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Chapman Breaks Reliever Strikeout Record with 1,364th

7/4/2026

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Summary

Chapman Breaks Record

Aroldis Chapman broke the major-league record for career strikeouts by a reliever with his 1,364th batter retired.
He struck out Denzer Guzman in the ninth inning of Boston’s 5-2 win over the Angels, surpassing Hoyt Wilhelm’s 1,363 strikeouts earned in 1,872 innings, while Chapman did it in 847 innings.
The strikeout gave Chapman his 17th save of the season, bringing his career total to 384 saves and 24.7 bWAR.

Summary

Chapman Throws 99

On July 4, Chapman threw a 99 mph fastball, his highest velocity of the 2026 season.
After striking out Denzer Guzman, he gave up hits to two batters before forcing Jo Adell into a double play to end the game, marking his third loss.
Chapman, a reliever who debuted in MLB in 2010, has 17 saves and a 2.10 ERA in 27 appearances this season, and a 2.51 ERA over 890 games.

Summary

Chapman Pitch Schedule

Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said they were waiting for the moment and promised a video celebration.
Chapman will pitch six games July 4-12 versus Angels, White Sox and Mets, start times of 9:38 p.m. (July 4), 9:30 p.m. (July 5) and 7:40 p.m. (July 7-8) ET.
Through July 3 he has logged 27 games, 25.2 innings, a 2.10 ERA, 17 saves and ranks third among active relievers in career saves behind Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel.

Summary

Chapman Record Strikeout

Chapman, 38, recorded a record-breaking strikeout, saying his faith that “when God wants it to happen, it’s going to happen” kept him positive.
The Red Sox held a clubhouse ceremony with a video montage of his 17-season highlights, calling him a baseball “GOAT.”
Interim manager Chad Tracy described the team’s unexpected pitching strength as “elite” despite the season’s overall disappointment.

History

Historical Context

After Hoyt Wilhelm retired in 1972 with 1,363 strikeouts—a relic from a time when relievers rarely amassed such totals and the save became an official stat only in 1969—the closer role expanded through pioneers like Rollie Fingers and Goose Gossage. On July 4 2026, high-velocity closer Aroldis Chapman logged his 1,364th strikeout in 847 innings, overtaking Wilhelm and underscoring the modern era’s emphasis on dominant relievers.

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Chapman Breaks Record

Aroldis Chapman broke the major-league record for career strikeouts by a reliever with his 1,364th batter retired.
He struck out Denzer Guzman in the ninth inning of Boston’s 5-2 win over the Angels, surpassing Hoyt Wilhelm’s 1,363 strikeouts earned in 1,872 innings, while Chapman did it in 847 innings.
The strikeout gave Chapman his 17th save of the season, bringing his career total to 384 saves and 24.7 bWAR.

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