<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-aroldis-chapman-boston-closer-twist');   ga('set', 'title', 'Aroldis Chapman’s Red Sox closer role comes with intriguing twist');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Aroldis-Chapmans-closer-role-comes-with-intriguing-twist.jpg"></figure><h1>Aroldis Chapman’s Red Sox closer role comes with intriguing twist</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-25T16:29:31-07:00">March 25th, 4:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-25T17:50:54-07:00">March 25th, 5:50pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Aroldis Chapman will handle closing duties for the Boston Red Sox in 2025. However, Chapman’s <a href="https://x.com/IanMBrowne/status/1904665470722076761" rel="noopener">role comes with a twist</a>, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com.</p><p>“While Aroldis Chapman is the closer heading into the season, Alex Cora is leaving wiggle room for leverage,” Browne wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “For example, if Cory Seager leads off the eighth inning on Thursday, don’t be surprised if Chapman takes the ball then with someone else (Hendriks or Slaten) in the 9th.”</p><p>Liam Hendriks and Justin Slaten could receive opportunities in the 9th inning depending on specific circumstances. This is not a closer-by-committee situation, though. Chapman is the closer, but manager Alex Cora is willing to be flexible when necessary.</p><p>Chapman earning the closer nod is not especially surprising — <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/red-sox-news-liam-hendriks-of-red-sox-makes-extremely-unselfish-aroldis-chapman-closer-admission">Hendriks even said that Chapman deserves it</a>. Cora has multiple late-inning options with proven big-game experience, though. The Red Sox wanted to upgrade the bullpen this offseason, and they added relievers with impressive track records.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-signing-aroldis-chapman-to-10-75-million-deal">Chapman and the Red Sox agreed to a $10.75 million contract</a> in free agency this past offseason. The flame-throwing left-hander most recently pitched with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024. He quietly turned in a respectable year, pitching to a 3.79 ERA and saving 14 games across 68 total appearances.</p><p>The 37-year-old may not be the superstar pitcher he once was, but Chapman is still more than capable of positively impacting a bullpen. Boston will need to be able to rely on the relief core. The Red Sox are trying to make a postseason run this year, and bullpen performance tends to play a pivotal role in team success.</p><p>The Red Sox will go head-to-head with the Texas Rangers on Thursday to begin their season. The Opening Day clash between Boston and Texas is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. EST in Arlington as both ball clubs look to start the new campaign strong.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Aroldis Chapman’s Red Sox closer role comes with intriguing twist

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-liam-hendriks-of-red-sox-makes-extremely-unselfish-aroldis-chapman-closer-admission');   ga('set', 'title', 'Liam Hendriks of Red Sox makes extremely unselfish Aroldis Chapman closer admission');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Liam-Hendriks-makes-extremely-unselfish-Aroldis-Chapman-closer-admission.jpg"><figcaption>3/20/25</figcaption></figure><h1>Liam Hendriks of Red Sox makes extremely unselfish Aroldis Chapman closer admission</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-20T18:22:04-07:00">March 20th, 6:22pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-20T18:22:04-07:00">March 20th, 6:22pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/red-sox-news-alex-cora-firm-statement-rafael-devers-position">Boston Red Sox have high hopes</a> of making a big move in the American League East standings this year. They made several key additions in the offseason, adding starters Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler to the pitching staff. The Red Sox also added All-Star 3rd baseman Alex Bregman as the team began spring training, and that move gave the team a bolt of energy and a boat load of confidence. They also had a healthy Liam Hendriks and veteran fireballer Aroldis Chapman to handle the key end-of-game relief situations.</p><p>Hendriks missed the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery and forearm soreness when he returned to the team. Hendriks has struggled during his performances this spring and that could have an impact on Red Sox manager Alex Cora as he decides who will fill the closer’s role for Boston.</p><p>The Australian native knows that he has struggled in his appearances this spring. He said that if the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/red-sox-news-klay-thompson-brother-trayce-massive-spring-training">Red Sox are going</a> to use Chapman as their closer at the start of the season, <a href="https://x.com/search?q=hendriks&amp;src=typed_query">he has no argument</a> based on  his performance.</p><p>“I think it’s been pretty well proven this spring training who deserves that spot after earning it all spring and that’s definitely not me,” Hendriks said. “I’ve always said I wanted to win it, but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t.”</p><h2><b>Numbers may point Red Sox to closing with Chapman over Hendriks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Liam-Hendriks-has-struggled-during-spring-training.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Hendriks, who has also battled back from non-Hodgkins lymphoma that was discovered in 2022, has not had his best form. He has appearedin 5 games and pitched 5.0 innings while giving up 12 hits, 6 earned runs and 2 home runs. He has a 10.80 earned run average and just 4 strikeouts.</p><p>Chapman had made 6 appearances this spring and has been on the mound for 5.1 innings. He has given up 3 hits and 2 earned runs, and he has not given up a home run. He has a 3.38 ERA with 10 strikeouts and 4 bases on balls.</p><p>In addition to bringing in Crochet, Buehler and Bregman, the Red Sox have 3 highly touted prospects in camp who are bidding to make the team.</p><p>Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell are all trying to show that they are ready to compete at the big-league level.</p><p>Mayer, who was drafted as a shortstop but can play multiple positions including 2nd base, is having the best showing of the three. He has 11 hits in 31 at bats and he is slashing .355/.444/.581 with 1 home run, 10 runs batted in and 18 total bases.</p><p>Anthony is slashing .233/.368/.357 with 1 homer and 10 RBI. Campbell has struggled quite a bit at the plate and he looks like he will open the season at the Triple-A level.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Liam Hendriks of Red Sox makes extremely unselfish Aroldis Chapman closer admission

