It took Chapman more than 15 years from his first save to reach one of the most unique numbers among Major League relievers. His 400th save came in Boston, the seventh organization for which he has pitched in MLB and the third with which he has made the most saves.
The left-hander, who for years was one of the most feared pitchers in baseball due to the power of his fastball, continues to find a way to remain among the main closers in the Major Leagues despite the passage of time.
Now they have another challenge ahead: continue climbing positions in the historical classification.
From the first rescue to the 400
Chapman debuted in the Major Leagues on August 31, 2010 with the Cincinnati Reds. However, his first save did not come until the following season.
On July 6, 2011, against the St. Louis Cardinals, he earned the first save of his career. It was the beginning of a journey that more than 15 years later has taken him to 400.
The Cuban’s path to this historic figure had four major stations.
His 100th save came on July 29, 2014, still as a Cincinnati player. Three years later he reached 200, already dressed in the New York Yankees uniform.
On September 13, 2017, Chapman earned his 200th save against the Tampa Bay Rays. On that occasion he needed four outs to close the game.
The next big milestone took almost four years to arrive. On August 26, 2021, Chapman recorded his 300th save against the Oakland Athletics, also with the Yankees.
Now, five years later, it has reached 400.
- First rescue: July 6, 2011.
- 100 saves: July 29, 2014.
- 200 saves: September 13, 2017.
- 300 saves: August 26, 2021.
- 400 saves: September 6, 2026.
The evolution reflects the longevity of a pitcher who has been able to maintain himself in high-pressure situations for three decades.
The teams with which he achieved his 400 saves
Chapman has worn seven different uniforms during his major league career and made saves in all of them.
The New York Yankees are the team with the most saves, with 153, while Cincinnati is in second place with 146.
- New York Yankees 153
- Cincinnati Reds 146
- Boston Red Sox 65
- Chicago Cubs 16
- Pittsburgh Pirates 14
- Texas Rangers 4
- Kansas City Royals 2
His time in Boston has been especially productive. Since his arrival to the Red Sox he has added 65 saves, including 32 in 2025 and 33 in 2026 to reach the historic figure.
That’s an average of 32.5 saves per season during his two seasons with Boston.
Aroldis Chapman is already among the great MLB closers
With his 400 saves, Chapman joined a group that includes some of the biggest names in baseball history.
The absolute leader continues to be Mariano Rivera, who finished his career with 652 saves. The Panamanian is the only pitcher who has exceeded 650.
Trevor Hoffman is in second place with 601, while Kenley Jansen, still active, is third.
- Mariano Rivera 652
- Trevor Hoffman 601
- Kenley Jansen 493
- Lee Smith 478
- Craig Kimbrel 441
- Francisco Rodríguez 437
- John Franco 424
- Billy Wagner 422
- Aroldis Chapman 400
- Dennis Eckersley 390
Chapman has already left Eckersley behind and now has two immediate objectives: catch up with the pitchers above him and, above all, try to break into the Top 5.
The Top 5 is 43 saves away
The next major barrier for Chapman is Craig Kimbrel’s 441 saves.
With 400 saves, the Cuban needs 41 to equal Kimbrel and 42 to surpass him.
If Chapman gets 25 saves in 2027, he would finish with 425. With another 25 in 2028 he would reach 450 and could be among the five best in history.
Even lower production could be enough if he manages to extend his career for several seasons.
That is precisely the aspect that makes its future interesting.
Can Aroldis Chapman reach 500 saves?
At 38 years old, the question is no longer just how many saves he can get in a season, but how many more seasons he can perform as a closer.
Chapman is assured of continuity with Boston for 2027, so he will have an immediate opportunity to continue increasing his record.
A conservative projection, with about 20 saves per year, would take it to approximately 460.
If he maintains an average of 25 to 30 per season, he could finish between 475 and 490.
But there is an even more ambitious scenario.
If he managed to maintain a production close to 30 saves per season, he could approach 500 saves around the age of 41 or 42.
This is not a retirement prediction or a guaranteed figure, but rather a scenario based on maintaining an average of 25 saves per season.
To achieve this, Chapman would need to stay healthy, retain his closer role and continue to have the confidence of his team.
A second youth in Boston
The arrival in Boston has allowed Chapman to regain prominence at a stage in his career in which many relievers are beginning to lose speed, effectiveness or closing opportunities.
However, the Cuban has responded with numbers that keep him among the important closers.
His 65 saves in two seasons with the Red Sox are proof that he can still handle the responsibility of pitching in the late innings of close games.
And his 400th save came precisely on a perfect day for Boston: victory over Baltimore, 3-1, and a four-game sweep.
Chapman put an end to the game and, at the same time, wrote a new page in the history of the Major Leagues.
A race that still has no end date
Chapman has not yet announced when he plans to retire. Therefore, any projection on its final figure should be taken as a scenario and not as a definitive prediction.
What is clear is that the 400 saves have changed the perspective on the final stretch of his career.
It’s no longer just a matter of whether he’ll get to 450 or 475. Chapman is close enough to the Top 5 to make that ranking a real goal.
And if he manages to extend his career for four more seasons while maintaining a pace close to 25 saves per year, 500 would no longer be a distant figure.
At 38 years old, Aroldis Chapman already belongs to a club that only nine pitchers have entered in the entire history of MLB.
Now the next chase begins.
The Cuban has 400 saves. The Top 5 is just over 40. And the 500, although demanding, already appear on the horizon.
