Chapman uses signature heat to become 9th pitcher in 400-saves club

BALTIMORE -- As the door opened to the visitors' clubhouse at Camden Yards on Sunday afternoon, the chants were unmistakable.

“Chappy! Chappy! Chappy!”

For the Red Sox, the spontaneous serenade was perhaps the best way to pay tribute to closer Aroldis Chapman, who was fresh off completing his 400th career save on, fittingly, a 101-mph heater to strike out Christian Encarnacion-Strand.

It was the capper for a 3-1 win that completed a four-game sweep over the Orioles, but more than that, it was a demonstration of what Chapman continues to do at the age of 38.

“Just happiness. Happy that the team celebrated my accomplishments and that we were able to win,” Chapman said. “And that's the best thing that could happen for me right now -- that my teammates are happy for what I've done so far. That was one of the personal goals that I had for this year.”

It is a goal not many others have reached. Chapman became the ninth player in history to record 400 career saves.

Making it special for Chapman is that this goal didn’t feel within reach from 2022-24, when he was having command issues and was serving more as a setup man than a closer. Chapman lost the job as Yankees closer in mid-May of ‘22.

Over those three seasons, when Chapman pitched for four different teams, he had an aggregate 29 saves, 14 of which came when he got a chance to close out games for the Pirates late in the 2024 season when David Bednar was struggling.

After signing with Boston prior to the 2025 season, Chapman rejuvenated his career by pounding the strike zone. He won the closer’s job in Spring Training and has been an All-Star in that role for the Red Sox the last two years.

“It’s very special,” Chapman said. “A few years back, I lost my role as a closer, and I had two or three years [where] I wasn’t able to close [games much]. When I came here to this team, they gave me an opportunity to compete for a closer job, and I was able to win it. And [400 saves] was one of the things that I wanted to do in my career. And there was a moment that I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it. But thank God now we’re here and I was able to get to 400.”

Chapman joined Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601), Kenley Jansen (493), Lee Smith (478), Craig Kimbrel (441), Francisco Rodriguez (437), John Franco (424) and Billy Wagner (422) in the 400 club.

Of the previous eight, four are in the Hall of Fame (Rivera, Hoffman, Smith and Wagner) and two are still active (Jansen and Kimbrel).

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Considering that Chapman practically revolutionized this era of triple-digit velocity, it stands to reason he’ll have a pretty good Hall of Fame case if he ever retires.

Chapman’s 33rd save of this season closed out a win for rookie lefty Payton Tolle.

“I want to start off by saying congrats to Chappy for 400,” said Tolle. “That's incredible. To be that elite, for as long as he’s been elite, it’s cool to watch. And it's another moment for a lot of us, especially myself, to step back and be really thankful that God has put me in this place to be able to watch guys like him.”

Looking in prime form, Chapman is a force for the Red Sox, punctuating saves with signature stares after he strikes out an opposing hitter.

Earlier this season, Chapman surpassed Hoyt Wilhelm for most strikeouts by a relief pitcher.

Though Chapman doesn’t hit 100 mph as often as he used to, the fact he is averaging 98 mph with his sinker and 97 mph with his fastball at this stage of his career is impressive.

But not necessarily surprising, either.

“We've spoken a lot about him,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “It's impressive, doing what he's doing for as long as he's been doing it, and the work he puts in to keep himself in shape and keep himself able to post as much as he does. He's pretty impressive.”

Did Chapman keep something in the tank so he could finish the milestone save with a 101 mph offering?

“No, no, I just was focused on making a good pitch at that moment,” Chapman said.

Chapman has been at the center of Boston’s dramatic summer of rejuvenation under Tracy.

“I’m blessed to be along for the ride, to be honest with you,” said Tracy. “Watching Aroldis Chapman close his 400th save, and to be able to be up close and personal to witness it, I'm blessed just to be able to watch it. And now that I've got to know him and see the work ethic, it's pretty cool.”