The Boston Red Sox hoped for stability when they signed Aroldis Chapman last winter. What they got was something closer to a miracle. At 37 years old, Chapman is in the middle of one of the best seasons of his career—and according to MLB insider Buster Olney, it all started with a subtle but transformative change in spring training.
How Connor Wong Sparked a Turnaround
For most of his career, Chapman’s game plan was simple: throw his triple-digit fastball and dare hitters to catch up. That worked for years, but command issues often left him vulnerable, particularly in high-leverage moments. As Olney explained on his ESPN podcast, everything shifted when catcher Connor Wong called an “inside fastball” through PitchCom during a spring game.
Instead of firing heat over the plate, Chapman suddenly had a specific target. That slight adjustment created a new way of thinking. Wong and Jason Varitek, Boston’s game-planning coach, helped him build on the moment. “Aim small, miss small” became the new mantra. For the first time in his long career, Chapman began consistently spotting his fastball rather than simply throwing it.
The results have been staggering. His ERA sits at a career-low 1.04. He has not allowed a hit since July 23, a span of 14 appearances. And opponents are batting .000 against him this month. That’s not a typo.
From Risky Signing to Dominant Closer
When the Red Sox handed Chapman a one-year, $10.75 million deal in December 2024, it raised plenty of eyebrows. He was coming off an inconsistent stretch with the Yankees, Royals, Rangers, and Pirates. Skeptics questioned whether his high-octane stuff could still translate at his age. Instead, Boston has landed one of the most dominant relievers in the league.
Through 11 outings in August, Chapman has collected seven saves while striking out 12 batters in 10 innings. His 26 saves rank seventh in MLB, and he’s quickly turned what looked like a short-term patch into a strength for Alex Cora’s bullpen.
The Red Sox have long been criticized for bullpen instability. Chapman’s resurgence has flipped that narrative and given Boston a reliable ninth-inning anchor. His redefined approach, fueled by verbalizing pitch locations through PitchCom, has become the secret behind his late-career dominance.
Chapman’s revival is not just a win for the Red Sox this season. It also puts him in line for one more big payday. If he remains healthy and continues to dominate, Chapman could be among the most coveted relievers on the free-agent market this winter.
For now, Boston is reaping the benefits. The team has a closer veteran who has not only rediscovered his fastball but reinvented how he thinks about it. What started as a small spring training experiment has become one of the biggest reasons the Red Sox remain firmly in the playoff race.
It’s rare for a pitcher to evolve this late in his career. But Chapman has proven that all it takes is the proper adjustment—and the right people around him—to turn the clock back and dominate again.
Insider Reveals What Revived Pitcher’s Career With Red Sox