Last Thursday night proved to be one of the most special in the stellar career of Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman. He won the Mariano Rivera Award for American League Reliever of the Year, received votes for the league’s MVP, while also being selected to the All-MLB First Team.
This is the second Reliever of the Year award for the left-hander from Holguín, Cuba following his win in 2019 while playing for the New York Yankees becoming the first left-hander to win this award twice in the American League.
Regarding the American League MVP voting, Chapman received one vote, tying him with fellow countrymen Yandy Díaz (Rays) and Jacob Wilson (Athletics). This was only the second time his name appeared among the MVP vote-getters during his career, after finishing 12th in the National League voting in 2012. It’s worth noting that the Cuban finished seventh in the American League Cy Young Award voting, the only reliever to make the top 10.
Adding to this string of accolades, Chapman was selected as a reliever to the 2025 All-MLB First Team. He had previously been named to the All-MLB Second Team in 2019. At 37 years old, Aroldis Chapman shone with the Boston Red Sox, becoming their star closer and returning to stellar numbers in several statistical categories, when many thought his success was a thing of the past. He pitched in 67 games, all in relief, posting a winning record of 5-3, along with four holds. He saved 32 games (out of a possible 34), his highest total since the 37 he recorded in 2019.
Career highlights and awards:
- 8× All-Star (2012–2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2025)
- 2× World Series champion (2016, 2023)
- 2× AL Reliever of the Year (2019, 2025)
- All-MLB First Team (2025)
MLB records:
- Fastest pitch in MLB history – 105.8 miles per hour (170.3 km/h)
- Most consecutive relief appearances with a strikeout (49)
MLB statistics
(through 2025 season):
Win–loss record: 60–48
Earned run average: 2.52
Strikeouts: 1,331
Saves: 367