| Aroldis Chapman | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Chapman with theNew York Yankees in 2016 | |
| Boston Red Sox – No. 44 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1988-02-28)February 28, 1988 (age 37) Holguín,Cuba | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 31, 2010, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 60–48 |
| Earned run average | 2.52 |
| Strikeouts | 1,331 |
| Saves | 367 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Medals | |
Albertín Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz (Spanish:[aˈɾoldisˈtʃaβman]; born February 28, 1988) is a Cuban-born American professionalbaseballrelief pitcher for theBoston Red Sox ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theCincinnati Reds,New York Yankees,Chicago Cubs,Kansas City Royals,Texas Rangers, andPittsburgh Pirates and in theCuban National Series forHolguín. Chapman bats and throws left-handed, and is nicknamed "the Cuban Missile", due to his high fastball velocity. A member of the300 save club, Chapman is the all-time leader in strikeouts for left-handed relievers.[1]
Chapman pitched for Holguín domestically and internationally for theCuba national baseball team. He defected from Cuba in 2009 and signed a contract with the Reds in 2010. Chapman made his MLB debut that season. He won theMLB Delivery Man of the Month Award as the bestrelief pitcher for July 2012, was named to four straightNational LeagueAll-Star teams from2012 to2015. The Reds traded Chapman to the Yankees after the 2015 season, and the Yankees traded Chapman to the Cubs during the 2016 season. With the Cubs, Chapman won Game 7 of the2016 World Series. He rejoined the Yankees after the 2016 season. He was named an All-Star three times with the Yankees and was named theAL Reliever of the Year in 2019. Following six seasons with New York, Chapman signed a one-year deal with the Royals before being traded to the Rangers at the trade deadline, winning the2023 World Series with the team for his second championship. Chapman played a year with the Pirates in 2024 and signed with the Red Sox in 2025, where he was named to his eighth All-Star Game.
On July 11, 2014, Chapman broke the record, previously held byBruce Sutter, for the most consecutive relief appearances with a strikeout, having struck out at least one batter in 40 consecutive appearances. Chapman's streak began on August 21, 2013,[2] and lasted 49 consecutive games over two seasons, with the 49th and final game being on August 13, 2014. Chapman currently has the record for the fastest recorded pitch speed in MLB history, at 105.8 miles per hour (170.3 km/h),[3] as well as theGuinness World Record for fastest baseball pitch.[4]
Chapman was born inHolguín, Cuba, on February 28, 1988. He lived in a three-room house with his parents and two sisters. Chapman's father was a boxing trainer and then later worked for the city. His mother did not work outside the home. Chapman's paternal grandparents had emigrated fromJamaica to Cuba in order to get a better education. The Chapmans, whose last name can be traced to English settlers in Jamaica in the late 1600s, were not a prominent family.[5]
A friend of Chapman invited him to join a local baseball team at the age of 15. He began playing as afirst baseman until the coach noticed that Chapman could throw well enough to become apitcher, which Chapman began in 2003.[5]
Chapman joined theHolguín Sabuesos of theCuban National Series League for the 2005–06 season and played through the 2008–09 season.[6] In 3272⁄3 career innings, Chapman compiled a 24–19win–loss record, a 3.74earned run average (ERA), and 365strikeouts. For the 2008–09 season, he compiled a 11–4 record with a 4.03 ERA, 130 strikeouts, and 1181⁄3 innings pitched. He was used mainly as a starting pitcher during his time with the Sabuesos, although he made 11 relief appearances in the 2007 season, where he compiled 7 saves.[7]
Chapman was part of theCuban national team at the2007 Pan American Games and the2009 World Baseball Classic.
