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Relief pitcher

A relief pitcher, also known as a reliever, is a baseball pitcher who enters a game in progress to replace the starting pitcher or another reliever, typically due to the starter's fatigue, ineffectiveness, or injury, with the goal of preserving a lead, minimizing damage, or managing specific matchups.^[1]^[2] These pitchers operate from the team's bullpen and are essential in modern professional baseball, where starting pitchers seldom complete games, allowing teams to deploy specialized arms for different game situations.^[3] Relief pitchers fulfill a variety of roles depending on the inning, score, and leverage of the contest, with Major League Baseball (MLB) teams typically carrying 7 or 8 relievers on their 26-man active roster (or up to 9 on the 28-man roster after September 1) alongside 5 starters to cover the demands of a 162-game season.^[4]^[5] Key types include the long reliever, who can pitch multiple innings early in games when a starter exits prematurely; middle relievers, who handle low- to medium-leverage situations in the middle innings; setup men, who bridge the gap to the late innings in close games; and the closer, who specializes in finishing victories by pitching the ninth inning or later with a narrow lead.^[3]^[6] Additional specialists, such as left-handed or right-handed matchup pitchers, may be used for one batter or one out to exploit platoon advantages against opposite-handed hitters.^[3] The role of the relief pitcher has evolved significantly since the early 20th century, when managers like John McGraw of the New York Giants began systematically using relievers to secure wins, marking the birth of strategic bullpen usage around 1904.^[6] By the mid-1950s, the specialization of relief roles intensified, with pitchers like Roy Face of the Pittsburgh Pirates exemplifying the shift toward dedicated relievers who rarely started games.^[3] Today, relievers are evaluated through statistics like earned run average (ERA), saves (awarded to those who finish wins under specified conditions, such as entering with a lead of no more than three runs and pitching at least one inning), holds (for maintaining leads in save situations without closing), and blown saves, reflecting their high-stakes impact on game outcomes.^[7]^[8]^[9]

Fundamentals

Definition and Primary Role

A relief pitcher, also known as a reliever, is a pitcher who enters a baseball game after the starting pitcher or another reliever has been removed from the contest.^[2] These pitchers do not begin the game but instead take over during its course, often in the middle or later innings, to continue the team's pitching effort.^[10] The primary role of a relief pitcher is to preserve a team's lead, prevent the opposing team from scoring, or stabilize the game in critical moments.^[11] This includes facing specific batters in targeted matchups, such as deploying a left-handed reliever against left-handed hitters to exploit platoon advantages, a strategy exemplified by left-handed specialists who often pitch to just one or two batters per appearance.^[12] Relievers typically pitch one or more innings but are not expected to handle the full game, focusing instead on high-intensity bursts to maintain game control without assuming the initial responsibility of the starting role.^[3] Relief pitching dates back to the 19th century, with early examples including pitchers who entered games mid-inning to support starters, though the practice was sporadic and often involved starters themselves relieving.^[13] It became more formalized in the 20th century as teams developed dedicated bullpens and specialized roles for relievers separate from starters.^[11] In contrast to starting pitchers, who prioritize endurance to cover six or more innings, relief pitchers focus on shorter outings in high-leverage situations, often throwing with greater velocity—typically 1-2 mph faster on average—and generating higher strikeout rates to maximize impact in limited time.^[14]

