Most Saves By An MLB Relief Pitcher
A save is a statistic awarded to a relief pitcher who preserves his team’s lead and wins the game, in certain situations. Read on to learn about the relief pitchers who have recorded the most saves all-time and in a single season.
Reliever Save Records
Mariano Rivera holds the all-time record for saves with 652, while Francisco Rodriguez holds the single-season record with 62.
Most Career Saves Single Season
Shown below are the all-time record-holders for saves in a single season:
| Name (Year) | Team | Single-Season Save Total |
|---|---|---|
| Francisco Rodriguez (2008) | Los Angeles Angels | 62 |
| Edwin Diaz (2018) | Seattle Mariners | 57 |
| Bobby Thigpen (1990) | Chicago White Sox | 57 |
| Eric Gagne (2003) | Los Angeles Dodgers | 55 |
| John Smoltz (2002) | Atlanta Braves | 55 |
Most Career Saves All-Time
Shown below are the all-time record-holders for career saves:
| Name | Team(s) | Career Save Total |
|---|---|---|
| Mariano Rivera | New York Yankees | 652 |
| Trevor Hoffman | Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers | 601 |
| Lee Smith | Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, California Angles, Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos | 478 |
| Francisco Rodriguez | Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers | 437 |
| John Franco | Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Houston Astros | 424 |