The best closers in MLB history: 9. Joe Nathan
- 377 total saves
- 587 games finished
- 2.50 ERA (as reliever)
- 1.33 ERA in 2008
Like quite a few other names on this list, Joe Nathan began his career as a starting pitcher but quickly found a home in the bullpen. And, what a sweet home it was. Nathan spent 16 years in the MLB while recording 377 total saves, a number that ranks eighth on the all-time saves leaderboard. He converted better than 89 percent of his save opportunities and is regarded as one of the best at striking out his opponents. Nathan struck out 25.9 percent of batters he faced.
Best remembered for his Twins career, Nathan spent seven seasons with the Minnesota Twins. He recorded 260 saves in a Twins uniform, the most in franchise history. During that seven-year run, Nathan also finished 394 games while pitching to a 2.16 ERA, 2.58 FIP, 0.956 WHIP, and 10.9 strikeouts per nine.
In 2009, one of Nathan’s six All-Star appearances, he recorded a career-high 47 saves to the tune of a 2.10 ERA. He also owns five different seasons pitching at least 60 innings with sub-2.00 ERAs. Two of those years, that ERA sat below 1.40, including a career-best 1.33 ERA performance in 2008.
He currently sits in the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame.