By Donald Laible
Bosox relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman remains a dominant option, still, when a save situation is on the line.
Everything about the Boston Red Sox is clicking in their favor in late-season play. At 71–60, with 31 games left in the regular season, the Red Sox are in second place in the American League East, just five games behind the Toronto Blue Jays. Boston is one game ahead of the New York Yankees in the top position among Wild Card Series qualifiers. Taking three of four games in the Bronx from the Bombers this past week threw the momentum to Boston, as did scoring 20 runs in the four-game series.
To win at all costs, come the ninth inning, manager Alex Cora’s call to the bullpen is for Chapman to “put a bow” on the game for the Red Sox.
Now in his 16th MLB season, and his first with the Red Sox, Chapman remains effective in delivering a save, then lining up for high-fives from his teammates. The speed at which the veteran southpaw is throwing in 2025, for the most part, is not much different from his rookie year with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010, when his four-seam fastball averaged 100.3 mph.
Amazingly, this season, Chapman is averaging 98.4 mph per fastball, which is right in line with his career velocity of 98.9. Occasionally, the lefty hurler is touching 100 mph in his late innings of work. The 24 saves recorded this season are included in the 359 career saves that have the Cuban-born pitcher in 13th place, all-time, among MLB closers.
Boston knew what they needed and who to come to terms with on a one-year contract to solidify the back end of their bullpen. Chapman has delivered as management envisioned. Having not qualified for the postseason in 2024, finishing their season at 81–81, money spent on Chapman has been spent wisely. Last season’s Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen racked up 27 saves in 54 appearances. Thus far, Chapman, in 55 games, barring any late-season injury, is positioned to top the saves recorded by Jansen in 2024.

How is Chapman faring individually versus the rest of the Red Sox pitching staff in 2025?
Boston’s pitching staff is registering a team ERA of 3.72, and the bullpen, specifically, is coming in with an even more impressive 3.41. Chapman is an “automatic” save in so much his individual ERA is 1.08. Add the 71 strikeouts he’s piled up in 50 innings pitched, plus a 4–2 win-loss record, and Chapman has been virtually unhittable.
Kansas City Royals’ closer Carlos Estevez and San Diego Padres’ Robert Suarez have more saves than Chapman, each with 34. Other ninth-inning specialists, Josh Hader of the Houston Astros ($19 million) and Edwin Diaz of the New York Mets ($18 million-plus), are paid more than Chapman ($10.75 million). However, the impact that Chapman continues to have on preserving wins for Boston goes beyond dollar signs. He can be counted on to routinely lock down challengers.
As of late August, Chapman had blown only one save in 2025.
Although Chapman has worn the uniform for five different teams over the past four seasons, this should not be misconstrued as a reflection on his prowess or any possible eroding of his skills. Quite the opposite. Being a “hired gun,” a specialist that can be counted upon to do one job and do it better than anyone else, is a compliment.
On July 25, 2016, New York agreed to swap Chapman for four players, sending him to World Series contenders Chicago Cubs, a team that had last won a World Series in 1908. In Game 7, in Chicago, Chapman was the winning pitcher. There was joy in Wrigleyville.
In 2023, the Kansas City Royals traded Chapman to the Texas Rangers. In search of their first World Series championship in the organization’s 52-year history in 2023, Chapman greatly added to the Rangers’ bullpen, and the MLB championship was completed.
Last season, the Pittsburgh Pirates, a club that had managed only 76 victories, thanked Chapman for stabilizing their bullpen. A 3.79 ERA, Chapman finished 2024 with 14 saves.
With three games scheduled at home in Fenway Park next month with the Yankees and three opposite the Detroit Tigers to finish out the month and the season, these are the times that Chapman earns his keep. Competitive clubs keep game scores close, often by one or two runs. Counting on their closer to silence opposing bats at the most crucial time of a game is usually the difference between playing on or going home for the winter.
Billed as “the Cuban Missile” in large part due to the strength of his arm, Chapman throws best when under pressure. Last winning a World championship in 2018, Boston fans are itching for another go at winning MLB’s Commissioner’s Trophy. Getting a lead and going to “Chappy” should make the Red Sox Nation happy in October.