There are two Cuban relievers looking to make history in the world’s top two leagues, the MLB and Nippon League, these two flamethrowers are named Aroldis Chapman of the Boston Red Sox and Raidel Martínez of the Yomiuri Giants.
Raidel Martínez has 248 career saves and is just two away from reaching 250. Martínez has been a marquee closer in Japan leading the circuit’s Central League in saves three times (2022,2024,2025). The right-hander from Pinar del Río, Cuba is the All-time saves leader for latinos in the land of the rising sun.
The Cuban hurler is currently 6th all-time, when he reaches 250 saves he would tie Hirano and Masuda for fourth place. He is also just 4 saves behind Kazuhiro Sasaki for third place. Martínez already became the fastest pitcher in NPB history to reach 200 career saves, doing it in his 348th appearance in 2025.
Aroldis Chapman has recorded 397 career saves and is only 3 away from reaching 400. The left-hander has 10 seasons of 30 saves in MLB and is also the MLB All-time strikeout leader for relievers. Chapman is currently 9th all-time and is only three saves away from becoming the ninth pitcher in MLB history to reach 400 career saves.
Among active pitchers Chapman is third in saves Kenley Jansen (493), Craig Kimbrel (441) are the only two ahead of him. The southpaw is also 11 strikeouts short of 1400 strikeouts, once he reaches that milestone and also 400 saves he would be the only pitcher to do so in the history of the major leagues.
Two elite closers, two extraordinary careers, and Cuban baseball continuing to make its mark around the world. In what has been a historic season for Cuban baseball worldwide having these two players reach these milestones only adds to the lore of Cuban baseball.
As of August 27, 2026, the all-time NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) career saves leaders are:
1 Hitoki Iwase 407
2 Shingo Takatsu 286
3 Kazuhiro Sasaki 252
T-4 Yoshihisa Hirano 250
T-4 Naoya Masuda 250
6 Raidel Martínez 248
7 Yasuaki Yamasaki 246
8 Kyuji Fujikawa 243
9 Yuki Matsui 236
10 Dennis Sarfate 234
As of August 28, 2026, here are the top 10 all-time MLB career saves leaders:
1 Mariano Rivera 652
2 Trevor Hoffman 601
3 Kenley Jansen 493
4 Lee Smith 478
5 Craig Kimbrel 441
6 Francisco Rodríguez 437
7 John Franco 424
8 Billy Wagner 422
9 Aroldis Chapman 397
10 Dennis Eckersley 390