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 a pitcher enters with a lead of three runs or fewer and completes at least one inning without allowing the tying run. In NPB, Kazuhiro Sasaki earned the nickname 'Daimajin' (Great Devil) as the Yokohama BayStars' dominant closer, recording 252 saves before moving to MLB. The all-time NPB save record belongs to Hitoki Iwase with 407, accumulated over 21 years with the Chunichi Dragons using his devastating left-handed slider. Kyuji Fujikawa's 'Fireball Straight' was legendary for being unhittable even when batters knew it was coming, and he posted dominant numbers transitioning from setup man to closer during the Hanshin Tigers' JFK era (2005-2007). Closers require not only overpowering stuff but also the mental fortitude to remain composed in high-leverage situations. While modern usage typically limits closers to one inning, earlier eras featured long-relief closers like Yutaka Enatsu who regularly pitched 2-3 innings.