After a failed attempt todefect in the spring of 2008, Chapman reported toHavana to meet with Cuban presidentRaúl Castro who gave him a conditional reprieve, suspending him for the remainder of theNational Series season and also keeping him off Cuba's national team for the2008 Summer Olympics but allowing him to return to the National Series and play in the WBC in 2009.[8]
Chapman successfully defected from Cuba while inRotterdam,Netherlands where the Cuban national team was participating in theWorld Port Tournament on July 1, 2009; Chapman walked out the front door of the team hotel and entered into an automobile driven by an acquaintance.[8][9]Gerardo Concepción defected from the Cuban national team in the same tournament.[10] Chapman eventually established residency inAndorra[11] and petitioned MLB to be grantedfree agent status.[12]
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On January 10, 2010, Chapman signed a six-year contract with theCincinnati Reds worth $30.25 million.[13] TheAssociated Press reported that thesigning bonus totals $10.25 million, paid annually over 11 years, with an additional bonus if he became eligible for salary arbitration in 2012 or 2013.[14]
Chapman began the 2010 season assigned to theTriple-ALouisville Bats,[15] and made his professional debut with the Louisville Bats on Sunday, April 11, in Toledo against theMud Hens, where he pitched4+2⁄3 innings, giving up one unearned run, while striking out nine.[16] Chapman made 13 starts with Louisville, pitching to a 4.11 ERA, and pitched to a 2.40 ERA after the team used him as arelief pitcher.[5]
Chapman made his Major League debut August 31, 2010, in the eighth inning against theMilwaukee Brewers; his first pitch was clocked at 98 mph (158 km/h) as a called strike (which was promptly tossed to the dugout by catcherRyan Hanigan, to be saved). In nine pitches he retired the side.[17][18] He recorded his first Major League win on September 1 after pitching an inning of relief against the Brewers.[19]Chapman threw the fastest pitch recognized by MLB on September 24, 2010, atPetco Park in San Diego, California. It was clocked at 105.1 mph toTony Gwynn Jr. in the eighth inning.[3]
In Game 2 of the2010 NLDS against thePhiladelphia Phillies, Chapman allowed three unearned runs due to miscues of the outfielders.[20] He got his first career postseason loss and the Reds lost the division series to the Phillies in a three-game sweep.[21]
Chapman served solely as a relief pitcher in 2011, appearing in 54 regular season games and finishing the season with a 3.60 ERA. He also struck out 71 batters in just 50 innings of work that season.
Chapman was due to be introduced as a starter for the 2012 season, but preseason injuries to closerRyan Madson and middle relieversBill Bray andNick Masset led managerDusty Baker to put Chapman in thesetup role.[22] Interim closerSean Marshall struggled early in the season, and Chapman was given the closer role in late May.[23]
On July 1, 2012, Chapman was named to his firstAll-Star Game.[24] Chapman won theMLB Delivery Man of the Month Award for July 2012, in which he recorded 13 saves while not allowing a run in14+1⁄3 innings while striking out 31 batters—more than 60% of the batters he faced.[25][26] It was the third month of the season in which he did not allow a single run. He was named the August Delivery Man of the Month.[27] Chapman finished the 2012 season with a 1.51 ERA and 38 saves in 43 chances, recording 122 strikeouts and 23 walks in71+2⁄3 innings.[28]
In March 2013, it was announced that Chapman would be thecloser for the Cincinnati Reds.[29] He was an All-Star selection for the second season in a row. He finished the 2013 year with 38 saves, a 4–5 record, 112 strikeouts, and a 2.54 ERA.
During a spring training game against theKansas City Royals on March 19, 2014, Chapman was struck in the head by a line drive fromSalvador Pérez.[30] The spring-training game between the Reds and the Royals was ended at that point with Kansas City leading 8–3. Chapman underwent surgery to fix a skull fracture above his left eye. A metal plate was inserted into his head to stabilize the fracture.
Chapman began the 2014 season on the 15-day disabled list.[31] He was activated from the disabled list on May 10.[32] Chapman recorded his 100th save against theArizona Diamondbacks on July 29, 2014, becoming the eighth-fastest pitcher to reach the milestone.[33] In the 20-pitch appearance, Chapman threw 15 fastballs, all of which were above 100 mph.[34] On September 23, 2014, Chapman recorded his 100th strikeout in his 51st inning pitched of the season, making him the fastest pitcher ever to reach that milestone.[35] In 54 appearances, Chapman produced 106 strikeouts with 36 saves going 0–3 with an ERA of 2.00.
