Milwaukee Brewers: Josh Hader sets strikeout record for relievers
By David Hill
It was inevitable. On Friday night, Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader set the major league record for strikeouts in a season by a relief pitcher.
It has been an incredible season on the mound for Josh Hader. The Milwaukee Brewers lefty has become an unstoppable force on the mound, either as a closer or a multi inning weapon. His presence, especially after the implosion of Corey Knebel this season, has gone a long way to the Brewers march for a postseason berth.
On Friday night, Hader continued to dazzle with his strikeout ability. He had recorded his last 16 outs via strikeouts, a streak spanning five outings. Even though that came to an end with a flyout in the seventh inning, he still put together an incredible stretch.
Given his ability to generate strikeouts, it is not a surprise that Friday night proved to be a record setting one as well. The Brewers lefty recorded his 135th strikeout on the season, setting the record for strikeouts in a season by a relief pitcher. The previous record of 134 strikeouts had been set by Tigers reliever John Hiller back in 1974.
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With just over a week left in the season, it would not be a surprise for Hader to further annihilate that record. Thus far on the season, he has posted a stellar 1.99 ERA and a 0.74 WHiP with 11 saves and 20 holds, but even those numbers do not tell the complete story of his dominance. Instead, it is the 156 strikeouts against just 26 walks in 77 innings that is thorough impressive.
In setting the previous record, Hiller was on the mound far more frequently. While his 59 games are not that much more than Hader’s 51 appearances, Hiller threw 150 innings, nearly double Hader’s total. Yes, that season resulted in Hiller’s only All Star Game appearance, and votes for the Cy Young and MVP awards, but he did not have nearly that same level of sheer domination.
If the Brewers end up in the postseason, and go on a deep run, Hader could be a major reason why. Just as Andrew Miller was a vital piece to the Indians run in 2016, Hader has filled that same role since his promotion to the majors last season. This year, he has taken that performance to a completely different level, establishing himself as a difference maker in the latter innings.
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Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader has set a record with the most strikeouts in a single season for a relief pitcher. The scary part is, Hader is really just getting started.