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 mechanically extracts active pitchers whose career saves are at least 75% of the 250-save standard, from official npb.jp records. No manual curation. Check npb.jp for definitive figures.
Reference data (tallied from npb.jp official records)
The table below is reference data tallied mechanically from official npb.jp records. Source: Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) official site.
Data as of 2026-07-26 (npb.jp)
| Player | Team | Current | To go |
|---|---|---|---|
| 平野 佳寿 | オリックス・バファローズ | 250 | Reached |
| 益田 直也 | 千葉ロッテマリーンズ | 249 | 1 |
| 山﨑 康晃 | 横浜DeNAベイスターズ | 246 | 4 |
| Ｒ．マルティネス | 読売ジャイアンツ | 241 | 9 |
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.