Key Metrics and Evaluation

Relief pitchers are primarily evaluated using a combination of traditional statistics that measure run prevention and situational success, alongside advanced metrics that account for context and independent performance. The core statistic for assessing run prevention is Earned Run Average (ERA), which calculates the average number of earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched, providing a baseline for effectiveness but influenced by defensive support and sequencing. Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched (WHIP) complements ERA by focusing on baserunners allowed, computed as (walks + hits) / innings pitched, offering insight into a pitcher's ability to limit traffic on the bases without relying on fielders. Situational contributions are captured through Saves and Holds, which quantify a reliever's role in preserving leads. A Save is awarded to a relief pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under specific conditions: entering with a lead of no more than three runs and pitching at least one inning, or entering the game with the potential tying run either on base, at bat, or on deck, or pitching effectively for at least three innings; the pitcher must not be the winning pitcher.^[7] Holds, an unofficial but widely tracked statistic, are credited to a reliever who enters a Save situation, records at least one out, and maintains the lead without finishing the game, recognizing middle relievers' value in bridging to the closer. Advanced analytics address limitations in traditional stats by isolating pitcher-controlled outcomes and game context. Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) estimates runs allowed based solely on home runs, walks, hit-by-pitches, and strikeouts—events largely independent of defense—scaled to an ERA-like format using the formula: FIP = ((13 × HR + 3 × (BB + HBP) - 2 × K) / IP) + constant, where the constant adjusts to league ERA.^[15] Expected FIP (xFIP) refines this by normalizing home runs to a league-average rate per fly ball, reducing park and luck effects for better prediction. Contextual importance is measured by Leverage Index (LI), which quantifies the impact of a situation on win probability, with 1.0 representing average leverage; for example, the bottom of the ninth inning in a one-run game yields an LI around 2.0 or higher, indicating high-pressure scenarios where relievers are often deployed.^[16] Win Probability Added (WPA) evaluates a pitcher's contribution to team success by summing the change in win expectancy from each plate appearance they influence, calculated as the difference in projected win percentage before and after the event; positive WPA indicates value added toward victory, particularly in clutch moments.^[17] Evaluating relief pitchers presents challenges due to the volatility inherent in short outings, often one to two innings, which amplify small-sample noise and make year-to-year stability lower than for starters—reliever statistics like ERA exhibit high volatility due to small sample sizes, with strikeout rates stabilizing after about 70 batters faced.^[18] Bullpen management further complicates individual assessments, as managerial decisions on usage—such as matching relievers to specific leverage or matchups—directly influence opportunities for Saves, Holds, and high-WPA situations, potentially inflating or deflating stats based on team strategy rather than pure talent.^[19]

Historical Evolution

Early Relievers and Pre-Bullpen Use

In the 19th century, relief pitching emerged sporadically amid a baseball landscape dominated by complete games, where pitchers typically threw every inning of every contest. During the National Association era of the 1870s, rules permitted substitutions for reasons such as fatigue or injury, allowing occasional relief appearances in multi-game series or exhibition matches.^[20] For instance, Al Spalding, a star starter for the Boston Red Stockings, recorded nine saves in 1875 while primarily functioning as the team's ace, going 54-5 with a 1.59 ERA over 62 starts.^[21] Similarly, Kid Nichols amassed 15 saves between 1890 and 1899 across seven seasons with the Boston Beaneaters, though he started 441 games and averaged over 400 innings pitched annually during that span.^[21] These instances highlight how relief was an ad-hoc measure rather than a defined role, often employed when a starter faltered early or during grueling schedules. By the pre-1900s period, complete games remained the norm, comprising approximately 92% of contests in the 1870s and 1880s, and dropping only slightly to 85% in the 1890s.^[21] Pitcher fatigue from high-inning workloads—exacerbated by frequent doubleheaders and limited rosters—occasionally necessitated spot relief, but no specialized relievers existed; substitutes were typically position players or off-day starters stepping in briefly. Relieving carried a cultural stigma as a lesser duty, frequently assigned to aging veterans, ineffective starters, or even non-pitchers in emergencies, reflecting the era's emphasis on endurance over strategy.^[21] The transition into the dead-ball era (1900-1919) saw relief usage expand slightly as "spot starters" or emergency arms, particularly in doubleheaders where teams lacked depth.^[21] Hall of Famer Walter Johnson, renowned for his starting prowess with the Washington Senators, appeared in relief 136 times over his career, often in high-leverage situations during the 1910s to preserve leads or bail out struggling teammates.^[21] Without dedicated bullpen facilities—relievers warmed up on the field or sidelines until such areas developed in the early 1900s and became standard by the 1920s—these appearances remained informal and reactive.^[22] This pre-bullpen phase underscored relief as a temporary fix in an era prioritizing starter durability over bullpen specialization.

