Aroldis Chapman, renowned for his blistering fastballs, showcased his velocity once again on Wednesday night. Taking the mound for the Boston Red Sox in the ninth inning, Chapman’s task was to secure a victory against the Texas Rangers.
However, Josh Jung immediately connected with Chapman’s first pitch, launching it 393 feet over the left-center wall for a solo home run, narrowing the score to 6-4. Chapman quickly regained his composure, inducing a groundout. After issuing a walk, the veteran left-hander got Corey Seager to fly out.
Facing Blaine Crim, who stood as the potential tying run, Chapman quickly established an 0-2 count. Sensing an opportunity, he unleashed a 103.8 mph sinker right into the zone. This pitch not only became the fastest thrown by a Red Sox player since the pitch tracking era began in 2008 but also the swiftest across MLB in 2025.
It surpassed the previous franchise record of 102.3 mph, which Chapman had set earlier in April. Crim managed to foul off Chapman’s record-setting pitch and a few others, but ultimately struck out swinging, securing the game and Chapman’s save. This victory was crucial for Boston, who had won only once in their previous six outings.
As for Chapman, his stats now stand at 2-1 with a 2.19 ERA, 1.054 WHIP, and an impressive 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He has flawlessly converted all five save opportunities since signing a one-year, $10.75 million contract with Boston in the offseason. Despite not pitching since April 30, Chapman seemed to have effectively shaken off any rust. The Red Sox and Rangers are set to face off again in a decisive match on Thursday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET.
