On September 16 in Oakland, Ian Kennedy finished his first season in the Royals bullpen with 30 saves. Of those, a Major League-leading 28 came from May 30 through season’s end, while he tied for second in the AL and third in the Majors with 19 saves after the All-Star break. He’s the fifth pitcher in Royals history to reach 30 saves in a season season, joining Dan Quisenberry (5 times), Jeff Montgomery (5 times), Joakim Soria (3 times) and Greg Holland (3 times).
Kennedy’s 30 saves this season, along with his 21-win campaign as a starter in 2011 with Arizona, make him the fourth pitcher since saves became an official stat in 1969 to compile both a 20-win season and a 30-save season.