250 saves and the Meikyukai - the 2003 addition
For decades the Meikyukai pitching standard was 200 wins only; 250 career saves was added in 2003 to properly recognize relief specialists in the era of bullpen specialization.
The save - introduced in 1974; the record is Iwase's 407
The save was introduced to NPB in 1974; before that there was no statistic quantifying relief contributions. It is credited to a reliever who protects a lead to finish the game.
The NPB career saves record is Hitoki Iwase's 407 - a mark built on holding the closer's job for many years.
How to read this tracker
The reference table below lists active pitchers closing in on the 250-save milestone. Figures are as of the data date; where they differ from the latest official records, the official records take precedence.
Reference data
The table below is reference data compiled by this site, not an official announcement.
Data as of
Legend: Reached Within 5% of the target More than 5% of the target to go Milestone line
- Ｒ．マルティネス (Yomiuri) (age 29) 251 / 250 Reached
- 益田 直也 (Lotte) (age 36) 250 / 250 Reached
- 平野 佳寿 (ORIX) (age 42) 250 / 250 Reached
- 山﨑 康晃 (DeNA) (age 33) 246 / 250 4 to go
250-Save Pitchers: Full List (Meikyukai Standard)
These are finalized official records. Career totals cover NPB only and do not include combined NPB/MLB figures.
All-time list
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| Rank | Player | Team | Career total | Career span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 岩瀬 仁紀 | Chunichi | 407 | 1999-2018 |
| 2 | 高津 臣吾 | Yakult | 286 | 1991-2007 |
| 3 | 佐々木 主浩 | Yokohama | 252 | 1990-2005 |
| 4 | 平野 佳寿 | ORIX | 250* | 2006-2026 |
| 4 | 益田 直也 | Lotte | 250* | 2012-2026 |
* Active (career totals as of Sep 19, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is 250 saves the standard for?
One of the Meikyukai pitching standards, added in 2003 alongside 200 career wins.
What is the NPB career saves record?
Hitoki Iwase's 407 saves.
When was the save introduced?
It was introduced to NPB in 1974; before that there was no statistic for relief contributions.
Which active pitcher is closest to 250 saves?
The active pitcher closest to 250 saves is 山﨑 康晃 (DeNA), 4 saves to go (as of Sep 19, 2026).