Chapman and the Reds agreed to a one-year, $8.05 million contract on February 13, 2015.[36] Chapman was selected to the2015 MLB All-Star Game. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning and struck out the side on 14 pitches, 12 of which were recorded at 100 mph or greater.[37] His fastest pitch in 2015 was 103.9 mph, best in MLB.[38] His four-seam fastball had the highest average speed of any MLB pitcher's pitches in 2015, at 100.0 mph.[38] In the 2015 season, Chapman made 65 relief appearances with a 4–4 record, a 1.63 ERA, and 33 saves.
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On December 28, 2015, Chapman was traded to theNew York Yankees. Cincinnati received four minor league players including right-handed pitchersCaleb Cotham andRookie Davis, and infieldersEric Jagielo andTony Renda in the exchange.[39] On January 11, 2016, managerJoe Girardi named Chapman the team's new closer.[40] He avoided arbitration on February 12, 2016, by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $11.325 million.[41]
MLB suspended Chapman for the first 30 games of the season due to an off-season personal conduct policy violation related to domestic violence.[42] He made his first appearance for the Yankees on May 9, 2016, striking out two and allowing a run as the Yankees won 6–3 over theKansas City Royals. On July 18 against the Orioles, Chapman threw for 105 miles per hour (169 km/h) twice in the top of the ninth inning, averaging 103.2 miles per hour (166.1 km/h) with his fastball.[43]
The triumvirate of Betances, Chapman, and Miller became known by fans as "NoRuns–D.M.C.", owing to the relievers' dominance of opposing hitters.[44]
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On July 25, 2016, the Yankees traded Chapman to theChicago Cubs forGleyber Torres,Billy McKinney,Adam Warren, and Rashad Crawford. In an interview with ESPN, Chapman stated he was thrilled that the Cubs went after him, especially considering the recent success ofHéctor Rondón. Chapman made his first appearance as a member of the Cubs on July 27, pitching a 1–2–3 ninth and striking out two batters in a non-save situation.[45] His fastest pitch in 2016 was 105.1 miles an hour, best in MLB.[38] His four-seam fastball had the highest average speed of any MLB pitcher's pitches in 2016, at 100.9 mph, and his two-seam fastball had the third-highest average speed, at 100.4 mph.[38]
Chapman made three saves in four opportunities in the2016 National League Division Series against theSan Francisco Giants to tie and set new Division Series records respectively;Wade Davis tied his record in the2017 National League Division Series, but Davis did it with only three opportunities.
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Chapman made four appearances during the2016 National League Championship Series (NLCS) against theLos Angeles Dodgers. Chapman blew a save opportunity during the first game of the NLCS, but the Cubs rallied back and Chapman remained in the game to earn the win.[46] He pitched the final1+2⁄3 innings of Game 6 to secure the Cubs' first pennant since 1945.[47]
Chapman's workload in the2016 World Series escalated with the Cubs facing elimination at the hands of theCleveland Indians. Down 3–1 in the series, Chapman pitched through the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings of Game 5, allowing only one hit and preserving the Cubs' 3–2 lead.[48] He was called upon again in the seventh and eighth innings of Game 6, where he allowed one hit and one run en route to a 9–3 victory. Chapman appeared the next day to close out Game 7 with a 6–3 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, but blew the save opportunity, allowing Cleveland to tie the game on a two-run homer byRajai Davis. Chapman pitched through the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. The Cubs tallied the game-winning run in the 10th inning, making Chapman the winning pitcher and giving him his first World Series title.[49]
On December 15, 2016, Chapman signed a five-year, $86 million contract to return to theYankees.[50] This was the largest contract given to a relief pitcher until it was surpassed byEdwin Díaz in 2022.[51]
On May 14, 2017, Chapman was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to rotator cuff inflammation in his left shoulder. Although MRIs revealed no structure damage, Chapman was ruled out for at least two weeks.[52] On June 18, the Yankees activated Chapman from the DL and he pitched that afternoon against the Oakland A's.
