Cuban fireballer Chapman turns 37 in a career-defining season! Red Sox manager reveals crucial adjustment

Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban "fireballer" for the MLB Boston Red Sox, has achieved 16 consecutive hitless games, breaking Sergio Santos’ 2013 mark of 15 such games and establishing a new AL record. At 37 years old, Chapman is experiencing a career season, with manager Alex Cora highlighting a key offseason adjustment as pivotal.

So far this season, Chapman has appeared in 59 games, compiling a 4-2 record with 28 saves and an ERA of 1.00. His current ERA is the lowest of his career, and if maintained, he is on track to set a personal best for single-season ERA.

According to the Red Sox official website, Chapman’s first-pitch strike rate this year is an impressive 70.2%, surpassing his previous best of 62.5% in 2017; his overall strike rate of 69.8% this season is also a career high. Manager Cora commented on this outstanding performance: “He worked hard to lose weight during the offseason to become quicker and more agile, and he has succeeded.”

Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow also expressed great admiration for Chapman’s discipline. He said, “When I arrived at the ballpark at 9 a.m. today, he was already in the weight room.” This dedication is the key to Chapman’s ability to maintain his excellent form.