Aroldis Chapman arrived in Boston after a year with the Pirates and signing for $10.75 million in 2024. The investment has paid off: the pitcher has a 1.04 ERA, with 26 saves and 74 strikeouts in 52 innings, on his way to his eighth All-Star Game appearance. Even at 37 years old, his fastball remains in the 98th percentile of velocity, averaging 98.9 mph.
If anything has been surprising this year, it is his control. Chapman has a 0.67 WHIP and just 2.4 walks per nine innings, both of which are considered the best of his 16-year Major League career. This dominance has made him an essential part of Boston’s bullpen.
Management support
Boston Red Sox director of baseball operations Craig Breslow praised his impact: “We had very high expectations and he has been as good or even better than expected.” He also highlighted his role off the field: “What he’s done on the mound is incredible, but he’s also been a great teammate and a positive influence on the bullpen.”
Chapman, who spent seven seasons with the Yankees, experienced ups and downs in the Bronx, including a final campaign marked by injuries and controversies that left him out of the postseason. “There were a lot of ups and downs, I try to remember the good times I had there,” he said in June when he faced his former team.
Boston dreams of October
The Red Sox currently occupy the second American League wild-card spot, which puts Chapman in line for another opportunity to shine in the playoffs. A World Series champion with the Rangers in 2023, the Cuban will look to repeat the feat, this time dressed in red, as one of the most reliable arms in all of MLB.
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