Jhoan Duran's dominant season with the Philadelphia Phillies continues as he was named the National League's Reliever of the Month for June.
One of the key reasons the Philadelphia Phillies have been able to turn their season around after a slow start is that their bats have finally come alive, and the offense has gotten out ahead early.
That said, there has been one part of the Phillies roster that has been lights out and elite for the entirety of the season, and that’s the bullpen, more specifically, Philadelphia’s closer Jhoan Duran.
Duran has been arguably baseball’s best closer so far this season, and he even received a very deserving honor, being named the National League’s Reliever of the Month for June.
Looking at the stats alone, Duran posted a 1.64 ERA (2 ER/11 IP) and converted 9 of 10 save opportunities, tied for second in saves among qualified pitchers. The Phillies reliever also allowed just 1 walk, struck out 18 batters, posted a .220 opponent batting average, and had a 0.91 WHIP.
Jun 3, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) reacts after pitching a strike out in the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres to end the game with a win at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesNot only did Duran win Reliever of the Month, but he also made some Philadelphia franchise history with his incredible June.
After a dominant month, Duran currently has 21 saves on the season. That's the most by a Phillies reliever before the All-Star Break since Jeanmar Gomez in 2016.
He also had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 40.5 percent or higher with 18 saves, joining Jose Alvarado (2023) as the only pitchers in MLB history to accomplish that feat.
For as good as Duran was in June, his season stats might be even more impressive. He has a 1.52 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP in 31 appearances. If those numbers hold, they’d both represent career-bests for Duran.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Phillies probably need to add another relief pitcher or two to the bullpen.
However, the decision to trade for Duran last summer is proving to be one of the better moves Dave Dombrowski has made as the Phillies' head decision-maker.
That was made clear with Duran winning Reliever of the Month for June.
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