Cardinals' closer Ryan Helsley has officially pitched his way into the record books, surpassing Trevor Rosenthal's 2015 record for single-season saves with his 49th save this season, as reported by FOX2Now. Helsley's historic moment came yesterday against the San Francisco Giants, marking a nearly decade-long pursuit to unseat Rosenthal's tally.

This achievement is no small feat, with Helsley not just to simply trample previous records, but also cementing his standing as one of the premier closers in the National League. In a statement obtained by St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Helsley acknowledged the weight of the role, saying, "It would be cool to have a 30-plus save season." Yet, he surpassed even his own expectations with a staggering run of consecutive saves that defied the pressures of the closer role.

His path to the record wasn't without adversity; after enduring a blown save on September 3rd, Helsley bounced back with a vengeance and a scoreless streak spanning 6.2 innings and seven saves. With the season winding down, he boasts a 2.04 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and an impressive 79:23 K:BB ratio through 66.1 innings, as highlighted by CBS Sports.