Amidst all the chaos and flying fists after a tough 1-0 win for the Boston Red Sox in Baltimore this past Friday night, something truly legendary was brewing. Aroldis Chapman, the fireballer himself, quietly notched his 399th career save. He got it done in a clean 1-2-3 inning on just 11 pitches. It’s the kind of dominant performance we’ve almost come to expect from him over the past two seasons, the kind that’s so good it’s easy to take for granted. But let me tell you, what’s coming next is anything but ordinary.
The “Flamethrower” Blasts Toward History
That 399th save? It means the very next time Chapman closes out a game, he’s going to become only the ninth pitcher in MLB history to hit the insane 400-save mark. Think about that for a second. Nine. That’s an elite, elite club. If this dude can keep pitching for just two more seasons, he’s not just in the top ten, he’s likely cruising into the top five all time, probably passing Craig Kimbrel who sits at 441. The only two pitchers to ever break 500 saves, Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman, both went on to break 600. Rivera finished with 652 and Hoffman with 601. Chapman is on a path that could put him in truly rarefied air.
His performance in Boston since 2025 has been absolutely lights-out. He’s stacked up 32 saves in each of his two seasons, with only two blown saves in each, both All-Star campaigns! Over the 2025-2026 seasons combined, Chapman’s rocking a ridiculous 1.57 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. He’s striking out hitters at a clip of 12.2 K/9, and get this: his walk rate has plummeted to a mere 2.9 BB/9. That’s a huge turnaround from the six batters per nine innings he was walking in the four seasons before this run. That kind of control combined with his velocity? Forget about it.
Cementing a Spot Among Team Legends
Chapman isn’t just chasing MLB history, he’s also carving out a serious legacy with the Red Sox. He’ll soon be cracking the top ten in career saves for the team. When you think about Red Sox closers, names like Keith Foulke, Jonathan Papelbon, Koji Uehara, and Craig Kimbrel come to mind. Foulke, with his 47 saves in Boston and those three massive saves in the 2004 postseason, holds a special place, along with Papelbon, Uehara, and Kimbrel, all of whom got World Series rings with the squad. Bob Stanley just missed that list, and anyone who saw Dick Radatz pitch would definitely be weighing in on his case.
Chapman just had his 2027 option vest for a cool $13 million, assuming he passes his year-end physical before his 39-year-old season. That’s a big vote of confidence for a guy who’s still delivering at an elite level.
So, where does he land on the all-time closer list for the Red Sox right now? And if he keeps this up for another season or two, how high can he climb on that MLB all-time list? Getting to 400 saves isn’t just a number, it’s a testament to incredible longevity and dominance. You gotta watch this guy work, because he’s making history every time he steps on the mound.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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