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Red Sox’ Aroldis Chapman had career year at 37. Can he be as good or better this season?
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- Red Sox’ Aroldis Chapman had career year at 37. Can he be as good or better this season?
FORT MYERS, Fla. — At the age of 37, in his 16th year in the big leagues, a case could be made that Aroldis Chapman 's 2025 season was the best of his career.
The Red Sox ' closer was worth 3.5 in WAR, the highest figure of his career. His WHIP of 0.701 was the lowest he'd ever posted and his strikeout-to-walk ratio was a career-best of 5.67. Among more than 300 pitchers with 50 or more innings pitched in 2025, Chapman posted the lowest ERA (1.32), and he allowed opposing hitters a minuscule OPS of .387, the lowest single-season mark ever for an American League pitcher. He failed to convert just two of 34 saves.
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It was all enough for Chapman to earn both MVP and Cy Young Award votes for the first time since 2012.
What, then, does Chapman do for encore?
"Last year just motivates you to be better, to keep working," said Chapman through a translator, "not only physically but mentally. That's what I've been doing in the offseason and here (in spring training), to have a similar year if not a better year than I had last year."
There were times last year that Chapman was literally unhittable. After allowing a homer in Philadelphia on July 23, he didn't allow another hit until September, covering some 50 batters and 17 appearances in which he didn't allow a hit.
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With the benefit of some hindsight, was last season his best yet?
"I think so," he said. "I feel like every year of my career has had something good. I feel last year, a couple things came together."
What came together most obviously was a dramatic improvement in strike-throwing. For years, Chapman was known as a fireballing closer with the ability to get swing-and-miss almost at will. But with that came an alarming propensity for walks. Most appearances were full of suspense: could Chapman get three outs before surrendering the lead.
Chapman worked last spring on tunneling his fastball to specific target points and the change was remarkable . His 2.2 walks per nine inning ratio was about a third of what it had been a few seasons ago.
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"I was able to command my pitches in the best way that I have in my career," said Chapman. "It's something I've been working really hard on it. The main point for a pitcher is to throw strikes and if can do that as consistently as I did last year, I think I'm going to have a few more years left in me."
At a time when some relievers might be nearing the end, Chapman may just now be hitting his stride — highly unusual for someone who made his major league debut in 2010.
"Stuff-wise, he was the same guy," said manager Alex Cora, "but he threw a lot of strikes. He works hard in the offseason to keep getting better mechanically. His fourth hitter in spring training last year, it clicked. He was relentless in the strike zone and his stuff got better. He's still working on things to add to his repertoire.
"But you can see (this spring), it wasn't a fluke. In two bullpens, he was 20-of-23 in the strike zone and 25-out of-30 in the strike zone."
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Late in his career, execution of his pitches has become almost automatic.
"Sometimes in the past," said Chapman, "I would throw a couple of balls in a row and I'd get a little worried about the next pitch. But right now, I'm not like that. I know that I can miss near the zone and I can also come back from (being behind in the count. It gives you the confidence and trust in all your pitches."
A sizable part of Chapman's success is related to his work ethic, which can be best described as maniacal. Chapman works out seven days a week, almost year-round. Cora is a notorious early arriver each day at Fenway South, but most days, Chapman is already there when his manager arrives, working in the weight room.
"Everything's on point," said Cora of Chapman's approach. "It's what you want from a veteran, to lead by example and execute. He does that."
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He also is signed to a highly affordable contract, especially given what some closers command in free agency over the winter. Edwin Diaz , who's been elite, signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers , setting a record for closers with a $23 million AAV — almost $10 million more than Chapman.
"Shoot, I'm glad that we were able to get it done (early)," said Cora. "And kudos to him because if he had said, 'I'm going to go out there (in the market) and see what happens..' But he likes it here. He really does. We treat him with respect, but we ask him for a lot of things. He's been great."
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