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/red-sox-news-signing-aroldis-chapman-to-10-75-million-deal');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox signing Aroldis Chapman to $10.75 million deal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Red-Sox-news-Boston-on-verge-of-Aroldis-Chapman-signing.jpg"></figure><h1>Red Sox signing Aroldis Chapman to $10.75 million deal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-03T07:46:43-08:00">December 3rd, 7:46am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-03T08:14:54-08:00">December 3rd, 8:14am</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It appears that free agent relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman is on his way to Beantown. The veteran hurler is <a href="https://x.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1863968709263409460" rel="noopener">reportedly close to inking a contract</a> with the Boston Red Sox, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.</p><p>“The Red Sox have progressed in talks with Aroldis Chapman and are working toward signing him, source tells MassLive,” posted Cotillo on X (formerly Twitter).</p><p>Meanwhile, another report from Jeff Passan of ESPN revealed that the <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1863972109803741244" rel="noopener">agreed contract</a> between Chapman and the Red Sox is worth $10.75 million for a year</p><p>“Left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $10.75 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN,” reported Passan. “Boston sought left-handed help for its bullpen and lands the 36-year-old Chapman. @ChrisCotillo said deal was progressing.”</p><p>The 36-year-old Chapman most recently played for the Pittsburgh Pirates for a season during the 2024 MLB campaign.</p><h2><b>Aroldis Chapman to continue MLB career with the Red Sox</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/10-11-24-chapman-imag.jpeg"><figcaption>© Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Chapman’s addition to the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/beantown-rundown-time-red-sox-back-up-strong-promises-free-agency">Red Sox in free agency</a> provides some clarity to Boston’s closer situation, especially with Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin hitting free agency. Jansen was the go-to man for the Red Sox in the ninth inning in 2024 where he recorded 24 saves.</p><p>While he’s already past his prime, Chapman still has the potential to make a tremendous impact on the Red Sox, who recorded a total of 27 blown saves last season — fourth-most in the big leagues. In 68 appearances for the Pirates in 2024, Chapman went 5-5 with a 3.79 ERA and 14 saves across 61.2 innings.</p><p>His 3.04 FIP suggests he had a much better campaign than what his ERA suggests, plus he also finished the 2024 season with a 111 ERA+. IN addition, the “Cuban Missile” <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pirates-news-aroldis-chapman-fastball-manny-machado">still has the ability to make hitters swing and miss</a> a lot based on his recent numbers. In 2024, he posted a 37 percent strikeout rate and a 1.9 percent home run rate.</p><p>Chapman, who will turn 37 years old in February, is also no stranger to competition in the American League East, as he played for several seasons with the New York Yankees. In seven seasons wearing Yankees pinstripes, Chapman became a three-time All-Star while recording a 2.94 ERA and 147 ERA+ across 315 appearances and 294.1 total innings.</p><p>For what’s worth, Chapman has a 5.71 ERA and 1.846 WHIP along with a .333 BABIP in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=chapmar01&amp;year=Career&amp;t=p" rel="noopener">18 career appearances at Fenway Park</a>.