The best closers in MLB history: 21. Robb Nen
- 314 total saves
- Marlins and Giants franchise leader in saves
- 2.94 ERA (as reliever)
- 85.3 save percentage
If not for his career-ending shoulder injury, Robb Nen may have climbed much higher on this list. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to change the past and this injury tells part of Nen’s story. Still, he may be considered the best closer in the course of two different franchise histories – the Giants and Marlins. The three-time All-Star is the career saves leader for both of these teams.
Nen retired at just 32-years-old following the 2002 campaign, a season in which he earned All-Star honors. Despite just a 10-year run in the big leagues, he ranks top-25 on the league’s all-time saves list at 314. As a closer, he recorded three different seasons with sub-2.00 ERAs and saved 35-plus games in his final seven seasons from 1996-2002.
In 2000, Nen finished fourth in the NL Cy Young Award voting after recording 41 saves, 63 games finished, and a 1.50 ERA. He also recorded a 1.52 ERA in 1998 while saving 40 ball games. In 1997, while pitching for the World Champion Marlins, he recorded 35 saves and finished 65 games. Throughout his brilliant 10-year run, Nen allowed just 0.6 home runs per nine innings and successfully converted better than 85 percent of his save opportunities.