Grant Robert Balfour, born on December 30, 1977, is a former professional baseball relief pitcher from Australia who established a significant career in Major League Baseball (MLB). Over his years in the major leagues, Balfour pitched for several notable franchises, including the Minnesota Twins, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (which later became the Tampa Bay Rays), and the Oakland Athletics.
Balfour is recognized as one of the most accomplished Australian pitchers to have played in Major League Baseball. In the historical rankings of Australian MLB pitchers, he stands second all-time in both total saves and total strikeouts, trailing only Liam Hendriks. Among his individual franchise achievements, Balfour holds the prestigious consecutive save record for the Oakland Athletics, having successfully converted 44 consecutive save opportunities during his tenure with the team.
