Emmanuel Clase becomes 100% real in setting Cleveland’s record for saves

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase is the favorite to win AL Reliever of the Year this season. The three-time All-Star was so dominant in 2024 that he entered the Cy Young Award conversation. No reliever has won the Cy Young since Eric Gagne in 2003. And Clase’s incredible campaign reached new heights Friday when he became Cleveland’s all-time saves leader.

Clase earned his 150th save since joining the Cleveland bullpen in 2021. After Friday’s 10-8 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 26-year-old righty reflected on the incredible feat . “My motivation is to do my best every time I can. Not paying attention to the results or the numbers, I’m just doing my best with every possible opportunity,” Clase said through an interpreter for Bally Sports Cleveland on X.

The team acquired Clase in a trade with the Texas Rangers prior to the 2020 season. After serving a suspension for a positive PED test, the reliever joined the Cleveland bullpen in 2021. He took the closer job that year and did not never looked back. The following season, Clase converted an MLB-best 42 saves and posted a 1.36 ERA, .729 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 in 77 plate appearances for the Guardians.

Guard closer Emmanuel Clase is on a legendary trajectory

Clase has now posted three consecutive 40-save seasons while being selected to three consecutive All-Star games. He recorded his second Midsummer Classic save of the year, making him just the fourth pitcher to have multiple saves in the All-Star Game.

While the Guardians considered trading Clas before the 2024 season, the team held out longer and he’s rewarding that decision by putting together his best campaign yet. Clase leads the American League with 40 saves and has posted a spectacular 0.71 ERA, .679 WHIP and 7.8 K/9 in 63 plate appearances. He’s up to 3.8 bWAR for the Guardians this season. Clase is the favorite to win his second career AL Reliever of the Year award and is building his case to take home his first Cy Young Award.

The Guardians are 19 games over .500 and hold a 2.5-game lead over the second-place Kansas City Royals in the AL Central entering play on Saturday. The team’s success is largely due to its bullpen, as the Guardians offense has been inconsistent this season and Cleveland has navigated numerous injuries to the starting rotation.

While Clase has enjoyed unparalleled success in Cleveland, he realizes there is always room for growth. “That’s my mindset every year, I try to improve and get better and every year I try to get better than last year,” he said, via Bally Sports Cleveland.

As the Guardians try to lock up a division title during the postseason run, Clase continues to deliver consistent excellence. His short MLB tenure is being compared to Yankees great Mariano Rivera. Now the all-time Cleveland saves leader, Clase will try to stay on that legendary trajectory.