Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman made history at Angel Stadium. Angels third baseman Denzer Guzman became the 1364th batter that Chapman struck out in his career, breaking the record for most strikeouts by a reliever.
Chapman entered the game in the ninth inning, with the Red Sox leading 5-2. He opened his appearance by fanning Guzman on a 99 MPH sinker. The flamethrowing lefty finished the game with his 17th save of the season.
That broke the previous record of 1363 set by Hoyt Wilhelm. Wilhelm did it over 1872 innings in relief. Chapman broke his record in just 847 innings.
The accomplishment is the cherry on top for what will be a Hall of Fame career. Chapman has 384 saves, a 39.5% strikeout rate, a 165 ERA+, 24.7 bWAR, and two World Series titles to his name.
He also has the fastest pitch in MLB history, logging 105.7 MPH in the 2024 season.
These achievements have separated the Cuban Missile as one of the top closers in the history of baseball.
Aroldis Chapman on Setting Strikeout Record
After the game, the Red Sox celebrated Aroldis Chapman’s latest achievement with a video montage of his career highlights. Chapman said the montage included his debut and some of his best accomplishments.
“I feel very happy, I feel very proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish. I feel very satisfied right now,” the left-hander said on NESN’s postgame coverage, video courtesy of “Section 10” co-host Tyler Milliken.
Chapman wasn’t focusing on the record as he closed in on that mark the past few weeks. He talked about keeping a positive mindset and letting it happen when it’s meant to happen.
Who Has a Shot at Breaking Aroldis Chapman’s Record
The milestone comes with 17 years in the big leagues. Known for high-octane velocity, Aroldis Chapman had become appointment television. In 890 career appearances, he now stands alone on the reliever strikeout board.
It could be a while before Chapman’s record will be challenged by another pitcher. Right-hander Craig Kimbrel is the closest at 1304, but his career is closer to the end than the Red Sox’s closer.
Not only would they have to be as dominant, but they’d have to be as healthy for at least 15 seasons. It took 17 seasons and 847 innings of high-level pitching for Chapman to set that mark.
The two active players who may have the best chance are Mason Miller and Cade Smith.
Miller has been downright untouchable since his trade to the San Diego Padres last July. Since 2024, he’s averaging 124.5 strikeouts per 162 games. With the Padres, his strikeout rate is north of 50%.
Miller is probably the closest pitcher to prime Chapman in the league right now. However, he might not have the same durability. The right-hander suffered a UCL tear in 2023 that didn’t require surgery, which ironically enough cemented him as a full-time reliever.
Smith is averaging 96.5 punchouts per 162 games in his career. He’s broken triple digits in each of his first two seasons in MLB.
He’s not as dominant as Miller on a per-batter rate, but gets more opportunities per season. Smith had 150 appearances in his first two seasons and is on track for another 67 in 2026.
Red Sox Closer Aroldis Chapman Breaks 54-Year-Old Record in Win vs. Angels