07/04/26 12:47:00
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07/04 00:45 CDT Boston's Aroldis Chapman sets MLB record for strikeouts as a
reliever with his 1,364th K
Boston's Aroldis Chapman sets MLB record for strikeouts as a reliever with his
1,364th K
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) --- Aroldis Chapman became the major leagues' career
leader in strikeouts as a reliever Friday night, toppling a record that had
stood for more than half a century.
The Boston Red Sox's 38-year-old left-hander didn't do it with one of the
triple-digit fastballs that have made him one of the most imposing pitchers of
his generation and one of the most accomplished relievers in baseball history.
Instead, his high pitch to the Angels' Denzer Guzman was clocked at a mere 98.6
mph --- and Guzman still couldn't get around in time.
"I feel very happy, very proud of what I've been able to accomplish," Chapman
said through an interpreter. "I just feel very satisfied right now."
The strikeout was the 1,364th in Chapman's 17-year career. It broke the record
long held by Hoyt Wilhelm, the Hall of Famer whose 21-year career ended back in
1972, just five days shy of his 50th birthday.
Chapman paused and soaked in the moment only briefly after fanning Guzman,
aware of the significance of the strikeout while also knowing he still had to
get two more outs. He promptly gave up two hits, but escaped the jam with a
double-play grounder to secure Boston's 5-2 win over Los Angeles and his 383rd
career save.
The Red Sox celebrated Chapman's achievement in their Angel Stadium clubhouse,
showing a video retrospective of Chapman's career to his younger teammates ---
everything from his debut with Cincinnati in 2010 to his two World Series
championships with the Cubs and Rangers.
"It's cool. We've been waiting for that one," Boston interim manager Chad Tracy
said. "What a career he's had. The cool thing is watching the video, and you're
seeing him at a young age throwing 102, and he's still doing it. It's just
incredible."
In his 889th major league appearance --- all of them in relief --- Chapman
saved a deserved victory for Red Sox rookie Jake Bennett, who was making his
seventh appearance.
"It's incredible," said Bennett, who tired in the eighth. "It's incredible to
even just be a part of a team that it happens on."
Chapman hadn't pitched since he tied the strikeout record last Sunday while
blowing a save against the Yankees, with whom he spent parts of seven seasons
before an acrimonious split four years ago. He has pitched for seven teams
since he defected from Cuba in 2009, earning eight All-Star selections and
moving up to 10th on the majors' career saves list.
This record spanned across a half-century of baseball history and a fundamental
change in the way pitchers are used.
Among the 14 pitchers in major league history who have recorded 1,000
strikeouts as a reliever, only Lindy McDaniel was a contemporary of Wilhelm, a
World War II veteran and a pioneer in relief pitching. The crafty knuckleballer
was among the first pitchers to be used regularly as what's now known as a
high-leverage reliever, coming into close games and tight situations regardless
of whether the starter was tired or not.
Chapman has spent his entire career in those tight spots, and he has usually
excelled when healthy, often with a fastball that has topped 105 mph at times
during his career.
He has even been in a renaissance since joining the Red Sox before last season.
After earning AL Reliever of the Year honors in 2025 with a minuscule 1.17 ERA,
he has 17 saves in 19 chances this season, still taking high-leverage
assignments and usually succeeding.
"I was just focused on doing the job, day in and day out over the course of the
last few weeks, getting to this point where I had the opportunity to break the
record," Chapman said. "I had some highs and some lows, but I've just tried to
stay positive throughout."
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
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