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox signing Aroldis Chapman to $10.75 million deal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pirates-news-aroldis-chapman-fastball-manny-machado');   ga('set', 'title', 'Aroldis Chapman’s 104.7 MPH fastball to Manny Machado sparks reactions');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08-07-24-chapman-featured.jpeg"></figure><h1>Aroldis Chapman’s 104.7 MPH fastball to Manny Machado sparks reactions</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-08-07T20:22:43-07:00">August 7th, 8:22pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-08-07T20:22:43-07:00">August 7th, 8:22pm</time><address><a>David Korn</a>David Korn is an MLB associate editor at ClutchPoints. He is also a producer at MLB Network Radio and covers college basketball for A10Talk. David graduated from George Washington in 2023, where he was the radio play-by-play broadcaster for their Men's and Women's Basketball teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Even at 36 years old and in his 15th season, Pittsburgh Pirates reliever <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pirates-news-aroldis-chapman-sets-new-all-time-mlb-record-loss-to-braves">Aroldis Chapman is still an elite arm</a>. During Wednesday’s game against the San Diego Padres, Chapman made history and may have completed the most impressive feat of his illustrious career.</p><p>In the eighth inning, Chapman was facing Padres third baseman Manny Machado and <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1821359929820594486" rel="noopener">blew him away</a> with a low-and-inside 104.7 mph fastball.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Manny Machado was left speechless by this Aroldis Chapman 104.7 MPH fastball 😮 <a href="https://t.co/w8opxiHUIO">pic.twitter.com/w8opxiHUIO</a></p><p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1821359929820594486?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Machado was left absolutely speechless as he watched Chapman strike him out, and could only smile as he walked off the field. Despite Chapman’s electrifying strikeout, the Padres ended up coming back to win the game 9-8 in 10 innings.</p><p>Chapman’s 104.7 mph pitch <a href="https://twitter.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1821360564649521662" rel="noopener">is tied for the fastest</a> strikeout pitch since pitch-tracking began in 2008, according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs. Coincidentally, Chapman <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-jd-martinez-laughed-striking-out-ben-joyces-historic-104-7-mph-pitch">tied Los Angeles Angels rookie reliever Ben Joyce</a> who set the record with a 104.7 mph pitch of his own on Aug. 4 against J.D. Martinez and the New York Mets.</p><p>What may be ever crazier is that Chapman’s strikeout pitch <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/aroldis-chapman-records-104-7-mph-strikeout" rel="noopener">wasn’t even the fastest</a> pitch Machado saw. The previous pitch reached 105.1 mph, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. That 105.1 mph pitch was the fastest pitch Chapman had thrown since 2016. The fastest pitch Chapman has ever thrown was in 2014, when he set the Major League record by hitting 105.8 mph.</p><h2><b>Aroldis Chapman still throwing heat, getting outs later in his career</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08-07-24-chapman-image.jpeg"><figcaption>© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>While fans of course love when Chapman turns back the clock and unleashes a jaw-dropping fastball like he did Wednesday, what’s even better is the fact that Chapman is still an effective reliever. He may not be an everyday closer anymore, but Chapman is still an experienced, veteran set-up man who can be trusted in high-leverage situations.</p><p>Through 47 appearances and 41 2/3 innings, Chapman has a 3.67 ERA and 67 strikeouts. He and David Bednar, who appears to have gotten over his early-season struggles, form an elite duo at the back of the Pirates bullpen. Last season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-news-texas-aroldis-chapman-trade-royals">Chapman was a key midseason addition</a> to the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers. He was especially effective in the postseason, recording a 2.22 ERA through nine appearances throughout the playoffs.</p><p>The Pirates are currently on the outside looking in on the National League postseason picture. They are four games back of the Atlanta Braves for the third NL Wild Card spot. They’re still within striking distance, and if Chapman keeps pitching the way he did on Wednesday, who knows how far his historic arm can take this young Pirates team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Aroldis Chapman’s 104.7 MPH fastball to Manny Machado sparks reactions

