Australia's Liam Hendriks has won the American League's (AL) relief pitcher award 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 three-year deal.
He is the first player to win the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year 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 the Oakland Athletics.
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 AL.
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.
Among other awards, Josh Hader of the Milwaukee Brewers became the first three-time winner of the National League relief pitcher award.
AAP/ABC
