Overview
The closer is the relief pitcher entrusted with the ninth inning (or final inning in extra innings) to preserve a lead and finish the game. A save is recorded when, among other conditions, a pitcher enters with his team ahead and finishes the game while preserving the lead. In NPB, Kazuhiro Sasaki earned the nickname 'Daimajin' (Great Devil) as the Yokohama BayStars' closer, recording 252 NPB saves (1990-2005) in a career that also included a stint in MLB. The all-time NPB save record belongs to Hitoki Iwase with 407 (1999-2018, as of September 4, 2026), accumulated entirely with the Chunichi Dragons using his left-handed slider. Kyuji Fujikawa's 'Fireball Straight' was described as unhittable even when batters knew it was coming, and he moved from setup man to closer during the Hanshin Tigers' JFK era. Closers require not only overpowering stuff but also the mental fortitude to remain composed in high-leverage situations. In contrast to the one-inning closer, earlier eras featured long-relief closers like Yutaka Enatsu who pitched 2-3 innings.