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pirates-news-aroldis-chapman-sets-new-all-time-mlb-record-loss-to-braves');   ga('set', 'title', 'Aroldis Chapman sets new all-time MLB record in Pirates’ loss to Braves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Aroldis-Chapman-sets-new-all-time-MLB-record-in-loss-to-Braves.jpg"></figure><h1>Aroldis Chapman sets new all-time MLB record in Pirates’ loss to Braves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-29T20:35:32-07:00">June 29th, 8:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-29T20:37:00-07:00">June 29th, 8:37pm</time><address><a>Michael Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan. Follow him on X (@MikeCheckG)</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Fans in Atlanta were treated to a bit of baseball history as visiting Pittsburgh Pirates flamethrower Aroldis Chapman broke the all-time strikeout record for left-handed relief pitchers. Chapman fanned two batters in the bottom of the ninth to earn career strikeout number 1,197, the <a href="https://x.com/Pirates/status/1807187713696678375" rel="noopener">team announced</a>.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pirates-news-pittsburgh-aroldis-chapman-agree-contract">Chapman is with his sixth team</a> in 15 years and reached the lefty reliever strikeout record in 727.1 innings, giving him a remarkable career K/9 just shy of 15.</p><p>He surpassed retired reliever Billy Wagner to set the record. Wagner pitched for 16 years, primarily with the Houston Astros and the New York Mets, accumulating 1,196 strikeouts in 903 innings – 175.9 more innings than Chapman.</p><p>Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy was the unlucky batter mowed down by Chapman for the record. He swung through a 103 mph fastball on a 1-2 count to end the ninth and send the game to extra innings, as Chapman preserved a 1-1 tie.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Aroldis Chapman moved into 5th place all-time among relievers with the most strikeouts in MLB: </p><p>1,197 SO Chapman<br>1,196 SO Wagner</p><p>He is the left-handed reliever with the most SO in the history of the game. <a href="https://t.co/zz9xw7L91U">pic.twitter.com/zz9xw7L91U</a></p><p>— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) <a href="https://twitter.com/francysromeroFR/status/1807188214509429149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>After tossing a scoreless 9th with one walk and two Ks, Chapman turned it over to Kyle Nicolas who gave up a walk-off RBI single to Adam Duvall in the 10th inning. The Pirates lost 2-1 to the Braves, who’ve now won three straight games.</p><p>Chapman is undoubtedly on the back nine of his playing career – he had been working behind <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pirates-news-pittsburgh-loses-closer-david-bednar-worrying-injury">Pirates All-Star David Bednar</a> before the closer hit the injured list. But Chapman can still miss major league bats as he’s now up to 49 strikeouts in 29 innings this year, good for a sparkling 15.1 K/9.</p><p>The velocity is still there for the seven-time All-Star as well, with his fastball routinely registering in the triple digits.</p><h2><b>Flamethrower Aroldis Chapman owns the lefty reliever strikeout record</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Aroldis-Chapman.jpg"><figcaption>Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Chapman holds the MLB record for the fastest pitch ever recorded, clocked at a blazing 105.8 mph in 2010 when the lefty hurler was with the Cincinnati Reds (that 105.8 mph pitch is also the Guinness World Record).</p><p>In fact, Chapman has thrown eight of the 10 <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/fastest-pitches-mlb-history" rel="noopener">fastest pitches recorded</a> in the Statcast era, the slowest of which was 105 mph (Jordan Hicks is responsible for the other two fastest pitches – both registered 105 mph and came during his rookie season with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018), per Fox Sports.</p><p>Outside of Chapman’s record setting 105.8 mph missile hurled in 2010, the other seven fastest pitches ever recorded were all delivered by the big lefty during the 2016 season. That year, Chapman was traded by the New York Yankees to the Chicago Cubs and he would be integral in helping the team win its first World Series since 1908.</p><p>He’s fourth all time in saves for a left hander – and 21st overall – with 323 so far in his 15-year career. He’s also third among active players in career saves behind right-handers <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/red-sox-news-kenley-jansen-phillies-craig-kimbrel-saves-challenge">Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel</a> (each with 435 to date). Kimbrel has also rung up 1,236 batters in 786.2 innings.</p><p>To reach the all-time reliever strikeout record, the 36-year-old Chapman has some work to do. Hall of Fame righty Hoyt Wilhelm is credited with 1,363 relief pitching strikeouts over his 21-year career. Chapman would need to fan an additional 167 batters to break the record, which is achievable with a strong finish this season and a healthy 2025. Of course Kimbrel, who’s also 36, could beat Chapman to it, needing 128 Ks to own the record himself.</p><p>For now, we can appreciate Chapman’s dominance and marvel at his record 1,197 strikeouts, a figure no other left-handed reliever has ever reached.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	HOLDS	SAVES
22	2.455	14	1.0909	2	0

2025 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	HOLDS	SAVES
22	2.455	14	1.0909	2	0

Aroldis Chapman

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Aroldis Chapman sets new all-time MLB record in Pirates’ loss to Braves

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