Guardians Reliever Still Undergoing Cancer Treatment Records First Save
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A tumultuous season for the Cleveland Guardians reached an emotional high on Monday night.
The Guardians beat the New York Mets 7-6 in 10 innings with Cleveland reliever Nic Enright slamming the door for his first career save. The 28-year-old rookie was making his 19th career appearance and allowed an unearned run to finish off the victory.
The career milestone was even more special for Enright, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2022 and still has cancer treatments to complete later this year. The save was a culmination of sorts, in a long journey to reaching his major league dreams.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Nic Enright #59 and Bo Naylor #23 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrate a 7-6 victory in 10 innings over the New York Mets at Citi Field on August...
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Nic Enright #59 and Bo Naylor #23 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrate a 7-6 victory in 10 innings over the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 04, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by)"He was almost crying on the field just now," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters, per The Associated Press. "If you read his story, it's pretty inspirational."
Enright got his cancer diagnosis just after the Miami Marlins selected him in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft, forcing him to leave the Cleveland organization, which had drafted him in 2019. He was later designated for assignment, returned to the Guardians organization, and began a steady climb toward the big leagues.
"I made the decision when I was diagnosed in 2022 with Hodgkin lymphoma that I wasn't going to let that define my life and dictate how I was going to go about my life," Enright said, per the AP.
"It's something where, for anyone else who is going through anything similar, (it shows) I haven't just holed up in my house and felt sorry for myself this whole time."
Enright now has a 2.01 ERA for the Guardians, and because three-time All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase is now on paid leave in connection with Major League Baseball's ongoing gambling investigation, he's likely to play a much bigger role in the bullpen moving forward.
The righty's story can only get better from here, but Monday night will always be a moment to remember.
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