Tampa Bay Rays set MLB record on Saturday

Saturday was a good day for a pair of Tampa Bay Rays pitchers. Chris Archer picked up his first win in over two years, while Dietrich Enns notched his first career save. It was a great moment, but one that would likely be overlooked in the days to come.

What may have been lost is that outing is that Enns’ save was actually historic. The Rays have now had 13 different pitchers notch a save this year, the most in major league history.

Tampa Bay Rays take group effort to saving games

It truly has been a group effort to get to this point. Diego Castillo, who is now with the Mariners, is the pitcher to have reached double digit saves for the Rays this season. Aside from Castillo, the team leader in saves is Andrew Kittridge, who has notched six saves on the year.

In a way, it is not a surprise that the Rays would be the team to set this new record. They have made a habit of finding pitchers, particularly relievers, off the scrap heap. Their almost never ending conveyor belt of arms is the envy of every other team, even if they have plucked these pitchers from the waiver wire or in seemingly minor trades.

Enns fits that exact mold as well, making it fitting that he would be the one to set the record. Origianlly a 19th round pick by the Yankees in the 2012 MLB Draft, the now 30 year old had just two games of major league experience before this season. He had been traded from the Yankees to Minnesota, then bounced through the Padres and Mariners organizations, and spending time in the independent leagues, before finding a spot in Tampa Bay.

It remains to be seen if Enns will make a larger impact on the Rays’ bullpen or if he will continue to serve as minor league depth. But no matter where his professional career takes him, Enns will have this moment, when his first career save proved to be a record breaking one.

The Tampa Bay Rays have set a new record for the most pitchers to record a save in a season. Dietrich Enns was a fitting player to set that record.