Fireman Era

The Fireman Era, spanning roughly from the 1920s through the 1960s, marked a pivotal shift in baseball strategy toward dedicated relief pitchers who could handle multiple innings, typically two to three, to preserve leads or rescue faltering starters in late-game situations. These "firemen," a term evoking their role in extinguishing offensive threats, were versatile arms often deployed proactively rather than as last resorts, bridging the gap between ad-hoc 19th-century substitutions and the specialized bullpens of later decades. Unlike earlier relievers, firemen were expected to contribute significantly to team wins through endurance and reliability, frequently finishing games they did not start.^[23] Pioneering figures exemplified this role's emergence. Firpo Marberry of the Washington Senators became the first pitcher retroactively credited with a 20-save season in 1926, with 22 saves, appearing in 50 relief outings in 1924 while leading the American League in saves multiple times through the 1920s; his versatility included both starting and relieving, amassing over 100 career saves before the statistic's formal adoption. Similarly, Johnny Murphy solidified the fireman archetype with the New York Yankees in the 1930s, leading the league in relief wins seven times and saves four times (unofficially), with 73 career relief victories that highlighted his value in high-leverage, multi-inning appearances during the team's dynasty years.^[24]^[25]^[26] Tactical innovations further entrenched the fireman's importance. Managers like Casey Stengel, during his tenure with the Yankees in the 1940s and 1950s, employed relievers aggressively, often shuttling pitchers between starting and relief roles to match specific matchups and maximize bullpen depth; Stengel's proactive use extended to logistical advancements, such as the introduction of bullpen cars in the late 1950s to expedite warm-ups and entries from distant outfield pens. This era's firemen were evaluated primarily through traditional metrics like wins, complete games finished, and appearances rather than isolated late-inning preserves, reflecting a focus on overall game control.^[27]^[28] The era waned in the late 1960s amid rule changes that altered pitching dynamics. Saves became an official Major League Baseball statistic in 1969, standardizing recognition for relievers but emphasizing one-inning finishes over multi-inning stints; concurrently, the pitching mound was lowered from 15 inches to 10 inches that year to boost offense after the pitcher-dominated 1968 season, reducing the effectiveness of endurance-based firemen and paving the way for more specialized, short-burst roles.^[7]^[29]^[30]

Rise of the Closer

The specialization of the relief pitcher into the dedicated ninth-inning closer emerged prominently in the 1970s, building on the broader fireman role of prior decades by focusing elite relievers on high-leverage endgame situations.^[31] This shift was further catalyzed by the 1975 modification to the save rule, which credited a reliever with a save for finishing the game with the tying run on deck or at bat, or maintaining a lead of no more than three runs after pitching at least one full inning—conditions that encouraged managers to deploy their best arms exclusively in close late innings.^[32] Pioneering figures like Rollie Fingers, who averaged 123 innings per season from 1972 to 1978 while accumulating saves, and Goose Gossage, who led the American League with 26 saves in 1975 and topped 130 innings three times that decade, exemplified this evolution by combining durability with dominance in critical moments.^[33]^[34]^[31] In the 1980s, the closer role solidified through managerial tactics that reserved top relievers for endgame protection, with figures like Billy Martin emphasizing aggressive use of aces in high-stakes scenarios during his Yankees tenures.^[35] This era saw dominance by power arms such as Bruce Sutter, whose splitter-fueled 37 saves in 1979 came primarily from protecting leads in the ninth, and Dennis Eckersley, who transitioned to a one-inning specialist under Tony La Russa, posting 45 saves in just 72⅔ innings in 1988.^[31] Leaders like Lee Smith further entrenched the archetype, amassing 478 career saves with a reliance on velocity and intimidation that prioritized shutdown efficiency over multi-inning endurance.^[36] The tactical mindset evolved into a "lights-out" philosophy, where closers were deployed almost exclusively for one-inning, high-leverage appearances to maximize impact and minimize exposure, a departure from the multi-inning firemen of earlier years.^[31] This specialization accelerated due to growing awareness of arm strain from heavy workloads, as seen in pitchers like Jim Kern whose ERA ballooned to 4.83 in 1980 after overuse, prompting strategies that preserved elite arms for pivotal moments.^[31] A landmark milestone came in 1999, when Mariano Rivera delivered a perfect postseason performance—12⅓ scoreless innings across 8 appearances, including the World Series-clinching save—earning MVP honors and epitomizing the closer's transformative role.^[37] The rise of the closer profoundly impacted gameplay, contributing to a sharp decline in complete games—from about 22% of starts in 1970 to under 1% by the late 1990s—as starters were routinely removed in favor of layered bullpens, making depth in relief pitching essential for contending teams.^[38]^[39] This strategic emphasis elevated the ninth inning's drama while underscoring the bullpen's centrality to modern victory.^[32]

