1. Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels (62 in 2008)
“He’s also a player who saves with play, illustrating how much of a manager comes into usage. “K-Rod” is the only player in history to save 60 in a season.”
Throughout the entire season, Mike Scioscia only made seven appearances in situations where he did not have to save the game, unless it was an opportunity to save the game – Rodriguez had 69 chances to save the game, the highest number ever recorded.
When he was called upon, Rodriguez was very good. He finished third in voting for the AL Young Cy and sixth in voting for AL MVP, with a season-ending ERA of 2.24.
Rodriguez faced a Game 2 ALDS defeat for the Boston Red Sox, giving up two runs in 1.1 innings pitched, which was his initial appearance of the year. Nonetheless, the accomplishments he had achieved did not carry over to the playoffs.
T-2. Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners (57 in 2018)
In 2018, Diaz did not emerge out of thin air. In reality, he accumulated 34 rescues in 2017. Nevertheless, he transformed from a dependable reliever to the top-notch one in baseball, diminishing his earned run average from 3.27 to 1.96.
A deal of significant magnitude, involving prospect Jarred Kelenic, was made with the New York Mets, along with Robinson Canó, after an impressive season. During that time, he managed to record 124 strikeouts with a mere 17 walks, and he only faltered in saving opportunities on four occasions.
T-2. Bobby Thigpen, Chicago White Sox (57 in 1990)
In 1990, Thigpen transitioned from being an outstanding reliever (1.83 ERA, 57 saves) to becoming a reliable one (3.76 ERA, 34 saves) in 1989, following a similar path as Diaz. Rodriguez surpassed Thigpen’s long-standing saves record in 2008, which had been held for 28 years.
Unfortunately, the Oakland Athletics finished second in the AL West behind the champions when they advanced to the postseason. Thigpen’s White Sox had a good season, winning 94 games, which placed them third in the entire league.
T-4. Eric Gagne, Los Angeles Dodgers (55 in 2003)
Gagne has a strong case for having the best season of his career in 2003 as a single-inning reliever, but he might not have the record for saves.
Gagne led the league in saves and combined his stats from 2004 and 2002, recording the all-time record of 84 consecutive games saved without blowing a single opportunity.
He was the last reliever to win a Cy Young, and there’s a reason for that. He pitched 50 innings (which is the minimum for the best season), and his FIP was an impressive 0.81, with an exceptionally low ERA of 1.20.
T-4. John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves (55 in 2002)
Smoltz, who set the National League record for saves in 2002, was only in his second year as a reliever and it would tie that number since there has been no one able to match it in the following season like Gagne.
In 2005, Smoltz solidified his reputation as one of the finest pitchers in history who consistently performed as both a starter and reliever throughout his career. Despite only tallying 45 saves that year, he managed to decrease his ERA from 3.25 to 1.12 with an additional 44 saves. The previous starting pitcher would later have an even more impressive season in terms of ERA in 2004.
Most Saves by a Rookie
1. Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves (46 in 2011)
And somehow, he managed to exceed those expectations by earning the Rookie of the Year honors in the NL with 46 saves. He didn’t lose his rookie eligibility as he only allowed one earned run and pitched in 21 games, which was his coming off season. Many rookie relievers faced higher expectations than Kimbrel.
After his impressive debut season, it all began, but his legendary career has witnessed numerous significant moments since that time. In each of the subsequent three seasons, his earned run average (ERA) was less than 2.00, and in 2011, Kimbrel achieved a 2.10 ERA. What’s truly remarkable about Kimbrel is his consistent improvement following his initial year in the league.
2. Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers (40 in 2010)
In 2010, Kimbrel exploded onto the scene, saving 40 games en route to winning the AL Rookie of the Year. However, Feliz had a similar start as he retained his rookie eligibility but had an ERA of 1.74 in 31 innings pitched in 2009.
He made 18 appearances in 2010 and 2011, with an ERA of 1.93. He truly performed well in the postseason. However, he couldn’t maintain his effectiveness or good health afterwards. In 2011, Feliz once again demonstrated excellent performance.
