Aroldis Chapman reached a major career milestone by securing his 400th career save in Major League Baseball, joining an elite group of relievers in baseball history. According to reports from MLB and CiberCuba, the veteran left-hander achieved the landmark figure by striking out a batter at 101.0 mph, showcasing the signature velocity that earned him the moniker “El Misil” throughout his career.
Entering an Exclusive Relief Club
With his 400th save, Chapman became just the ninth relief pitcher to cross that threshold since the save became an official MLB statistic in 1969, according to data from MLB. Among that group of nine, four members are already enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown: Mariano Rivera, who leads all-time with 652 saves, Trevor Hoffman with 601, Lee Smith with 478, and Billy Wagner with 422.
The journey to 400 has spanned across seven different organizations since Chapman made his big-league debut in 2010. Records show that his save distribution includes 153 stops with the New York Yankees, alongside stints with the Cincinnati Reds, Cubs, Royals, Pirates, and the Boston Red Sox.
A Historic 2026 Campaign in Boston
Chapman’s historic achievement caps a milestone-heavy 2026 season with the Boston Red Sox, who extended the veteran’s contract in September 2025. On July 3, 2026, Chapman broke the all-time strikeout record for a relief pitcher, surpassing Hoyt Wilhelm’s mark that had stood for over 50 years by collecting his 1,364th career strikeout as a reliever against the Angels.
His climb up the save leaderboard accelerated rapidly during the summer months. Opening the year with 368 saves tied with Jonathan Papelbon for 11th all-time, Chapman surpassed Dennis Eckersley on July 25 to claim ninth place with his 391st career save. He reached 399 on September 4 before securing the milestone 400th save days later.
Longevity and Velocity at the Back End
The left-hander has maintained elite performance metrics. Reporting indicates he held a 1.81 ERA with 58 strikeouts across 44.2 innings earlier in the season before notching his 30th save of the campaign on August 24 against the Marlins. Beyond the milestone totals, reaching his required activation threshold secured a financial option for the 2027 season.
As baseball observers track active leaders, Chapman stands alone among current pitchers for his sustained velocity. With his career ERA sitting at 2.52 over more than 863 relief appearances, the discussion around the Cuban-born left-hander increasingly centers on his eventual place alongside fellow 400-save club members in Cooperstown.
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