Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman reached a significant achievement on Wednesday, boosting his All-Star hopes while notching his 350th career save against the Cincinnati Reds. This Aroldis Chapman milestone career saves moment adds his name to an exclusive list in Major League Baseball history, making him only the 14th player to ever achieve this number.
Chapman’s Achievement Secures Win for Boston
By closing out Boston’s 5-3 victory, Chapman delivered his 350th save and contributed a crucial victory for the Red Sox. The experienced southpaw reflected on the impact of this record, stating,
“It means a lot, means a lot,”
—Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox closer. He went on to add,
“It’s (a reminder of) all the hard work you put in and also means your team wins. The 350 saves means that your team has won that many times.”
—Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox closer. This milestone highlights both Chapman’s durability and his ability to close games consistently over his career.
Standing Among the Game’s Elite Closers
At 37 years old, Chapman is currently the third among active leaders in career saves. The two pitchers ahead of him, Craig Kimbrel and Kenley Jansen, also spent time pitching at Fenway Park, showing Boston’s history with elite closers. Red Sox manager Alex Cora praised Chapman and noted his history of managing some of MLB’s finest late-inning pitchers, saying,
“I’ve had the luxury of having three of the great ones – Craig (Kimbrel), Kenley (Jansen) and now Chappy,”
—Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox manager. Cora added,
“Having those guys, it’s an eight-inning game. The guy, he keeps getting better.”
—Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox manager.
Kimbrel has accumulated 440 saves, ranking fifth all-time, while Jansen has 462, placing him fourth. Chapman continues to narrow the gap, setting his sights on yet another achievement as his career progresses.
The Next Target: 400 Saves and All-Star Honors
Chapman expressed determination about his future aspirations, stating,
“My goal is to reach 400,”
—Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox closer. He acknowledged the challenge ahead but demonstrated resilience:
“I know that’s not an easy task to accomplish, but I’m going to keep working hard to accomplish that goal.”
Looking ahead, Chapman is a contender for a spot in the upcoming All-Star Game. He currently shares eighth place in the American League with 15 saves on the season. During Wednesday’s appearance, he delivered a flawless ninth inning on just 12 pitches, nine of which were strikes, and recorded one strikeout, reducing his earned run average to a career-low 1.29. If selected, this would mark Chapman’s eighth All-Star appearance, underlining his sustained excellence at the highest level.
The hard-throwing left-hander is earning $10.75 million this year and is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the season. As Chapman continues to contribute to the Red Sox and approach the 400-save milestone, his performance remains a key storyline for both Boston and baseball fans.