The name of Aroldis Chapman was once again placed among the great protagonists of the Major Leagues. The Cuban closer of the Boston Red Sox reached a new level in his career after entering the Top 10 of greatest savers in MLB history.

With his recent saves against the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Royals, the flamethrower born in Holguín reached 378 saves, a figure with which he left behind Joe Nathan, who finished his career with 377.

The rise of the Cuban not only confirms the validity of one of the most dominant relievers of recent decades, but also reopens the conversation about how far he can go on the list of historic rescues.

Aroldis Chapman already has Dennis Eckersley in his sights

After surpassing Joe Nathan, Aroldis Chapman's next target is another huge name in the Major Leagues: Dennis Eckersley.

The former American pitcher currently ranks ninth all-time with 390 saves, just 12 more than the Cuban.

Chapman's momentum suggests the brand could fall soon. At 38 years old, the reliever is going through one of the most effective campaigns in recent times and remains a key piece of Boston's bullpen.

In the current season he has 11 saves, has worked 16.2 innings and boasts an impressive ERA of 0.54, numbers that reflect the impact he continues to have despite the natural wear and tear of a long MLB career.

In addition to the saves, Chapman continues to stand out for the power of his arm, a characteristic that made him one of the most feared pitchers in baseball from his early years.

The “Cuban Missile” continues to defy the passage of time

For much of his career, Aroldis Chapman built a reputation tied to speed. His nickname, “The Cuban Missile,” was born thanks to straight lines that constantly exceeded 100 miles per hour.

As the years went by, the left-hander evolved and found new ways to stay competitive in the Major Leagues. Today he combines experience, control and the ability to dominate pressure situations, something essential for any closer.

His consistency is also reflected in an important fact: Chapman has already accumulated 17 seasons in MLB, an unusual longevity for high-intensity relievers.

That journey allowed him to establish himself among the best closers of his generation and continue climbing positions in one of the most demanding departments in baseball.

Mariano Rivera is still far away, but Chapman remains among the elite

Although reaching Mariano Rivera still seems like a complex mission, the Cuban continues to be part of the group of active relievers with mathematical possibilities of getting closer to the top.

Rivera finished his career with a monumental figure of 652 saves, a mark that remains an absolute reference for modern closers.

Ahead of Chapman are also other active relievers with great careers such as Kenley Jansen, who has 483 saves, and Craig Kimbrel, with 440.

However, the Cuban continues to gain ground thanks to his consistency and the stability he found with the Red Sox during recent seasons.

Chapman just won another Mariano Rivera Award

Aroldis Chapman's present is not the product of a simple streak. The Boston reliever closed the 2025 season with 32 saves, a performance that allowed him to win his second Mariano Rivera Award as the best reliever in the American League.

He achieved the first in 2019, when he recorded 37 saves and established himself as one of the most dominant arms on the circuit.

Now, as he continues to rack up saves and get closer to Dennis Eckersley, Chapman shows that he still has the fuel to remain among the big bullpen names in the Major Leagues.

And with each save, the Cuban continues to strengthen a legacy that already places him among the most important closers of his era.