Modern Relief Roles

Setup and Middle Relief

Setup men, also known as setup relievers, are relief pitchers primarily responsible for pitching the eighth inning or the late seventh inning in close games, facing the top of the opposing lineup during high-leverage situations to maintain a slim lead before handing off to the closer.^[40] These pitchers typically throw one inning, emphasizing strikeouts and ground balls to minimize baserunners, as their role demands precision under pressure without the finality of closing out the game.^[41] Unlike closers, setup men operate in scenarios where a lead is preserved but not secured, often with inherited runners from the starter or earlier relievers, and their effectiveness is measured by their ability to stabilize the game in these pivotal moments.^[8] Middle relievers, in contrast, bridge the gap in earlier innings, typically the fourth through sixth, serving as transitional arms after the starting pitcher exits, often in lower-leverage situations where the score may be tied or the margin wider.^[42] They may pitch one to three innings depending on the game's flow, score, and available bullpen depth, functioning as a flexible "catch-all" role to eat innings without high expectations of facing elite hitters multiple times through the order.^[42] On stronger teams, capable middle relievers can occasionally shift to setup duties, while on weaker bullpens, they are often journeyman pitchers focused on inducing weak contact rather than overpowering batters.^[42] Key strategies for both roles include platoon advantages, such as deploying left-handed specialists known as LOOGYs (Left-handed One Out Guys), who enter to face one or two left-handed batters, exploiting handedness splits to neutralize threats before exiting.^[12] The hold statistic, invented in 1986 by statisticians John Dewan and Mike O'Donnell, quantifies their contributions by crediting a pitcher who enters with a lead of three runs or fewer, maintains it, and departs without allowing the tying or go-ahead run, thereby recognizing setup and middle relievers beyond traditional saves.^[8] In the 2020s, analytics have refined these matchups, optimizing bullpen usage through data on batter-pitcher handedness and expected outcomes to maximize leverage, often limiting outings to 15-25 pitches to prioritize arm care and velocity preservation.^[43] This approach, combined with the 2020 three-batter minimum rule, has reduced hyper-specialized roles like pure LOOGYs while promoting piggyback systems where setup or middle arms pair with others for efficient inning coverage in multi-reliever games.^[44]

Closer Specialization

The closer, often the final line of defense in a bullpen hierarchy, is selected for their elite physical profile and unyielding mental fortitude. These pitchers typically rely on high-velocity fastballs averaging 97-100 mph to overpower hitters, complemented by wipeout sliders that generate significant horizontal and vertical break to induce whiffs and weak contact.^[45] Mental toughness is paramount, as closers must thrive under intense pressure in save situations, employing emotional intelligence to appraise stress, maintain focus, and block distractions like crowd noise or past failures.^[46]^[47] This psychological resilience enables them to execute in high-stakes moments where a single mistake can cost a victory, distinguishing elite closers from other relievers. For instance, in 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers converted starting pitcher Roki Sasaki to a closer role during the playoffs, where he effectively threw 100 mph fastballs.^[45] Tactically, closers are preserved for clean innings—starting with no runners on base—in the ninth to protect slim leads of one to three runs, maximizing their efficiency and minimizing exposure to inherited threats.^[48] Multi-inning outings are rare outside of extra innings, where they may pitch the 10th or beyond only if the team secures a lead, adhering to unwritten conventions that prioritize lead protection over tie games on the road.^[49] Blown saves, occurring when a closer allows the tying or go-ahead run to score in a save opportunity, carry outsized scrutiny as high-profile failures that can erode confidence, prompt managerial changes, and influence contract decisions, though context like three-run leads tempers their severity.^[9]^[50] In the 21st century, while the traditional single-closer model endures, innovative approaches like closer-by-committee have emerged, notably with the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2010s, who shifted to a shared ninth-inning role in 2014 after demoting Grant Balfour to distribute high-leverage work among multiple relievers.^[51] Yet, the dominance of dedicated closers persists, evidenced by frequent 40+ save seasons, such as Trevor Hoffman's nine such campaigns, including a peak of 53 in 1998, underscoring the role's impact on team success.^[52] Globally, the closer archetype mirrors MLB in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), but with greater emphasis on endurance; Japanese closers often handle multi-inning stints in tied games or extras, reflecting cultural values of stamina and prolonged pitching battles.^[53]^[54] Key metrics for evaluating closers include save percentage, defined as the ratio of successful saves to total save opportunities (e.g., Mariano Rivera's career .893), which quantifies reliability in closing games.^[55] Additionally, inherited runner scoring rates—typically around 30% league-wide—highlight a closer's ability to strand baserunners left by predecessors, with top performers like Rivera allowing just 29% to score across 308 inherited runners, providing context for performance in non-ideal entries.^[56]^[57]

