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Aroldis Chapman matched one of the longest-standing records in professional baseball this Sunday by reaching 1,363 strikeouts in his career as a reliever, tying the all-time record held by Hoyt Wilhelm since his retirement in 1972, as reported by journalist Francys Romero on his social media.
The Cuban closer for the Boston Red Sox, nicknamed "The Missile," reached this historic milestone at the age of 38 during what has been a dominant 2026 season, with an ERA of just 0.48 over 24.2 innings pitched.
Chapman's journey to this milestone has been gradual over the past two years. In August 2024, he had accumulated 1,227 strikeouts; by June 2025, he reached 1,288; and on April 26, 2026, he surpassed Rich "Goose" Gossage —who had 1,340— to become the second relief pitcher with the most strikeouts in Major League history.
Wilhelm, born in 1923 and passed away in 2002, played between 1952 and 1972 and was known for his mastery of the knuckleball. In 1985, he became the first reliever inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame, and his record of 1,363 strikeouts stood for more than fifty years without anyone coming close.
Chapman, born in Holguín in 1988, defected from the Cuban national team in 2009 and signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010. Since then, he has worn the jerseys of the Yankees, Cubs, Royals, and Rangers before arriving in Boston, where he signed a contract extension for 13.3 million dollars with a mutual option for 2027.
In addition to the strikeout record, the Cuban continues to accumulate milestones this season. He has 374 or more career saves, placing him just outside the top 10 in that category, and his stated goal is to reach 400 saves to secure his place among the nine greatest closers of all time.
Chapman is also the fastest pitcher in baseball history, with a Guinness World Record of 105.8 mph recorded on September 24, 2010, and the left-handed reliever with the most strikeouts in MLB history, a record he achieved in July 2024 by surpassing Billy Wagner.
With the tie established, Chapman needs just one more strikeout to become the relief pitcher with the most strikeouts in Major League history, a record that would be exclusively his and would crown an unprecedented career among bullpen pitchers.
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