MELBOURNE: Liam Hendriks has won the American League relief pitcher gong again, reaffirming his status as one of the MLB’s top closers.
The 32-year-old Perth native shone in his debut season at the Chicago White Sox after they signed him on a bumper three-year deal.
He is the first player to win the AL relief pitcher award in consecutive seasons since it started in 2014.
Hendriks was runner-up for the award in 2019 and won it for the first time last year while playing for Oakland.
This season he played a crucial role as the White Sox won their first AL Central title since 2008, before losing to Houston in the AL division series.
Hendriks posted an 8-3 win-loss record with a 2.54 ERA and his 38 saves were the most in the American League.
The former Perth Heat pitcher also allowed just seven walks in 69 regular-season appearances, never walking multiple batters.
This season he also made his second All-Star team, becoming the first Australian to achieve the feat.
Josh Hader of the Milwaukee Brewers became the first three-time winner of the National League relief pitcher honours.
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