CLEVELAND, Ohio — Emmanuel Clase, for the second time in four years, has received the Mariano Rivera award, representing the top reliever in the American League.
Clase, the Guardians all-time saves leader, received the award Thursday night at All-MLB Team Show in Las Vegas. In 74 games, Clase went 4-2 with a 0.61 ERA. He led the AL with 47 in 50 chances, while allowing just five earned runs in 74 1/3 innings.
His career ERA of 1.67 is the lowest in MLB history for pitcher with at least 200 innings.
Clase, a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award, received a $500,000 bonus for winning his second Mariano Rivera award. The Cy Young award will be announced next week.
He won his first Rivera awaward in 2022.
“I feel really happy. I’m grateful to God,” said Clase, after winning the award. “I’m pleased to be recognized for my work. I’m proud and happy.”
In 2024 Clase was a modelof consistency. Here’s what he did month by month:
- March-April: 1-1, 0.59 ERA, 8 saves.
- May: 2-0, 0.00, 9 saves.
- June: 0-0, 1.64, 8 saves.
- July: 1-0, 0.82, 8 saves.
- August: 0-1, 0.69, 7 saves.
- September-October: 0-0, 0.00, 7 saves.
The postseason did not treat Clase as well. In seven appearances, he went 0-2 with 7.86 ERA (seven runs in eighth innings). He went two for three in save opportunities, while allowing three homers after allowing just two in the regular season.
Clase, 26, has led the AL in saves for the last three years. He saved 42 games in 2022 and 44 in 2023 before his 47 saves this year. In 2023, however, he blew 12 saves, but that was not the case this year.
He led the big leagues with an average of 13.2 pitches per inning, while the opposition hit .064 against him with runners in scoring position.