Long and Situational Relievers

Long relievers, also known as long men or bulk pitchers, are relief pitchers who typically enter games early, often after a starting pitcher exits prematurely, and are expected to pitch multiple innings—generally three or more per appearance—to stabilize the bullpen and provide depth.^[58] These pitchers are commonly deployed in low-leverage situations, such as blowouts or when managing starter injuries, and they differ from traditional starters by entering mid-game without the expectation of completing a full nine innings.^[58] In the 2010s, teams increasingly utilized long relievers as spot starters during injury-plagued seasons, allowing for flexible roster management without committing to full rotations.^[59] Situational relievers, often called matchup pitchers, specialize in facing specific batters based on handedness or platoon advantages, typically pitching to just one or two hitters, such as a left-handed specialist (LOOGY) against left-handed power hitters or a right-handed one (ROOGY) in analogous scenarios.^[12] This role exploits statistical edges, like the tendency for opposite-handed batters to perform worse against same-handed pitchers, and is common in middle innings to neutralize threats without exhausting high-leverage arms.^[60] A prominent evolution in situational relief is the "opener" strategy, popularized by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, where a reliever (the opener) pitches one to three innings to start the game, followed by a bulk pitcher handling the bulk of the remaining innings; this approach was used in nearly half of the Rays' games that year, contributing to their league-leading 2.85 team ERA post-adoption.^[61]^[59] The primary advantages of long and situational relievers include cost-effective roster depth, particularly for teams facing starter injuries or budget constraints, as they allow bulk pitchers—often converted minor-league starters—to fill extended roles without high salaries.^[59] However, risks arise from fatigue, especially when relievers unaccustomed to multi-inning workloads exceed 15-20 pitches per outing, leading to increased error rates and injury potential, as quantified in studies of MLB pitcher performance.^[62] Post-2020, analytics-driven trends have emphasized "matchup hunting" in situational roles, with teams like the Rays employing opener usage in the late 2010s to optimize platoon splits and preserve arms, though such usage has declined since 2020.^[63] Long relievers remain distinct from converted starters who may transition permanently.

Non-Pitching Personnel in Relief

Starting Pitchers as Relievers

Starting pitchers are commonly shifted to relief roles during recovery from injuries, to address poor performance in the rotation, or as part of broader team strategies aimed at preserving arms and optimizing matchups. In injury rehabilitation, such as after elbow surgery or shoulder issues, teams often limit starters to 1-3 inning appearances in the bullpen to rebuild endurance gradually without exposing them to full-game demands. This approach allows pitchers to contribute immediately while minimizing re-injury risk, as seen with numerous veterans who extend their careers through such transitions. Poor outings or inconsistent starts can also prompt a move to relief, where shorter stints leverage a pitcher's best stuff early in the game. Additionally, in the 2020s, the implementation of six-man rotations—particularly during the 2020 COVID-shortened season—has led to piggyback systems, in which a starter follows an opener to handle 4-6 innings, effectively using rotation arms as bulk relievers to manage overall workload and depth. Teams like the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics experimented with these setups early in the decade to adapt to condensed schedules and injury challenges.^[64]^[65] Historical examples illustrate the effectiveness and occasional drama of these shifts. In 1999, Boston Red Sox ace Pedro Martínez, hampered by a right shoulder strain and lat muscle issue from earlier in the ALDS, made a surprise relief appearance in Game 5 against the Cleveland Indians; despite reduced velocity (starting at 91 mph compared to his usual upper 90s), he delivered six no-hit innings with eight strikeouts, securing a 12-8 victory and advancing Boston to the ALCS for the first time since 1986. Another prominent case is John Smoltz, who, following Tommy John surgery in 2000, transitioned from starting to closing for the Atlanta Braves in 2001; he posted a 0.84 ERA over 64 innings and recorded 55 saves, revitalizing his career and earning Cy Young consideration. These instances highlight how starters' elite repertoires can thrive in relief when fresh, particularly in postseason scenarios where conserving high-end arms is crucial.^[66] The advantages of deploying starting pitchers as relievers include providing rested, high-velocity arms for critical moments, such as playoffs or late-game leverage situations, which can swing win probabilities by exploiting opponents' unfamiliarity with the pitcher's mix in shorter bursts. However, challenges arise in adapting to relief demands, including abrupt pitch count limits (often 30-40 pitches versus 90-100 as starters) and the need to ramp up intensity without a full bullpen warm-up routine, potentially leading to command inconsistencies or arm fatigue if overused. Statistically, relievers benefit from an inherent ERA edge of approximately 0.20 runs per nine innings over starters, attributed to entering mid-inning with outs already recorded and facing fewer batters overall, which amplifies the impact of a transitioned starter's performance in high-leverage spots.^[67] Looking forward, analytics are driving a rise in hybrid "swingman" roles, blending starting and relieving to mitigate escalating workload concerns and injury rates among pitchers, as teams seek sustainable ways to maximize rotation depth amid declining innings per start. This trend, informed by data on cumulative fatigue and biomechanical stress, could normalize more fluid transitions, with studies indicating that proactive load management may counteract the counterproductive effects of overly restrictive pitch limits in the minors.^[68]^[69]

