Antonio Alfonseca is arguably the most unlikely single-season Saves leader in the modern era, but he still accomplished what many relievers never did.

Alfonseca was in the Montreal Expos organization when he was chosen by the Florida Marlins in the Minor League Draft after the 1993 Season.  The Dominican Pitcher was called up during the 1997 Season, and he played a minor role in Florida’s World Series win.  Alfonseca played more for the Marlins in 1998, saving eight Games, and he had 21 as he moved into the closer’s role in 1999.  

In 2000, Alfonseca closed out a league-leading 45 Games, but he had an ERA of 4.24 and a WHIP of 1.514, by far the most dubious numbers of any Pitcher who led the league in Saves.  He would have one more year with the Marlins, saving 28, before being traded to the Cubs after the 2001 Season, but he only had 19 Saves over the rest of his career.

Alfonseca had 102 Saves for the Marlins and finished 193 Games.

One of the most fascinating people to rank on a list of all-time Marlins is Livan Hernandez, the star of the 1997 Playoffs.

Hernandez began his career with Florida, signed by the Marlins after the Cuban defected to the United States in 1995.  He appeared in one Game in 1996 and made it to the starting rotation during the 1997 season, finishing the year with a 9-3 Record and a 3.18 ERA.  Florida made the playoffs, and Hernandez was incredible, winning the NLCS MVP and the World Series MVP, going 4-0 overall.  Hernandez struggled the year after and was traded to San Francisco in July of 1999.

Hernandez would have greater individual success with the Expos/Nationals, representing them in the All-Star Game twice.  As a Marlin, Hernandez had a record of 24-24, with a 4.39 ERA and 333 Strikeouts.  Notably, he was also an excellent defensive player and an above-average hitting Pitcher, accumulating 35 Hits with a .222 Batting Average for the team.

The ninth player taken in the 1996 Baseball Amateur Draft, Mark Kotsay, appeared in 14 Games the year after, but he was not on the roster that won the 1997 World Series.  As the Marlins conducted a fire sale after the title, Kotsay was elevated to one of Florida’s starting Outfielders, and he held his own for the next three years.

Kotsay batted over .270 in all three of his full campaigns as a Marlin, which was decent, but he did not draw enough walks and had only 31 Hone Runs in this stretch, a number that was low for his position.  Traded to San Diego before the 2000 Season, Kotsay compiled 463 Hits with a .273 Batting Average.

Redmond was one of the rare Americans in the modern era to make the Majors without being drafted, a feat he accomplished five years after the Florida Marlins signed him in their inaugural year.

The Catcher cracked the Marlins roster in 1998 and found a role as a backup and defensive specialist.  Although Redmond would never qualify for a Batting Title, he could get on base, batting over .300 three times as a Marlin, though his Hits were rarely more than a single.  He had 380 Hits over seven seasons with Florida, ending his Marlins run when he signed with the Twins after the 2004 Season.