Reliever of the Year
In center, baseball Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera, with Josh Hader to Hoffman’s left and Aroldis Chapman to Rivera’s right. Photo credit: @SamNeher24, via Twitter

San Diego Padres fans cried foul Saturday as a pitcher other than Kirby Yates was named the 2019 National League Reliever of the Year.

As the award is named after the Padres’ former closer Trevor Hoffman, who presented it on the field at the World Series, it would have been a special moment for fans to see the Hall of Famer hand the trophy to another Padre.

However, he gave it to Milwaukee Brewer Josh Hader. Hader received the award for the second consecutive year.

Fans vented on social media.

In 60 games, Yates posted a 1.19 ERA while saving 41 games and striking out 101. He did this while playing for an also-ran that stumbled badly post All-Star break, a factor some fans feared counted against him.

Yet Yates’s season has not gone unnoticed. He received Baseball Digest’s Relief Pitcher of the Year Award earlier this month.

The World Series continues in Washington D.C. Sunday after the Houston Astros drew even with the Washington Nationals 2-2 Saturday. That ensures a return to Houston and a second series appearance for San Diego State alum and Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg.

– Staff reports