Position Players Pitching

In Major League Baseball (MLB), position players occasionally take the mound in relief situations to preserve bullpen resources, primarily during lopsided games where their team trails by a significant margin or leads by an overwhelming one, such as 10 or more runs. This practice helps avoid overworking pitchers in non-competitive scenarios, allowing teams to allocate their pitching staff more effectively for closer contests. Additionally, position players have been permitted to pitch in extra innings, a rule that gained prominence in 2020 amid the shortened season, expanded playoffs, doubleheaders, and the introduction of the universal designated hitter, which eliminated the need to remove a defensive player to use a DH.^[44] MLB formalized restrictions on position player pitching starting in 2020, allowing it only in extra innings or when a team is ahead or behind by 10 or more runs; this was further refined in 2023 to limit appearances before the ninth inning to situations where the team trails by eight or more runs, or leads by 10 or more in the ninth, while still permitting it in extra innings regardless of score. These rules aim to maintain game integrity by confining such outings to low-stakes moments, though they have occasionally led to viral, lighthearted moments like eephus pitches or trick plays. Prior to 2017, no such formal restrictions existed, but the practice was rare outside of extreme blowouts.^[70] The frequency of position players pitching has risen in the 2020s, driven by the 2020 season's unique demands and ongoing roster management challenges from expanded playoffs and scheduling quirks. In 2020, there were 34 such appearances, representing about 0.55% of all relief outings; this climbed to a peak of 131 in 2022 (0.82%), dipped to 88 in 2024 (0.56%), and reached 61 by late June 2025 (0.76% of relief appearances up to that point), with the trend continuing through the full 2025 season amid persistent workload management needs. This uptick reflects teams' efforts to manage pitcher workloads amid increased game volume, with doubleheaders and extra-inning games under the ghost runner rule providing additional opportunities.^[71] Notable examples include infielder/outfielder Tim Locastro, who has made over a dozen relief appearances since 2018, including multiple outings for the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks in blowout losses, where he often threw underhand or eephus pitches to amuse fans without risking serious injury. In 2022, St. Louis Cardinals legends Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina each pitched in lopsided games, with Pujols allowing two runs in one inning and Molina delivering a scoreless frame. More recently, in 2025, Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Enrique Hernández logged five appearances with a 15.19 ERA, while Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers made five outings posting a 3.60 ERA, highlighting the practice's persistence even in winning efforts. Catcher Willians Astudillo, known for his hitting prowess, pitched several times in the early 2020s for the Minnesota Twins, often in extra innings, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo threw a scoreless inning for the Chicago Cubs in a 2022 blowout.^[72]^[73]^[71] While arm injuries remain rare due to the limited and low-velocity nature of these outings—typically involving tosses under 70 mph—the practice carries minimal risk compared to professional pitching, as position players are not expected to exert maximum effort. Benefits include bullpen preservation, which is crucial in marathon seasons, and it often injects humor into otherwise uneventful games, boosting fan engagement through memorable, unconventional moments. However, teams monitor these appearances closely to avoid any strain on non-pitchers' primary roles.^[74]

