Raisel Iglesias achieved his eighth season with at least 20 saves in Major League Baseball this Thursday, a milestone that places him in a select group of Latin relievers with this record throughout his career, as highlighted by journalist Francys Romero.
The Cuban closer shares this exclusive club with historical figures of Latin American baseball: Mariano Rivera leads the list with 16 seasons of 20 or more saves (1997-2013), followed by Kenley Jansen with 13 (2012-2025), Aroldis Chapman with 11 (2012-2026), Francisco Rodríguez with 10 (2005-2016), and Roberto Hernández with nine (1993-2002).
Iglesias, whose eight campaigns of 20 or more saves span from 2017 to 2026, shares sixth place in that ranking with Francisco Cordero (2004-2011) and José Mesa (1995-2005), two names that are part of the history of relief pitching in the Major Leagues.
Journalist Romero succinctly captured the significance of the achievement: "Beyond the numbers, Raisel has proven to be a synonym for consistency in his Major League career."
Born in Isla de la Juventud on January 4, 1990, Iglesias defected from Cuba in November 2013 and signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 2014 as an international free agent. He made his MLB debut on April 12, 2015, and has since played for three franchises: the Reds (2015-2020), the Los Angeles Angels (2021-2022), and the Atlanta Braves, with whom he has been playing since 2023 after signing a one-year extension for 16 million dollars for the 2026 season.
The current campaign has been the most comprehensive of its career in several ways.
On April 27, he recorded his 100th save with the Braves, and in May, he surpassed 263 career saves, placing him 36th in the all-time MLB ranking.
Additionally, he starred in a streak of 35 consecutive saves —the longest active streak in Major League Baseball at that time— which ran from July 28, 2025, to July 7, 2026, when it was interrupted by a home run from Juan Soto of the New York Mets.
In July, he was selected for the first time for the MLB All-Star Game 2026, a recognition that came with elite statistics: 17 saves in 17 opportunities and an ERA of 1.53 at the time of the announcement.
In the Cuban context, only Aroldis Chapman —with over 387 career saves— surpasses him in the all-time saves ranking of the league.
With over 270 saves accumulated and a consistency that has been maintained for almost a decade, Iglesias continues to build a legacy that places him among the most reliable Latin American closers of recent generations.
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