Overview
A save is credited to a relief pitcher who does not qualify as the winning pitcher and preserves the team's lead through the end of the game. Typical scenarios include entering with a lead of three runs or fewer and finishing the game, or entering with the tying run on base. NPB's career save record is Hitoki Iwase's (Chunichi) 407, achieved in 2013. Iwase served as Chunichi's closer for 20 years, wielding a devastating left-handed slider, and also holds the all-time record for games pitched at 1,002. The save rule was introduced to NPB in 1974, prior to which there was no statistical measure for relief pitcher contributions. In modern baseball, the dedicated closer role for the ninth inning is firmly established, with Kazuhiro Sasaki (Yokohama) recording 229 saves and Shingo Takatsu (Yakult) accumulating 286 saves as long-tenured specialists. In recent years, the concept of a 'winning pattern' bullpen - deploying elite relievers in any high-leverage situation regardless of save opportunities - has become widespread.