Recognition and Legacy

Major Awards for Relievers

The Rolaids Relief Man Award, presented annually from 1976 to 2012, recognized the top relief pitcher in each major league based on a formula emphasizing saves, earned runs allowed, and wins, with points deducted for losses and blown saves.^[75] Sponsored by the antacid brand, it highlighted relievers' role in preventing earned runs, and notable multiple winners included Mariano Rivera and Dan Quisenberry with five each, as well as Bruce Sutter and Rollie Fingers with four apiece.^[76] Following the discontinuation of the Rolaids award, Major League Baseball introduced the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award in 2014, named after the all-time saves leader and honoring the AL's top reliever based on regular-season performance voted by a panel of retired relievers using a 5-3-1 points system for first-, second-, and third-place selections.^[77] Similarly, the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award, also debuting in 2014 and named for the NL's career saves leader, follows the same voting process to recognize the senior circuit's premier bullpen arm.^[78] Recent winners include Emmanuel Clase (AL, 2022 and 2024), Félix Bautista (AL, 2023), Devin Williams (NL, 2023), Ryan Helsley (NL, 2024), Aroldis Chapman (AL, 2025), and Edwin Díaz (NL, 2025), with the awards emphasizing overall effectiveness beyond traditional saves.^[79]^[80]^[81]^[82] Relief pitchers have occasionally contended for the Cy Young Award, which honors the best pitcher in each league regardless of role and focuses on criteria like innings pitched, ERA, wins, and strikeouts to measure overall impact.^[83] Rollie Fingers became the first reliever to win the AL Cy Young in 1981 with a 1.04 ERA and 28 saves for the Milwaukee Brewers, a performance that also earned him MVP honors that year.^[33] Dennis Eckersley followed as the second reliever to claim the award in 1992, posting 51 saves and a 1.91 ERA for the Oakland Athletics while also winning AL MVP.^[84] Relievers frequently earn All-Star Game selections for their season-long contributions, with Dennis Eckersley making the AL roster four times as a reliever (1988, 1990-1992) and others like Mariano Rivera selected 13 times primarily in that role.^[85] MVP voting has also spotlighted elite relievers, as seen with Eckersley's unanimous 1992 win, where his dominance in high-leverage situations outweighed starters' volume stats.^[86] Internationally, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) recognizes its saves leader annually as a key honor for top relievers, with Suguru Iwazaki claiming the title in 2023 for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. In minor league baseball, equivalents include team-specific awards like the Tampa Bay Rays' Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year (e.g., Alexander Alberto in 2025) and MiLB's fan-voted Top Reliever, alongside broader Pitching Prospect of the Year honors that often go to relievers.^[87]^[88] Since the 2010s, voting for reliever awards has evolved to incorporate advanced statistics like WAR and FIP alongside traditional metrics, reflecting a broader evaluation of bullpen impact as seen in the Reliever of the Year selections by expert panels.^[89] This shift culminated in the Baseball Writers' Association of America announcing AL and NL Relief Pitcher of the Year Awards starting in 2026, further formalizing recognition for the position.^[90]

Notable Relievers and Records

Hoyt Wilhelm, a pioneering knuckleball specialist active from the 1950s through the 1970s, became the first full-time reliever inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985, amassing 227 saves and a 2.52 career ERA over 2,083 innings while revolutionizing the role with his unorthodox pitch.^[91] Dennis Eckersley, who transitioned from starter to dominant fireman and closer in the late 1980s and 1990s, earned 390 saves with a 2.74 ERA in relief appearances and was inducted in 2004 for his versatility and impact on late-inning strategy.^[92] Mariano Rivera, the unanimous Hall of Famer from 2019, set the standard for closer excellence with 652 saves—the all-time MLB record—and a 2.21 ERA, anchoring the Yankees' dynasty with unmatched consistency in high-leverage situations.^[93] Key records underscore the evolution of relief pitching prowess. Rivera's 652 saves remain the benchmark for career longevity and reliability in closing games.^[94] Jonathan Papelbon holds the record for the most consecutive seasons with at least 30 saves, achieving seven straight from 2006 to 2012, highlighting sustained dominance amid increasing specialization.^[95] Éric Gagné set the MLB mark for consecutive saves converted with 84 from 2002 to 2004, a streak that exemplified peak performance under pressure.^[96] For exceptional seasons, relievers like Brad Lidge in 2008 posted a 0.00 ERA over 69.1 innings while converting all 41 save opportunities, though such feats often occur in limited appearances due to the role's intensity.^[97] Beyond Hall of Famers, impactful relievers have shaped the position through distinctive styles. Goose Gossage, inducted in 2008, embodied the fierce, intimidating "fireman" archetype of the 1970s and 1980s with 310 saves and a no-holds-barred approach to multi-inning relief.^[98] Billy Wagner, elected to the Hall in 2025, reigned as the velocity king among left-handed relievers, averaging 95 mph on his fastball en route to 422 saves and a 2.31 ERA.^[92] In independent leagues, Kelsie Whitmore broke barriers as a relief pitcher for the Oakland Ballers in the Pioneer League during 2024, becoming the first woman to start a game in that MLB partner circuit and pitching scoreless outings to advance gender inclusivity.^[99] Team bullpens have left enduring legacies through coordinated relief chains. The New York Yankees' bullpen during the Mariano Rivera era (1996-2013) was instrumental in five World Series titles, with Rivera's cutter-dominated closings backed by setup men like Jeff Nelson and Mariano's seamless integration into late-inning dominance.^[100] The Atlanta Braves' 1990s bullpen exemplified setup-to-closer efficiency, featuring Mark Wohlers as the hard-throwing finisher (39 saves in 1996) supported by Alejandro Peña and Mark McCarty in bridging roles, contributing to the team's record 14 consecutive division titles.^[101] In the post-2020 analytics era, relievers like Edwin Díaz and Josh Hader have dominated through data-driven optimization. Díaz, with the Mets, posted a 1.31 ERA and 32 saves in 2022 while leveraging spin rates on his fastball for historic strikeout efficiency.^[77] Hader, a three-time Reliever of the Year, led the league with 42 saves in 2021 for the Brewers, breaking ground in high-velocity relief (averaging 98 mph) and influencing bullpen deployment via advanced metrics like expected weighted on-base average.^[102] These figures have pushed records in strikeouts per nine innings, with Hader exceeding 15 K/9 multiple times, reflecting how sabermetrics have elevated relief impact.^[103]

