The Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman became this Monday the fourth relief pitcher in Major League history to have at least 10 seasons with 30 or more saves, a record that he shares only with three legends enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
The 38-year-old from Holguín achieved his 30th save of the 2026 season as he secured the victory for the Boston Red Sox 4-2 over the Miami Marlins, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with one hit allowed, no walks, and one strikeout, according to MLB.
The other three members of that exclusive group are the Panamanian Mariano Rivera, with 15 seasons of 30 or more saves; Trevor Hoffman, with 14; and Lee Smith, with 10, the same number that Chapman now has.
Rivera, Hoffman, and Smith already have their plaques in Cooperstown, making Chapman the only active member on that list and fueling discussions about his own future in the Hall of Fame.
The achievement is also a testament to the longevity of the Cuban closer, who has been in the Major Leagues for over 16 years since his debut with the Cincinnati Reds in August 2010, and continues to be the starting closer for Boston at an age when most relief pitchers have already hung up their spikes.
In the 2026 season, his numbers reflect elite performance: 1.81 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 58 strikeouts in 44.2 innings over 44 appearances.
Beyond the milestone of 10 seasons, Chapman has another historic goal in sight: the 397 saves accumulated in his career leave him a mere three away from the exclusive 400 saves club in MLB, a barrier that has only been crossed by four pitchers in the entire history of the league.
His progression toward that figure has been steady over the past few months. In July, he tied Dennis Eckersley with 390 saves, and by mid-August, he secured a lucrative option for the 2027 season by meeting certain performance parameters set forth in his contract with Boston.
In 2025, he finished with 32 saves and an ERA of 1.15, marking his ninth season with 30 or more saves and foreshadowing the milestone he achieved this Monday.
With the barrier of 400 saves just three rescues away, the closer from Holguín continues to build a case for his name to be listed among the greatest relievers in Major League Baseball history.
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