Aroldis Chapman, the former closer for the New York Yankees, made history on Saturday by surpassing Billy Wagner as the left-handed reliever with the most career strikeouts in Major League Baseball. Chapman accomplished this feat during the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves in 10 innings.
Chapman tied Wagner’s record of 1,196 strikeouts by striking out Travis d’Arnaud and pinch-hitter Sean Murphy in the ninth inning. He then claimed the record by striking out Murphy, leaving him with a total of 1,197 strikeouts. As he walked away from the plate, Chapman stared down Murphy, showcasing his satisfaction at achieving this milestone.
In an interview following the game, Chapman acknowledged the significance of his achievement and attributed it to years of hard work. He expressed his awareness of being just two strikeouts away from either tying or surpassing the record and admitted that it was something he was actively aiming for.
Chapman’s performance in this game demonstrated his resilience. After walking Austin Riley with one out, he recovered with back-to-back strikeouts to protect a 1-1 tie. Unfortunately, the Braves ultimately won the game in the 10th inning against Kyle Nicholas.
Prior to this game, Chapman had already established himself as a formidable pitcher. Among all National League relievers this season, he was tied for sixth with 47 strikeouts. Additionally, his two saves in the current season brought his career total to 323, leaving him just one save behind Huston Street for 20th place on the all-time list since saves became an official statistic in 1969.
On the other hand, Billy Wagner had a distinguished career as well. He saved 37 games for the Braves in 2010 before retiring. Wagner made his major league debut with the Houston Astros in 1995 and ranks eighth all-time with 422 career saves, with Mariano Rivera holding the top spot with 652 saves.
Aroldis Chapman’s accomplishment in surpassing Billy Wagner’s record is a testament to his skill and dedication as a pitcher. As he continues his career, he will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the sport.