References

[1]
Relief Pitcher | Glossary - MLB.com
Relief pitchers enter games after the starting pitcher has been removed, usually as a result of poor performance, high pitch count or injury.
[2]
Relief pitcher - BR Bullpen - Baseball-Reference.com
A relief pitcher (aka reliever, collectively the bullpen) is a pitcher who comes into a game started by another pitcher.
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Effect of Relief Pitching – Society for American Baseball Research
The final phase of relief pitching, characterized by nearly universal use of specialists, began in 1955, when only Roy Face among club save leaders started as ...
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But in about 1904, New York Giants manager John McGraw essentially invented relief pitching. ... relief ace for the Yankees, then the best team in baseball.
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Definition. A save is awarded to the relief pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team, under certain circumstances. A pitcher cannot receive a save ...
[8]
Hold (HLD) | Glossary - MLB.com
A hold occurs when a relief pitcher enters the game in a save situation and maintains his team's lead for the next relief pitcher, while recording at least one ...
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A blown save occurs when a relief pitcher enters a game in a save situation, but allows the tying run to score.
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[PDF] OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES
the relief pitcher, if there is only one relief pitcher, or the relief pitcher who, in the Official Scorer's judgment was the most effective, if there is ...
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All Saves Are Not Created Equal
When the Fireman of the Year award was created in 1960, the term “fireman” had already been in use for more than 20 years, referring to a relief pitcher who ...
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Firpo Marberry - Society for American Baseball Research
Jan 4, 2012 · Marberry began the 1924 season as an extra starter and as a second reliever to Russell. When the latter hurler struggled to repeat his 1923 ...
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Johnny Murphy – Society for American Baseball Research - SABR.org
Jan 4, 2012 · Johnny Murphy was an ace relief pitcher for the 1930s New York Yankees who spent 18 years playing professional baseball.
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Yankees reliever Johnny Murphy pioneered the fireman role
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Four stats that showed why baseball had to lower the mound after ...
Dec 3, 2015 · A Major League rules panel got together and voted to lower the mound from 15 inches to 10, shrinking the strike zone to the top of the knees to the armpit.
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Apr 11, 2017 · Then, finally, in 1975, the modern save rule was put into place: • Now the reliever has to finish the game, meaning only one pitcher can qualify ...
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The 1981 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner spent 17 years in the big leagues with the Athletics, Padres and Brewers.
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The number of complete games continued its long term decline. Teams had recognized ace relievers who would be used in the toughest situations, but usage wasn't ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Jan 4, 2017 · Owning relievers in fantasy baseball is similar to filling out a tax return -- few enjoy it, but the experience is much better than the ...
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Mariano Rivera Award ; 2021, Liam Hendriks, Chi White Sox ; 2020, Liam Hendriks, Oakland ; 2019, Aroldis Chapman, NY Yankees ; 2018, Edwin Diaz, Seattle.
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Career SV Leaders:1.Mariano Rivera+/652/4, 2.Trevor Hoffman+/601/36, 3.Lee Smith+/478/71, 4.Kenley Jansen/476/10, 5.Craig Kimbrel/440/2, 6.Kenley Jansen · Craig Kimbrel · Trevor Hoffman · Lee SmithMissing: metric | Show results with:metric
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Single-Season Leaders & Records for Saves
Single-Season SV Leaders:1.Francisco Rodríguez/62/2008/, 2.Edwin Díaz/57/2018/, Bobby Thigpen/57/1990/, 4.Éric Gagné/55/2003/, John Smoltz+/55/2002/2, 6.
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Active Leaders & Records for Saves - Baseball-Reference.com
Active SV Leaders:1.Kenley Jansen/476/10, 2.Craig Kimbrel/440/2, 3.Aroldis Chapman/367/2, 4.Edwin Díaz/253/2, Raisel Iglesias/253/48, 6.Josh Hader/227/8, 7.