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Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban closer for the Boston Red Sox, etched his name into Major League Baseball history this Saturday by becoming the relief pitcher with the most strikeouts of all time, after recording his 1,364th strikeout during a game in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels, as reported by AP News.
With that out, Chapman surpassed the record of 1,363 strikeouts previously held by Hoyt Wilhelm, a mark that had remained unbroken for over half a century since the legendary knuckleball pitcher retired in 1972.
After the historic strikeout, the player from Holguín didn't stop: he induced a double play to close the game and secure Boston's victory by 5-2, also earning his 17th save of the 2026 season.
The path to the record has accelerated significantly in recent months. On April 26, Chapman surpassed Rich "Goose" Gossage —who had a total of 1,340 strikeouts— to become the second all-time reliever.
Just days before breaking the record, on June 29, Chapman tied Wilhelm's record with his strikeout number 1,363 at Fenway Park, against the New York Yankees.
The achievement carries added significance: Chapman has pitched exclusively as a reliever throughout his entire Major League career, which fully validates the category of the record.
At 38 years old, the left-handed pitcher is experiencing one of the best phases of his professional life. In the 2026 season, he posts an ERA of 2.10 in 27 appearances, with 33 strikeouts in 25.2 innings pitched.
Born in Holguín on February 28, 1988, Chapman reached the MLB after defecting from Cuba during the Under-23 World Championship in Rotterdam in 2009 and signed with the Cincinnati Reds in January 2010. Since his debut on August 31 of that year, he has worn the jersey of seven franchises: Reds, Yankees, Cubs, Royals, Rangers, Pirates, and Red Sox.
Among his most notable achievements are two World Series rings —in 2016 with the Cubs and in 2023 with the Rangers— and the Guinness World Record for the fastest pitch officially recorded in MLB: 105.8 mph, achieved on September 24, 2010.
The strikeout record is not the only milestone achieved in 2026. On Opening Day of this season, Chapman surpassed Jonathan Papelbon in historical saves, and with his 374 career saves, he is also approaching the top 10 in that category.
Chapman signed a contract extension with Boston for $13.3 million with a mutual option for 2027, opening the door for him to continue building on a legacy that was just born this July 4th.
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