Skip to content

Phillies closer Jhoan Duran named NL reliever of the month

Duran was instrumental as the Phils significantly narrowed the gap with the division-leading Braves in June.

Jhoan Duran earned some hardware after a strong June.
Jhoan Duran earned some hardware after a strong June. Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer

Phillies closer Jhoan Duran was named the National League reliever of the month for June, MLB announced Friday.

Duran posted a 1.64 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 12 appearances in June. He converted nine of 10 save opportunities. After blowing his first save of the season on June 9 in Toronto, Duran has not allowed another run in eight appearances since.

“There’s been times I’ve had to have teams where that ninth inning is by committee. It never seems to go that well,” interim manager Don Mattingly said last month. “I like having a number of guys that you could do it with, but it’s nice to have that guy that you feel like the game’s over.”

» READ MORE: Bryce Harper wants compromise (and no salary cap) to keep sport thriving

The Phillies have leaned on their closer often as they engineered a turnaround from 10 games below .500 in April to now 10 games above .500.

“If I feel good, I want to be in the game,” Duran said recently. “So that’s me. The more I throw in the game, I feel more comfortable. I feel way better.”

So far this season, the 28-year-old right-hander has 21 saves, which was tied with the San Diego Padres’ Mason Miller and the St. Louis Cardinals’ Riley O’Brien for the National League lead, entering Friday.

Duran is the second Phillies player to collect a monthly honor this season. Cristopher Sánchez won NL pitcher of the month for May.

The Inquirer logo
Watch the latest episode

The Phillies haven't won a playoff series since 2023, and their postseasons keep getting shorter and shorter. How can they fix it? Radio play-by-play announcer Scott Franzke joins Phillies Extra, The Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss Trea Turner's future, the managerial uncertainty, whether the Phillies can get "creative" to change the mix of the roster, and more. Watch here. 

You can also subscribe to the podcast version of Phillies Extra on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Previous episodes: Larry Andersen | Matt Klentak | Jeff Francoeur | Luke Murton | Mike Hazen | Tony Gwynn Jr. | Kevin Stocker | Bobby Dickerson | Jim Bowden | John Middleton

Join The Conversation