Samsung Lions relief pitcher Oh Seung-hwan broke the league’s record for career saves, after finishing off the Nexen Heroes in Daegu on Sunday.

The 29-year-old stepped on the mound in the top of the ninth and kept the 3-1 score over Nexen for his 16th save this season and 228th in his career.

Accomplishing the feat in just 369 games, Oh outpitched the previous record-holder Kim Yong-su who reached the number in 609 games.

Oh, who first started pitching in 2005, is no stranger to records.

He holds Asia’s record for most saves in a season. In 2006 the Lions pitcher finished off 47 games. Oh holds the record for reaching 100 saves in just 180 games and doing it once again with 200 saves in just 334 games. He is also the youngest to hold the record.

He continued his performance through 2007, with 40 saves, and 2008, with 39.

And even after surgery on his elbow in 2010, Oh came back in 2011 with 47 saves to bring home the series title for the Lions.

Although the Korean pitcher is still a bit off from joining the 300-save club, it will only be a matter of time.

Oh holds a 2.33 ERA this season with a career average of 1.70.

Currently Oh is tied for third in saves this season, behind the Lotte Giants’ Kim Sa-yool and the Doosan Bears’ Scott Proctor, who leads with 20 saves.

After defending themselves during the series against the Heroes, the Lions are now first in the league, skyrocketing to the top throughout June after starting the month in sixth.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)