On August 13, Chapman gave up a home run toRafael Devers of the Boston Red Sox. The pitch was clocked at 103 mph, making it the fastest pitch hit for a home run in the Statcast era (breakingKurt Suzuki's home run off of a Chapman 102 mph pitch the previous year). It was also Chapman's first home run given up to a left-handed batter sinceLuke Scott of theBaltimore Orioles did so in 2011. Later that month, Chapman gave up only his third home run off a left-hander whenYonder Alonso of theSeattle Mariners hit one of his 101 mph fastballs out.[53] His fastest pitch of 2017 was 104.3 miles an hour, best in MLB.[38] His four-seam fastball had the highest average speed of any MLB pitcher's pitches in 2017, at 99.7 mph.[38]
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In 2018 Chapman was elected as an MLB All-Star, representing the American League. On July 13, 2018, he announced that he would skip the All Star Game to rest his knee due to tendinitis. On August 22, Chapman was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to left knee tendinitis.[54] His fastest pitch of 2018 was 104.4 miles an hour, second-best in MLB only to pitches byJordan Hicks.[38] His sinker had the highest average speed of any MLB pitcher's pitches in 2018, at 100.9 mph.[38] In 2018, he had the lowest swing rate for his in-strike-zonesliders of any pitcher in baseball (42.5%).[55]
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In 2019, he was 3–2 with 37 saves and a 2.21 ERA, as in 60 relief appearances he struck out 85 batters in 57.0 innings (13.4 per nine innings).[56] He received theAL Reliever of the Month Award for both May and August.[57] He received theMariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award at the end of the season.[58] Chapman logged one save in theAmerican League Division Series and one in theAmerican League Championship Series but gave up a walk-off home run toJose Altuve with two outs in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the ALCS, eliminating the Yankees from the playoffs.[59]
On July 11, 2020, during theCOVID-19 pandemic, it was reported that Chapman had tested positive for the virus. ManagerAaron Boone announced that he was cleared to return to the team on July 31.[60] Chapman pitched in his first major league game of 2020 on August 17.[61] On September 2, Chapman received a three-game suspension for throwing a pitch at the head ofTampa Bay Rays batterMike Brosseau.[62] Brosseau later hit a game-winning home run off Chapman in Game 5 of the ALDS, effectively ending the Yankees season. His 100.5 mph-average sinker was the fastest sinker of any major league pitcher for the 2020 season.[63] During the regular season, Chapman recorded a 3.09 ERA and 22 strikeouts in11+2⁄3 innings.
On August 26, 2021, Chapman recorded his 300th career save, closing out a 7–6 victory against theOakland Athletics.[64] On September 30, Chapman recorded his 1,000th strikeout during a game against theToronto Blue Jays. He struck outGeorge Springer in the bottom of the ninth inning, eventually winning the game 6–2.[65] Chapman finished the 2021 season with 30 saves and a 3.36 ERA. He recorded 97 strikeouts and 38 walks in56+1⁄3 innings.
Chapman went on the injured list in May 2022 due toachilles tendinitis[66] and lost the closer role toClay Holmes.[67] He went on the injured list again in August due to an infection that developed when he got a tattoo.[68] Chapman missed a mandatory workout before the2022 American League Division Series and was left off the team's postseason roster.[69]
On January 27, 2023, Chapman signed a one-year contract with theKansas City Royals.[70] He went 4–2 with 2.45 ERA in 31 appearances with the Royals in 2023.
