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- calendar_today November 12, 2026
Louis Varland Receives AL Reliever of the Year Honors
Toronto Blue Jays closer Louis Varland has been named the inaugural American League Reliever of the Year, earning the distinction after narrowly topping Cleveland Guardians' reliever Cade Smith in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA).
All-Star Clubhouse Connections
During the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia, Varland and Smith connected in the American League clubhouse to share insights closer to closer. Varland expressed admiration for Smith, calling him “a true competitor” and describing himself as “a big fan.” Smith, familiar with Varland's journey from starter to reliever, complimented Varland’s approach: “He’s going to come in, he’s going to fill up the zone. That’s probably one of the most important things coming out of the bullpen. For him to do that with elite stuff is a really big advantage.”
BBWAA Voting Results
The award voting was close, with Varland securing 16 first-place votes and a total of 146 points. Smith finished second with seven first-place votes and 133 total points. Bryan Baker of the Tampa Bay Rays, a former Blue Jays prospect, placed third with six first-place votes and 111 points. This recognition marks Varland's emergence as one of Major League Baseball's premier closers.
Varland’s Path to Blue Jays Closer
Louis Varland, 28, was acquired by the Blue Jays at the 2025 trade deadline in exchange for outfielder Alan Roden and left-handed pitcher Kendry Rojas. After joining the Blue Jays, he transitioned from a mix of starting and relief roles with the Minnesota Twins to an established spot in the bullpen. Manager John Schneider quickly came to rely on Varland, who appeared in 15 of Toronto’s 18 post-season games last season.
2026 Season: Performance By The Numbers
In 2026, Varland stepped into the closer role early after Jeff Hoffman encountered struggles. He recorded 35 saves, a 1.27 ERA over 78 innings in 71 games, and tallied 97 strikeouts. Varland credited his improvement in part to a change in approach after settling into the relief role, saying, “just throw your best stuff right away and challenge up.”
Tweaking the Changeup with Coaching Guidance
A key development that helped elevate Varland’s game was a suggested tweak to his changeup by Blue Jays pitching coach Graham Johnson. This alteration involved a grip change to a “one-seam with a little bit of a seam-shift,” increasing the use of the pitch to 31% against left-handed hitters—up from 11% the previous season. The results were dramatic: left-handed batters hit only .123 and slugged .140 against the pitch.
Blue Jays’ Season Accolades
In addition to Varland’s award, Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease finished second in American League Cy Young Award voting, with Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees winning unanimously. The accolades finish off a strong season for the Blue Jays pitching staff.
Looking Ahead
As Varland continues in his role as closer, his refined arsenal and approach position him among MLB’s elite relievers. His AL Reliever of the Year honor marks a significant milestone in his career after joining Toronto and taking on the challenges of high-leverage bullpen pitching.
Related coverage
Source: toronto.citynews.ca.
