Nic Enright’s journey to his first MLB save isn’t your average rookie story, it’s a full-blown, real-life triumph.
On Monday night in New York, the Cleveland Guardians’ right-hander shut the door on the Mets in the 10th inning, clinching a nail-biting 7-6 win and sealing his first career save. But this moment wasn’t just about baseball, it was about beating the odds, battling Hodgkin lymphoma, and proving nothing can stop him.
Enright was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma back in December 2022, just two weeks after being selected by the Miami Marlins in the Rule 5 draft. Since then, he’s endured four intense rounds of immunotherapy and countless setbacks, including a shoulder strain that wiped out most of his 2023 season. But despite all that, here he is, on the mound in extra innings, ball in hand, game on the line, and his fight far from over.
The 27-year-old righty still has one round of cancer treatment left, scheduled for November, but he’s not waiting for the all-clear to chase his dream. “I made the decision when I was diagnosed in 2022 that I wasn’t going to let that define my life,” Enright shared after the game. “For anyone else going through something similar, I haven’t just holed up in my house and felt sorry for myself.”
Enright made his big league debut on May 25, and since joining the Guardians’ bullpen, he’s quietly been dominating with a 2.01 ERA across 19 appearances. Monday’s game came with extra pressure, All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase is currently on paid leave due to a sports gambling investigation, and the bullpen is in flux. So when the game headed into extras, Cleveland turned to Enright with a two-run lead.
He wasn’t perfect, an unearned run crossed the plate after a two-out RBI single by Brett Baty, but he stayed composed. The game ended when Mets hitter Luis Torrens sent a deep fly ball to right, only to be caught just before the wall. “I definitely held my breath as I saw Nolan [Jones] kind of keep running,” Enright said, recalling that final out. “But I had faith.”
When he got back to the locker room, the team made sure he knew how much the save meant, not just in the box score, but in the hearts of everyone who’s watched him fight through the past two years. Beer showers, shouting, chaos, and celebration, it was all for Enright. “I was going absolutely berserk,” said Guardians starter Slade Cecconi. “He came in running up the stairs, smile on his face.”
Manager Stephen Vogt couldn’t hold back emotions either, saying, “He was almost crying on the field just now. If you read his story, it’s pretty inspirational.”
And that’s the thing, Nic Enright’s first MLB save is a stat, sure. But it’s also a symbol. It’s what happens when grit, talent, and sheer will collide. Drafted by Cleveland back in 2019 out of Virginia Tech, he’s been quietly climbing, detouring through setbacks that would’ve made most players walk away. But Enright kept coming.
He now plans to keep a few souvenirs from the night, the game ball, his uniform, hat, and the lineup card. “These last couple of years, especially, I’ve gone through a lot of adversity,” Enright said. “So for me, it’s being able to reflect on those in these moments. It hasn’t exactly been a red-carpet rollout for my career.”
But on this night in Queens, with the city buzzing and the lights shining down, Nic Enright proved once again that he’s not just here to play, he’s here to win.
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