On June 30, 2023, the Royals traded Chapman to theTexas Rangers in exchange forCole Ragans and Roni Cabrera.[71] He went 2–3 with 4 saves and a 3.72 ERA in 30 regular season appearances, and went on to pitch six innings with a 2.75 ERA across the2023 postseason, ultimately winning his secondWorld Series ring.[72]
On January 31, 2024, Chapman signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with thePittsburgh Pirates. On June 29, 2024, Chapman recorded his 1,197th career strikeout to passBilly Wagner for the most strikeouts by a left-handed reliever.[73]
On December 10, 2024, Chapman signed a one-year, $10.75 million contract with theBoston Red Sox.[74]
Chapman came into spring training in a battle withLiam Hendriks andJustin Slaten for the Red Sox closer role.[75] After spring training, Red Sox managerAlex Cora announced Chapman as the closer to start the season.[76] Chapman started off strong, getting the win in his Red Sox debut onOpening Day, and consistently getting saves. On April 19, 2025, Chapman threw the fastest pitch recorded for a Red Sox pitcher with 102.3 miles per hour, only to break his own record seven days later, throwing a pitch recorded at 103.4 mph.[77] The Red Sox were the sixth team in which Chapman broke the franchise's record for fastest pitch. On July 2, he earned the 350th save of his career against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of a doubleheader.[78] Four days later, on July 6, Chapman was named to his eighthAll-Star Game, and his first since 2021.[79]
On August 31, 2025, Chapman and the Red Sox agreed to a contract extension for the2026 season worth $13.3 million, including a vesting option for the 2027 season.[80]
Between July 27 to September 10, Chapman held a historic hitless streak. During that time, in 17 appearances, he struck out 21 batters and only walked four, giving up no hits or runs. The 17 appearances without giving up a hit was the third-longest such streak in the MLB since 1901, trailing only the Marlins'Randy Choate in 2011 (20 appearances), and the New York Mets'Tim Byrdak (18 appearance in 2018). Both Chapman's hitless and scoreless streak ended after he got walked off by theAthletics on September 10.[81]
Chapman finished the regular season with a 5–3 record, 32 saves, and 1.17 ERA, which was the best of his career. His 32 saves were also the most since the 2019 season. He also only surrendered eight earned runs in 67 total appearances, which was the lowest total of a full season in his career. His outstanding year helped the Red Sox to their first playoff appearance since 2021, where they faced his former team, theNew York Yankees in theWild Card Series. In Game 1 of the series, Chapman came into the ninth inning with a 3–1 lead, and subsequently loaded the bases on the first three batters, giving the Yankees a prime opportunity at a comeback. However, Chapman rebounded by then getting three straight outs, and earned his first postseason save since 2020. Unfortunately, the Red Sox lost the next two games, ending their and Chapman's season.
In mid-November, Chapman was named theAL Reliever of the Year for the second time, his first win having come in 2019 as a member of the Yankees.[82]
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With a three-quarters delivery, Chapman throws four pitches: afour-seam fastball averaging 99–100 miles per hour (159–161 km/h), aslider averaging 87–88 miles per hour (140–142 km/h), a splitter,[83] and a change-up.[84][85] Since 2018, he also added asinker that tops out at 102 miles per hour (164 km/h) and averages over 100 mph.[38][63] His fastball averaged 100.3 miles per hour (161.4 km/h) in 2010, but that declined to 98.6 miles per hour (158.7 km/h) in 2011 and 97.8 miles per hour (157.4 km/h) through August 2012.[85] This more modest speed might have been part of an attempt to better control his fastball.[86] By 2015, Chapman's fastball averaged 99.98 miles per hour (160.90 km/h). That same year,Statcast revealed that Chapman threw the 62 fastest pitches of the season, topping out at 103.92 miles per hour (167.24 km/h).[87] In 2024, Chapman's fastball averaged 98.7 miles per hour (158.8 km/h), while topping out at 105.1 miles per hour (169.1 km/h) according toStatcast.[88][89]
Chapman's fastball and slider both have extraordinarily highwhiff rates: 33% for the fastball and 58% for the slider. As a result, Chapman has induced swinging strikes on 16.4 percent of pitches.[90] He has struck out 40 percent of batters faced, third most among pitchers who have thrown 400 innings as of the end of the 2024[update] season.[91]
Due to the high velocity of pitches that Chapman throws, before he comes in, the Yankees played a video on the scoreboards showing Chapman's name on fire, and fiery looking videos of him, as high velocity pitches are commonly called "heat."
