Relief pitcher

A relief pitcher warming up in the bullpen.

In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed. There are different kinds of relief pitchers such as closers, set-up relief pitchers, middle relief pitchers, left/right-handed specialists, and long relievers. Relief pitchers are expected to pitch many games but in fewer innings than starters.

Relief Pitcher Media

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  Cleveland Guardians relief pitchers Aaron Fultz and Rafael Betancourt warming up in the bullpen at Jacobs Field in 2007

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  Hoyt Wilhelm won 124 games in relief, the major league record, and was the first pitcher to reach 200 saves and the first to appear in 1,000 games.

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  The bullpen car used by the Boston Red Sox to cart relievers into games