From starter to closer: Blue Jays' Louis Varland wins first AL Reliever of the Year

It’s Wednesday evening in Las Vegas. Toronto Blue Jays closer Louis Varland is dressed to the nines for the MLB Awards show, which honors the top players for the 2026 season.

But almost two hours before the festivities started, Varland learned that he was named the first-ever American League Reliever of the Year.   

In a close vote, Varland received 16 first-place votes and 146 points from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, while Guardians right-hander Cade Smith finished second with seven first-place votes and 133 points. Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Bryan Baker finished third with 111 points.

Varland quickly credited his wife, Maddie, and the Blue Jays coaching staff — pitching coach Pete Walker, bullpen coach Graham Johnson, assistant pitching coach Sam Greene and coordinator of pitching game planning Luke Hoey — for his success this year.     

For three-plus seasons, Varland was a struggling starter with the Twins, but after he was traded to the Blue Jays during the middle of the 2025 season, Varland found his niche in the bullpen -- first as a late-inning reliever before becoming the closer this past April, replacing Jeff Hoffman.  

Louis Varland on his evolution to reliever

Varland put up numbers that would make Mariano Rivera blush.  In 71 games, Varland saved 35 games and had a 1.27 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 78 innings. He became the eighth pitcher (10th occurrence) in franchise history to record 35 or more saves in a season. His 1.27 ERA is the lowest mark in a single season in franchise history --  minimum 70 innings pitched.

Asked why he was able to become a quality reliever, Varland said, "It’s easier to get three outs than it is to get 21 outs (as a starter). That right there is a big difference in the role. Other than that, it’s just like playing the cat and mouse game like saving a pitch for later as a starter. As a reliever, you just throw your best stuff right away and challenge the hitters). Over time, I was able to do that better and better every time. And it evolved this year."                         

Varland said his success on the mound started by throwing strike one and having a positive mindset during every outing. 

"As I’m running out there, it’s being optimistic and self talking. It sets myself up for success that day,” he said.

Varland will celebrate the great news by enjoying the MLB Award show with Maddie and his peers. After that, he said, “We’ll see where the night takes us.”

“I might end up at a Blackjack table. We’ll see.” 

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.