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Spring Training: Top Relief Pitchers Ranked for 2026

2/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Buster Olney's 2026 MLB positional rankings highlight relief pitchers as spring training begins.
Aroldis Chapman of the Boston Red Sox ranks fourth, posting a 6.6% walk rate and an OPS+ of 351.
Mason Miller leads the list, with a fastball averaging 101.2 mph.
Edwin Diaz and Jhoan Duran follow closely, both with exceptional strikeout rates.
Olney's rankings focus on expected performance for the upcoming season, with more evaluations to come.

History

Historical Context

In 2021, Major League Baseball (MLB) continued implementing rules from the pandemic-shortened 2020 season to enhance game pace, including a 26-player roster limit. This shift reflects a broader trend towards analytics in player evaluation, as seen in the rising emphasis on strikeout rates and fastball velocity, exemplified by Aroldis Chapman’s 6.6% walk rate and Mason Miller's 101.2 mph average fastball.

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Story summary

Buster Olney's 2026 MLB positional rankings highlight relief pitchers as spring training begins.
Aroldis Chapman of the Boston Red Sox ranks fourth, posting a 6.6% walk rate and an OPS+ of 351.
Mason Miller leads the list, with a fastball averaging 101.2 mph.
Edwin Diaz and Jhoan Duran follow closely, both with exceptional strikeout rates.
Olney's rankings focus on expected performance for the upcoming season, with more evaluations to come.

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