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Atlanta Braves’ 2017 End of the Season Awards

By Tyler Wilson

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 5: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves hits a seventh inning three-run home run against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park on August 5, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 5: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves hits a seventh inning three-run home run against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park on August 5, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 25: Closer Arodys Vizcaino #38 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the ninth inning during the game against the Colorado Rockies at SunTrust Park on August 25, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 25: Closer Arodys Vizcaino #38 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the ninth inning during the game against the Colorado Rockies at SunTrust Park on August 25, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

Cy Young Award – Arodys Vizcaino

(62 G, 57.1 IP): 2.83 ERA,14 SV, 17 HLD, 42 H, 18 ER, 64 SO, 21 BB, 1.099 WHIP

People will scoff at the idea of a reliever winning a Cy Young Award, even if it’s just on some 20-year-old’s blog post, but no qualified starting pitcher had an ERA better than 4.26 (R.A. Dickey). The Cy Young Award is given to the best pitcher in each league, and Arodys Vizcaino was the Atlanta Braves’ best pitcher in 2017.

Arguments can definitely be made for Dickey being the Braves’ best pitcher, as he did lead Atlanta’s staff with a 1.6 WAR, but Vizzy was right behind him at 1.5.

Vizcaino served in multiple roles throughout 2017, and thrived in each. Brian Snitker used him as the team’s setup man for the majority of 2017, but Vizzy assumed the closer role when Jim Johnson forgot how to pitch. He did blow three saves in 2017, but two of those were in the 8th inning, and the other came against a very good Nationals offense.

Arodys Vizcaino will likely remain the Atlanta Braves’ closer until A.J. Minter is ready to take on the high-stress duties, and he’ll be even better in 2018 than he was this season.

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