The star pitcher Aroldis Chapman wrote a new chapter in the history of Cuban baseball this Thursday by becoming the first player born on the island to participate in 10 postseason games in Major League Baseball, a milestone achieved during the 2026 American League Wild Card Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
According to journalist Francys Romero's notes on social media, "El Misil" not only reached that historic milestone, but he celebrated it in the best possible way: he struck out all three batters he faced in his appearance, demonstrating that his fastball remains a lethal weapon in high-pressure situations.
The left-handed pitcher from Holguín is also the second pitcher born in Latin America to reach at least 10 postseason appearances, following only the legendary Panamanian Mariano Rivera, who participated in 16.
With the three strikeouts from tonight, Chapman has accumulated 76 strikeouts in postseason throughout his career, a figure that places him third among relievers in that historical category, surpassed only by Rivera (110) and Kenley Jansen (94).
His 10 postseason appearances are divided among five different franchises: the Cincinnati Reds (2010 and 2012), the Chicago Cubs (2016), the New York Yankees (2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020), the Texas Rangers (2023), and the Boston Red Sox (2025 and 2026).
The milestone arrives in a record-breaking 2026 season for the player from Holguín. In September, he achieved 400 career saves, becoming the ninth reliever in MLB history to reach that number since the save was officially recognized in 1969, and days later, he reached 401.
He closed the regular season with 34 saves, an earned run average of 1.95, and 68 strikeouts in 50.2 innings, numbers that keep him among the most dominant closers in today's baseball at the age of 38.
Chapman is not the only Cuban seeking glory in this postseason. Nine players from the island are participating in seven different teams in the 2026 playoffs, including Yordan Álvarez (Astros), Yandy Díaz (Rays), Andy Pagés (Dodgers), and Raisel Iglesias (Braves), reflecting the notable presence of players from the island in Major League Baseball.
It was precisely last year when Chapman set the record for the most postseason appearances by a Cuban by playing in his ninth with the Red Sox, surpassing any other player born in Cuba.
At 38 years old, the left-hander from Holguín continues to add chapters to an extensive career in Major League Baseball, raising the bar for Cuban players in the postseason.
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