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The Cuban closer Raisel Iglesias recorded his tenth save of the 2026 season this Saturday during the 5-2 victory of the Atlanta Braves over the Cincinnati Reds, bringing his total to 263 saves in his Major League career.
With that save, the pitcher surpassed Mark Melancon (262) and remained alone in 36th place on the all-time MLB saves list, solidifying his position among the most prolific closers in history, according to Pelota Cubana USA.
The performance was impeccable: Iglesias retired the three batters he faced, starting with Eugenio Suárez by strikeout.
He used 15 pitches, of which 10 were strikes, and induced three whiffs. He distributed his arsenal among five changeups, the same number of fastballs, four sinkers, and one slider, with a maximum velocity of 96.4 MPH.
What stands out the most about his current moment is the streak of reliability: the pinero has converted the last 28 consecutive save opportunities, a record that began on July 28, 2025, and extends across two seasons.
That streak surpasses the 26 consecutive opportunities that Craig Kimbrel converted with the Braves themselves between 2013 and 2014, and at one point during the season, it was the longest active streak in all of Major League Baseball.
So far in the 2026 season, Iglesias has recorded an ERA of 1.08, with 16 appearances, 16.2 innings pitched, 20 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 0.90, numbers that place him among the top relievers in the league.
Originally from Isla de la Juventud —hence his nickname "el pinero"—, Iglesias joined MLB with the Cincinnati Reds, where he amassed 106 saves in his first six seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels in December 2020.
He later signed with Atlanta, a franchise with which he has achieved his highest level of play and where he has built a significant part of his historical legacy.
In April 2025, the Cuban surpassed Hoyt Wilhelm with 228 saves, placing him in the 44th historic position, and since then he has climbed twelve more positions in the ranking.
This year, a brief stay on the injured list due to inflammation in his right shoulder temporarily interrupted his season, but Iglesias returned to regain his complete dominance as a closer.
The next target for the pinero on the historical list is Bob Wickman, who accumulated 267 saves throughout his career and currently holds the 35th position, just four saves away.
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