Chapman, Red Sox celebrate his 400th career save as ‘special’

BALTIMORE (AP) — After a fastball from Aroldis Chapman whistled into the catcher’s glove to end the game, the Boston Red Sox celebrated his 400th career save with a chant echoing through the clubhouse. Chapman, a 38-year-old lefty, earned the milestone with a 101 mph pitch that induced a swing and miss from Christian Encarnacion-Strand. This save sealed Boston’s 3-1 victory and a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles.

Reaching 400 saves and posting 10 seasons with at least 30 saves, a feat achieved by only nine pitchers in baseball history, was a personal goal for Chapman. He had only nine saves for the Yankees in 2022, followed by similar numbers in 2023 and 2024. Before Boston made him their closer in 2025, Chapman had only 29 saves over three seasons.

Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy expressed his satisfaction in having Chapman as their reliable pitcher in crucial moments. For the Red Sox, Saturday’s save felt especially rewarding. With a three-run homer by Eli White in the second inning, White felt honored to contribute to such a significant milestone.