1 IP) in 14 relief appearances in March/April. The 6-foot-3, 165-pound right-hander struck out 27 and walked 7 while limiting opposing batters to a .043 (2×46) average against. He averaged 16.95 strikeouts-per-9.0-innings-pitched (27 K, 14.1 IP). Among American League relievers for March/April, Díaz ranked 1st in saves, strikeouts, K/9.0 IP and opponents’ average against. The Mariners went 14-0 in his 14 outings in March/April.
He is one of 9 pitchers in Major League history (done 10x) to record at least 11 saves and 27 strikeouts in any calendar month. Díaz is the first to do so since Aroldis Chapman-CIN (13 SV, 31 K) in July 2012 and the second Mariners pitcher to do so, joining Norm Charlton, who had 11 saves and 29 strikeouts in September 1995.
Overall this season, Díaz is 12-for-12 in save opportunities with a 0.59 ERA (1 ER, 15.1 IP) with 29 strikeouts and 9 walks in 15 relief appearances. Dating back to Sept. 8, 2017, he is 1-0 with 15 saves in 16 opportunities with a 0.41 ERA (1 ER, 22.0 IP) with 39 strikeouts and 10 walks in 22 outings.
In three seasons with Seattle (2016-c), he is 64-for-72 (88.9%) in save opportunities with a 2.77 ERA (41 ER, 133.0 IP) with 206 strikeouts and 56 walks in 130 relief appearances. He is tied for 7th in club history (also: Fernando Rodney) with 64 career saves. His 13.94 strikeouts-per-9.0-innings (206 K, 133.0 IP) mark is the best in club history (min. 100.0 IP) ahead of Randy Johnson (10.58).