3. Kazuhiro Sasaki, Seattle Mariners (37 in 2000)
Sasaki’s career in MLB was both memorable and short. He started his first season at the age of 32 in 2000. He had an ERA of 3.16 and recorded 37 saves, finishing the year as the Rookie of the Year in the American League. In the following season of 2001, he continued his success by saving 45 games for the Mariners, who won a remarkable 116 games.
After spending four years with the Mariners, where he left a major mark in Major League Baseball as a two-time All-Star, Sasaki decided to finish his career in Japan. He returned to Japan for two more seasons.
4. Todd Worrell, St. Louis Cardinals (36 in 1986)
A lesser-known pitcher from the 1980s and ’90s, Worrell saved 256 games in his career with a 3.09 ERA.
In 1985, the All-Star three-time closer was installed as the full-time closer and led the league with 36 saves, earning the Rookie of the Year honors. He started all 21.2 innings, recording an ERA of 2.91.
5. Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox (35 in 2006)
In his first full season with the Red Sox in 2006, Papelbon emerged as the team’s closer and never looked back. He also had the distinction of making the All-Star Game in each of his first four seasons in the big leagues.
Verlander had the misfortune of being a rookie in the same year as Justin, however, he is the only player in the top five of this list who did not win Rookie of the Year. As he pitched 68.1 innings, he only allowed three homers and had an ERA of 0.92, proving that his rookie season was exceptional.
Most Saves in a Postseason
T-1. Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals (7 in 2014)
In 2014, Holland made the All-Star team for the second year in a row and saved 46 games, showcasing his elite skills in the Royals bullpen.
Unfortunately, the Royals fell short in the postseason the year following their World Series win against the San Francisco Giants, losing in seven games. Holland, who missed the entire postseason due to an elbow injury, had an impressive performance in the ALCS, saving all four games, including one in which he allowed only one run in 11.0 innings.
T-1. Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies (7 in 2008)
In 2005, Albert Pujols smashed a homer off Brad Lidge in the NLCS that is yet to touch down.
Hinske Eric struck out to end the season as the champion, saving the World Series-clinching Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He saved more than seven games in the playoffs, allowing only one run in 9.1 innings, and had a perfect record of 41 save opportunities for the Phillies that year. Lidge didn’t let the pressure break him, even in his later years when he was just three ages the season together.
T-1. Troy Percival, Anaheim Angels (7 in 2002)
In the 2002 season, Percival was a good reliever for a long time, with an impressive ERA of 1.92 and 40 games saved being his best.
The Angels’ record in the World Series consists solely of World Series victories, with their last win coming in the seventh game. He did not disappoint in saving all of his opportunities, and Percival only pitched in the postseason during his career.
T-1. Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox (7 in 2013)
In 2013, Uehara stood out as an anomaly when he clinched the ALCS MVP, a feat seldom achieved by relief pitchers in terms of postseason recognition.
The Red Sox, who emerged as champions of the World Series, surrendered only one run in a total of 13.2 innings throughout the postseason. Meanwhile, Uehara successfully converted all seven of his chances to secure saves. In five games, he managed to achieve nine strikeouts without conceding a single run, pitching for a total of six innings.
T-1. Robb Nen, San Francisco Giants (7 in 2002)
Nen, with a remarkable ERA of 2.20 and 43 saves that year, showcased his electrifying performance by allowing only one run over the course of nine innings for the Giants in the entire playoff run. The matchup between the two dynamic closers, Nen and the aforementioned Percival, was captivating. However, it was Barry Bonds who grabbed the headlines in the 2002 World Series.
Hardly is the worst way to end a career, but in the World Series, Nen had three scoreless outings. After retiring in 2005 and never throwing another pitch following the 2002 season, he didn’t throw a pitch in the regular season the following year. Nen was not on the field for the final season, as he was plagued by injuries for two seasons. It wasn’t enough as Percival, but he saved two games and threw three scoreless innings in the World Series.
Most Saves in a Career
1. Mariano Rivera, 652
The greatest closer of all time has the highest number of saves in history. It is logical.
