Daily Archives: August 31, 2011

Craig Kimbrel's 41st Save, Breaking the Rookie Record (Getty)

The Atlanta Braves‘ Craig Kimbrel has broken the major league rookie saves record, topping Neftali Perez‘s mark of 4o set last season by one – so far.  There’s still another month and change left in the season.

Everyone saw it coming as Kimbrel also broke the rookie all-star break record with a serious 27.  He notched his 41st last night against the Washington Nationals, posting a 9th inning goose egg.

There’s the Boston Red Sox‘s current closer, Jonathan Papelbon on the list, too, the only other active player on the list.

Kazuhiro Sasaki is the oldest “rookie” here.  He was 32 and had been playing in Japan for a decade before making the jump.  Ligtenberg is next, at 26.

Rookies with a lot of saves is a recent trend, and perhaps a reflection of the increased importance teams place on securing a shut-down closer (thank you Mariano Rivera).  Six of the seven top rookie closers did it post-1998.

1. Craig Kimbrel – 41 (Atlanta Braves, 2011)

2. Neftali Perez – 40 (Texas Rangers, 2010)

3. Kazuhiro Sasaki – 37 (Seattle Mariners, 2000)

4. Todd Worrell – 36 (St. Louis Cardinals, 1986)

5. Jonathan Papelbon – 35 (Boston Red Sox, 2006)

6. Billy Koch – 31 (Toronto Blue Jays, 1999)

7. Kerry Ligtenberg – 30 (Atlanta Braves, 1998)