Early on in his career, scouts worried about his control issues and lack of a solid third pitch, noting that these issues could affect his ability to be a Major League starter,[92] but Chapman's control seemed to improve.[93] After issuing 41 walks in 50 innings the previous season, Chapman walked 23 batters in 2012 over71+2⁄3 innings.[94] He has walked 12.6 percent of batters faced in his career as of the end of the 2024[update] season.[90]
On September 24, 2010, against theSan Diego Padres, Chapman was clocked at 105.1 mph (169.1 km/h), according toPITCHf/x, the fastest pitch ever recorded in Major League Baseball.[95] On July 19, 2016, Chapman matched his previous record of 105.1 mph with a ball to Baltimore'sJ. J. Hardy.[96] In 2017, when MLB changed from the PITCHf/x to Statcast measurements, a pitch Chapman threw toTony Gwynn Jr. on September 24, 2011, was revised up to 105.8 mph (170.3 km/h) and is now considered the fastest pitch thrown.[97][98][99]
On April 18, 2011, Chapman threw a pitch to Pittsburgh'sAndrew McCutchen that the scoreboard atGreat American Ball Park clocked at 106 mph (171 km/h), but the box on Fox Sports Ohio's broadcast listed it at 105.1 mph (169.1 km/h) and the PITCHf/x system calculated a release speed of 102.4 mph (164.8 km/h). The disparity between these speeds has been widely discussed and questioned.[100]
Sports Illustrated writerJoe Posnanski wrote of Chapman, "There is no violence at all in his motion; he's like the anti-Bob Gibson in that way. Just a slow beginning, a fluid motion, andBLAMMO the ball just fires out like the Batmobile rolling out of the cave."[101] A technical analysis reveals the following:
One scout noted that although "[t]here are no obvious flaws in Chapman's delivery ... Chapman has to coordinate a lot of moving parts," which may limit his consistency. Chapman's extreme pitch speed may also pose an injury risk to his pitching arm over time.[103]
Chapman's long and complicated delivery is significantly taxing on his body. He almost never pitches more than one inning per appearance, which is a major reason for him being used as a formidable closer.
When Chapman left Cuba, he left behind his father, mother, two sisters,[8] girlfriend, and a newborn child.[104] He reunited with them when he helped them transfer to the United States; the details of how they transferred remain confidential.[105] In 2014, Chapman's son was born in Cincinnati. In May 2012, Chapman was sued for allegedly serving as "an informant for Cuban state authorities after a failed defection attempt and help[ing] turn in another man in order to get back on the country's national baseball team."[106]
On December 7, 2015, news broke that Chapman was involved in an alleged domestic violence incident with his girlfriend inDavie, Florida, at his home on October 30, 2015.[107] A pending trade with theLos Angeles Dodgers was put on hold as MLB announced it would investigate the incident as part of its personal conduct policy.[108] In the incident, he was accused of pushing his girlfriend, putting his hands around her neck, and choking her, and subsequently firing eight gunshots.[109] No charges were filed by the police due to inconsistency of the reports and insufficient evidence, and his attorney issued a statement denying the allegations.[110] The trade to the Dodgers was canceled and the Reds traded Chapman to theNew York Yankees three weeks later. Although he was not charged, MLB suspended Chapman for 30 games as a result of his "use of a firearm and the impact of that behavior on his partner," ending May 9, 2016.[109] He was the first player disciplined by the new personal conduct policy enacted in August 2015, where MLB could suspend a player without a conviction.[111]
Chapman became a United States citizen in April 2016.[112] He isCatholic.[113]
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