Considered the greatest Cuban closer of all time, Aroldis Chapman will be playing his 16th season in the major leagues this year. At the age of 37 this will be his seventh different team in the majors , his fourth since signing with Kansas City in 2023.
His next challenge will be with the Boston Red Sox, with whom he signed a $10.75 million deal after a strong year with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season. Chapman is the left-handed reliever with the most strikeouts (1,246) in Major League history, surpassing HOF Hall of Famer Billy Wagner’s 1,196 in 2024.
“I decided on Boston because they were the first to contact me for my services. They’re a competitive team, I like to win, and here we are. Aside from hard work, health, and dedication, maintaining velocity, I think, is something God gave me. God gave me that gift, and thank God, we’re still in good shape,” the Holguín native recently commented in an interview with our colleague Kevin Barral.
Chapman ranks fourth all-time in relievers in strikeouts, behind only right-handers Craig Kimbrel (1,265), HOFer Rich Gossagge (1,340), and HOFer Hoyt Wilhelm (1,363). He also holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest pitch in baseball, having thrown 105.8 mph on September 24, 2010, for the Cincinnati Reds against the San Diego Padres. On August 7, 2024 he again surpassed 105.0 mph in a ballgame. With 335 saves, he ranks 16th in MLB history.He has thrown a trick digit pitch for 15 consecutive seasons.
Chapman has participated in seven All-Star Games (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2021). In 760.0 innings pitched, he has a 2.63 ERA, while opponents are batting just .168 against him, and he averages more than 14 strikeouts per nine innings (14.76). He becomes the eighth Cuban pitcher to wear Red Sox colors; the last to do so was Roenis Elías in 2017, before the Guantanamo native, Mike Fornieles, Diego Seguí, Luis Tiant Jr., Tony Fossas, Rolando Arrojo, and Dalier Hinojosa also pitched for the club.