Throughout his career (with the exception of injury), he fell short of achieving 30 saves only on two occasions in the last 17 years, subsequent to being appointed as the Yankees’ closer before the 1997 season. He experienced nine seasons where he accumulated 40 or more saves. Despite his consistent brilliance for the Yankees, Rivera only topped the league in saves three times.
In 2019, he became the inaugural player to be chosen unanimously for induction into the Hall of Fame. For nearly two decades, he maintained his supremacy as a fundamental component of one of the most exceptional dynasties in the early history of baseball. The 13-time All-Star performed exceptionally well during the playoffs.
2. Trevor Hoffman, 601
The two members are also the only ones who are far ahead of everyone else. They were shutting down the miserable hitters in the American League at the same time as Rivera.
The peak was remarkable, but the consistency was even more impressive, similar to Rivera. On both occasions, Hoffman finished as the runner-up in the Cy Young voting and topped the league in saves twice, but he also accumulated nine seasons with 40 or more saves. He was honored with induction into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
3. Lee Smith, 478
The all-time saves leader before Rivera and Hoffman was Smith, whose career was winding down just as those two entered the league.
Rivera and Hoffman, throughout their professional journeys, collectively accumulated a single season where they pitched over 100 innings. Conversely, Smith, during the years 1982-84, achieved the remarkable feat of three consecutive seasons with over 100 innings pitched, despite being assigned only five starts in total during that period when relief pitchers were frequently tasked with handling extended innings. It is worth mentioning that Smith primarily operated as a closer.
In 2019, he was chosen for induction into the Hall of Fame along with Rivera. Smith was a seven-time All-Star and topped the league in saves on four occasions.
4. Francisco Rodriguez, 437
The previously mentioned Rodriguez had 62 successful saves in 2008, but he was exceptional in numerous other years too.
He revived his professional life by playing for the Detroit Tigers and the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016 and 2014 respectively. Prior to that, he played for the Los Angeles Angels from 2005 to 2008, where he had four consecutive seasons of saving 40 or more games.
Although he is not a Hall of Famer like the guys above him on this list, Rodriguez’s remarkable career spans 16 seasons with a saves ERA of 2.86, making him exceptional.
5. John Franco, 424
Despite never having a 40-save season, lefty Franco amazingly amassed 424 saves with the Cincinnati Reds in 1988, placing him at the top of the list.
Franco pitched for the Mets for 21 seasons in the major leagues, saving over 30 games in 8 seasons and maintaining an ERA of 3.00 in 13 seasons.
Most Career Postseason Saves
1. Mariano Rivera, 42
Rivera’s record of saves in the postseason is going to be tough to beat. He’s amassed more than double the saves of anyone else in the playoffs. He’s a product of playing on the Yankees, a team that has played deep into October for most years.
Sandy Alomar and Jay Payton, who hit those home runs, truly merit a medal. He permitted two home runs during the postseason, spanning a total of 96.0 innings. His postseason ERA stands at an astonishing 0.70, a figure that is difficult to comprehend. The majority of his postseason statistics appear to be a typographical error. Notably, he was named the ALCS MVP in 2003 and the World Series MVP in 1999.
Although Derek Jeter, Rivera’s teammate, received most of the credit for his impressive playoff performance, Rivera held his own and played clutch.
2. Kenley Jansen, 19
Over the years, as a steadfast member of the Dodgers bullpen, Jansen has held the National League record. However, when comparing his nineteen saves to Rivera’s accomplishments, they don’t appear to be as remarkable.
3. Brad Lidge, 18
He had a career ERA of 2.18 with 62 strikeouts in 45.1 innings in the playoffs. Lidge nicely rebounded from a low moment in the 2005 postseason to establish himself as one of the best relievers in postseason history, as highlighted above.
4. Dennis Eckersley, 15
In 1988, when all of the exciting playoff runs were taking place, Kirk Gibson had the misfortune of being on the receiving end of Dennis Eckersley’s excellent pitching. Eckersley, who was one of the best pitchers of his generation and at the peak of his powers, had a moment of misfortune that was a part of the reason for this. Additionally, Eckersley finished as the runner-up in the Cy Young voting that season and also received the ALCS MVP award.
And Eck would get his World Series ring the following year, saving the Game 4 in the Athletics’ sweep of the Giants.