Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman was honored by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization for becoming the left-handed reliever with the most strikeouts in Major League Baseball history during the current season.
According to journalist Francys Romero on Facebook, "The Missile" achieved this milestone in his fifteenth season this past June. At 36, the native of Holguín struck out Travis d'Arnaud and pinch-hitter Sean Murphy in the ninth inning that day, although the Pirates fell 1-2 to the Atlanta Braves in 10 innings.
By doing so, Chapman surpassed Billy Wagner's record of 1,196 strikeouts and continues to build a strong case for induction into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame when he decides to end his career. Chapman is now just 120 strikeouts away from the all-time leaders among bullpen pitchers. Currently, only Hoyt Wilhelm (1,363), Rich Gossage (1,340), and Craig Kimbrel (1,258) are ahead of him.
Chapman's Impressive Career Achievements
The Holguín native has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments, including seven All-Star selections, two World Series rings, a Mariano Rivera Award for the best reliever in the American League, and a Guinness World Record for the fastest pitch ever recorded at 105.8 mph.
Chapman continues to be a pivotal figure in baseball. His legacy in MLB keeps growing, and at his current pace, it's clear that he could keep climbing the ranks among the greatest relievers of all time.